Valley of Flowers and enchantment- “The monsoon trek”

Valley of flowers is not just a trek, it is a walk amongst the floating clouds; a surreal experience of a slice of heaven. With the valley blooming with a plethora of colours on one side, the snow clad mountains on the other and the alluring river dividing them, the scenery is picture perfect.

River dividing the valley of flowers!
The river flowing through the valley!

Add to that, the trek to Hemkund Sahib, the calm and secluded; highest gurudwara in the world and the scenic freshwater lake at 14,200ft., this is a must do trek for everybody.

Hemkund Sahib- the raw traveller!
Hemkund Sahib and the freshwater lake at 14,200 ft.

TO GOBINDGHAT

The journey starts from Gobindghat, which is a 15-16 hour drive from Delhi. I took a bus to Haridwar from Delhi at 10.30 pm and reached by 04.30 am. Within 15 minutes, I was already on the bus to Badrinath which would drop me at Gobindghat.

(If you want to trek in the higher altitude in India, there is no other way but to travel by bus. No flights or trains ply. Moreover, it is unlikely to find any A.C bus or taxi. One has to be patient during the journey. Take your pills if you have got any motion sickness. The weather most likely will be cool and between short naps, food and pee break you will not know when you have made it.)

Bus to Gobindghat !
Kudos to the drivers in the hills who drive through such treacherous roads!

I reached Gobindghat at around 4 in the evening. There are only a handful of hotels here but there would be no problem finding a room unless it is an extended weekend. The prices are low and the food is more than decent considering the altitude.

Checked in, refreshed, took some rest and went for a walk in the town. It was gradually swarming up with trekking groups and pilgrims.  The evening was spent talking to the locals and enjoying the tea and food in the wonderful weather with raindrops falling seamlessly and endlessly till the next morning.
Also read: The perfect snow trek for beginners

TO GHANGARIA

The trek to Ghangaria from Gobinghat is 13 km but you can take a shared cab to Poolna which decreases the distance to 9 km. The trail is alongside the river and well defined. Dhabas can be found at regular intervals.

Sikhs pilgrims can be seen on the way making their holy journey to Hemkund Sahib.  A lot of them I met were either from Jalandhar or Amritsar. To my surprise, I also found a lot of trekking groups from Mumbai.

Started early in the morning and reached Ghangaria by noon. There were a lot of hotels/lodges and I rented a room for 3 days for my upcoming treks to both the valley and the gurudwara.

 

  • Resting at a tea shop - Bagpacking to Ghangaria.

VALLEY OF FLOWERS

The way to the valley opens at 7 am and the last visitor is allowed till noon. We had to wait till 08.30am due to heavy rainfall which is an alarm for any landslide on the trail. The route though not tough is but slippery and treacherous.

The trek is picturesque and you get a glimpse of the valley and the glorious mountains. It is beautiful with waterfalls every few hundred metres and flowers blooming on both sides of the trail.

Once you reach the valley(about 3.5 km from Ghangaria), you will be in awe of what you see. Words fall short in praise of the wonder this place has to offer. Flooded with flowers – pink, green, white and even black, this place is a leaf out of the heavenly tree. Small streams flow throughout the valley, which stretches a further 7-8 kms.

Since it is a world heritage site, there are no food stalls. Lunch has to be packed and carried and the journey back also has to be made on the same day. 

Another monsoon trek that can be done solo: Bhrigu lake

  • The white.

HEMKUND SAHIB

After returning back from the valley, I got a leg massage done in the evening and boy, it was worth it. I knew the trek to Hemkund(6-7 km steep uphill) was never going to be easy, also considering that I had been trekking the past two days.

I started early again the next day. Although I got tired within the 1st km, the enthusiasm of the mini Punjab that was here, drove me. Sikhs mostly elderly and between 40-60 and even in their 70’s were walking in their shoes and even slippers with bags and a stick in their hand. No fancy branded shoes or trekking gears. Nothing.

Faith really is something. Maybe everything.

Of faith, history and food: Amritsar

And then I met people of a third kind. 

