- By Nidhi Giri
- Sat, 01 Jun 2024 10:58 AM (IST)
- Source:JND
Valley Of Flowers: The world famous Valley of Flowers opened on Saturday for both Indian and foreign tourists. The valley, nestled within Uttarakhand's Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve was opened at 8 am by the Divisional Forest Officer of Nanda Devi National Park, BP Martolia. A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2005, the captivating valley’s opening was much awaited by the trekkers.
A total of 21 tourists registered for the first day to see the floral paradise. Valley of Flowers is located at a height of 12,995 feet above the sea level and is spread over an area of 87.5 square kilometres. It was given the status of a national park in 1982.
More Than 500 Flower Species Found In The Valley
More than 500 species of colourful flowers bloom in the valley in different seasons. These include anemones, orchids, poppies, primulas, marigolds, and daisies, making the valley a sight to behold. The species are indigenous to the Himalayas. Most of the flowers bloom in July-August months.
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During this time, the valley is bustling with the arrival of the maximum number of tourists. An entry fee of Rs 200 is charged from Indian tourists while Rs 800 is charged from foreign tourists.
Valley of Flowers: How To Reach
To reach the Valley of Flowers, one has to walk 3 km from the base camp Ghangaria. For those wondering how to reach this place, the nearest railway station is in Rishikesh, approximately 262 km away, while the Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun is approximately 270 km away. Travellers can opt for a cab or self-drive to reach Govindghat, situated at an elevation of around 6,000 ft above sea level.
Beyond the breathtaking floral display set against the backdrop of majestic peaks, travellers may also encounter rare wildlife species, such as the grey langur, flying squirrel, Himalayan weasel, black bear, red fox, lime butterfly, snow leopard, and Himalayan monal.