The first sight of the flowers in the valley takes your breath away.
In all colours: A carpet of flowers.
According to the Mahabarata, Bheema went in search of the Sowgandhika. His path was barred by Hanuman’s tail. Unsuccessful in lifting the tail, Bheema prayed to Hanuman to lift it and enable him to continue his search. Pleased, Hanuman showed B
heema, the abode of the sacred flower. This is the story of the Valley of Flowers.
Unbelievable
In 1931, Frank Smythe discovered the Valley of Flowers in Chamoli district of Uttaranchal state and was so enchanted by it that he stayed back to explore the Himalayas and fate took a hand to permanently keep him there. He slipped and fell to his death and he was buried there.
The route covers 13 km from Govind Ghat to Ghangaria, climbing almost 6,000 to 10,000 ft at Ghangaria. We began the trek at 6.30 a.m. An hour later, it began to rain. On one side of the track was the Himalayas and on the other the breath-taking gorges and the gushing white waters of the Lakshman Ganga.
We reached Ghangaria, thoroughly drenched, after eight hours of trekking. A hot glass of milk revived us. The next day at 7 a.m. we began the 3.5 km trek to the Valley of Flowers. Though this was a shorter trek we were tired, and the path seemed steeper with some extremely dangerous stretches. The rain had resulted in fresh landslides, blocking the path in some places.
The first sight of the flowers in the valley was well worth the effort and struggle of the trek. We stood in the valley surrounded by unknown multitudes of flowers of all colours and fragrances.
Surrounded by snow-clad mountains draped with silvery, milky waterfalls shimmering from the mighty hills, it was indeed a heavenly experience.
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