Young, loud, cheerful and energetic people shouting slogans and speeding their way on the not so easy trail but seated comfortably on their ponies with their bags tied to the burden bearer. You guys for sure will conquer the world someday(on the ponies). 

In about 4 hours, I made it to the gurudwara. Warmed up with tea and khichdi at gurudwara langar. Though I do not like the idea of having khichdi until my teeth part from me one day, I was grateful enough to have whatever was on offer here. It is worth commending the efforts that go to make it possible at such a height.

The serene lake stood between the gurudwara and the mountains. It reflects the grand mountains and is a sight to behold.

  • Hemkund Sahib- the highest gurudwara in the world!

Also read: Trekking solo to Chandrashila summit

To note:

  1. It remains open for 4 months i.e June-September but I would advise to visit it in the months of July and August. That is when you would get to see most of the flowers.
  2. Try NOT to visit the place on the Independence day extended weekend, both for the crowd and the surge pricing of rooms.  
  3. Leave early for the valley and gurudwara to spend maximum time there and since you have to make your way back the same day before nightfall.
  4. Raincoat/Poncho is a must since this is a monsoon trek. If not raining heavily, it would be drizzling most of the time.
  5. Trek cautiously since the wet and rocky path becomes treacherous in the monsoon weather.
  6. Get adequate rain care/protection for your rucksack and camera.
  7. Get a leg massage done before(or after if you may) you make your trek to Hemkund Sahib. 
  8. Solo Trekking: Obviously possible. I did it. You can too.

Explore more Treks near Delhi.

Travel safe. TRAVEL RAW!

 

72 Replies to “Valley of Flowers and enchantment- “The monsoon trek””

  1. Debabrata Mukherjee says: Reply

    Nice writing and beautiful pictures 😊

    1. admin says: Reply

      Thank you Debabrata. Would love to write up on your adventures someday.

  2. Ramesh Ag says: Reply

    Kudos, keep it up my Son, you have it written it very nicely. The selection of words is also improving. Well done.

    1. admin says: Reply

      Thank you Papa!

  3. Khush jain says: Reply

    This seems like a beautiful journey to take.. nice pictures 👌🏻
    And helpful guidelines.

    1. admin says: Reply

      Yes Khush. The place is more beautiful than the pictures and is a must visit.

  4. Rahul Koshik says: Reply

    Travelling is nothing but a deep meditation & no words can explain it’s worth when it comes to a solo trip to the lap of Himalays. Keep it up my friend. Hope to see you in more pics next time.

    1. admin says: Reply

      Yes Rahul. You are right. And yes, I will post more pictures of myself next time. 🙂

  5. Hanish Bhatti says: Reply

    Wow Raunak!
    Your details for this trek are complete & pictures are beautiful. After reading this one, I am also planning to do this one as a small training for the upcoming EBC.

    1. admin says: Reply

      Thank you Hanish bhai. When are you planning EBC ?

  6. Raju Dev says: Reply

    Nicely compiled & at the same time,some very useful info also. Thanks a lot. People like you inspires a lot others.

    1. admin says: Reply

      Thank you. Yes that is the objective. Keep travelling !

  7. Shubhankar says: Reply

    Is it preferable to go by bike to the gobindghat from delhi?

    1. admin says: Reply

      If you are ready for adventure, yes buddy. Definitely. Just stay aware of the treacherous roads at higher altitudes and ride safe. 🙂

  8. Umangee says: Reply

    Hey! Very interesting pictures 🙂 Seems like a super trip you had to VOF and Hemkund Sahib.
    I am planning to visit Valley of Flowers and Hemkund Sahib in mid June. Do you think this place is safe for a solo woman traveler? Also do they have markings/ signs/ trails inside Valley of Flowers – can you share some more info on the route inside the valley?
    Will really appreciate the help 🙂 Thanks

    1. admin says: Reply

      Hi Umangee!
      Yes indeed it was one of my best treks and the most beautiful place i have ever been to.
      Yes it is absolutely safe for a solo woman traveller and i would urge you to take this amazing trek. 🙂
      There is only 1 route to VoF from Ghangria. No there are no signs as such but the trail is well defined. Inside the Valley though you can trek as long and deep (not too many routes though)as you want but remember that you have to make the same journey back too. I trekked not much beyond Joan Margaret’s tomb.

  9. Umangee says: Reply

    Hey! Thanks so much for the prompt reply. One last question – Does the VOF also have a defined trail that one can follow once you cross the entry point?

    1. admin says: Reply

      Yes it does. But the main trail will diverge into smaller trails.

  10. Umangee says: Reply

    Super! Thanks a lot!

  11. santosh says: Reply

    any tour operatores must or not any problem for singale couple

    1. admin says: Reply

      No not at all. You guys are good to go on your own. 🙂
      This trek doesn’t need any tour operator.

      1. Any good budget hotels or lodges? How do we book?

  12. Nikhil Kumar Agrawal says: Reply

    We are planning to go in group from bangalore. Can you tell little about the budget part as we are thinking not to go by any travel planner ?

    1. admin says: Reply

      Yes, this trek can be done without any agency.
      Budget totally depends on you guys. A delhi to delhi trip shouldn’t cost more than 7-8k per person even if you guys are not holding back on spending good on food and stay. It cost me less than that.That was in 2017 🙂

  13. Ravi ranjan says: Reply

    Wow amazing.your details for the trek are really helpful.thanks sir!

    1. Raunak Airan says: Reply

      Thank you Ravi. 🙂
      That it is helping you is enough motivation for me !

  14. Dr priti jain says: Reply

    Nicely explained now it’s very easy to plan it .can it possible to go there with bells my 2 year old baby

    1. Raunak Airan says: Reply

      The trek would certainly not be easy with your kid. But then there are porters and ‘Pittus’ who would come to help. That makes it doable. 🙂 But i am not sure if kids(2 year olds) should be taken on a trek which is slippery(and rainy) and at a height of around 14,000 ft. I really do not know.

  15. Jyotsna Virmani says: Reply

    Could you also let me the know the things to carry. This is going to be the firsr trek of my life. I am a little nervous on the first hand but determined on the other :). Worth to mention, I got a strong feeling after reading this, very nicely written.

    1. Raunak Airan says: Reply

      Thank you Jyotsna 🙂
      Things to carry:
      1. Poncho/Raincoat
      2. Water bottle
      3. Small day bag
      4. A jacket
      5. Trekking pole (A stick would suffice too), apart from the basic necessities.
      Yeah and there is really nothing to worry. You will be good 🙂

  16. Narmatha says: Reply

    Hi,
    Could you please tell if we have to carry any documents or proofs. Is there any permits to take ??

    1. Raunak Airan says: Reply

      Yes. A photo/address ID is a must. Well, that is something which should be taken everywhere while travelling.
      Permit is provided near Ghangaria by filling a simple form and showing your ID. Simple process. This can be done when you start the trek to VoF.

  17. Biju says: Reply

    Where all did you stay? Any good budget hotels or lodges for a family of 2. Can you suggest names of hotels, planning Aug first week.

    1. Raunak Airan says: Reply

      I really do not recall the name of the guest house. There are though plenty of hotels/guest houses at Ghangaria. If you do not want the trouble of finding one on the spot, you must search online. First week of August can be crowded.

  18. Great article. Can you recommend some lodges on trek route? For staying in Gurudwara do we need to contact in advance?

    1. Raunak Airan says: Reply

      Thank you Arindam.
      Lodges would be available first at Gobindghat and then when you reach Ghangaria. They are pretty decent although i cannot recall any. Not too sure about the gurudwara too since i stayed at a guest house itself which i rented on the spot.

    2. Juhi says: Reply

      Thank you for such a detailed blog… Will surely help me in planning my solo trek to Hemkund sahib…

      1. Raunak Airan says: Reply

        Thank you.

  19. prashant says: Reply

    should i go with two bags, one which i keep in my hotel room and other which i keep with myself during track?

    1. Raunak Airan says: Reply

      Yes that is correct Prashant. Keep a smaller one (max 20 ltrs) as your day bag for treks to VoF and Hemkund Sahib.

  20. Sushi says: Reply

    Got all the required information! Thanks much. Great article indeed.

    1. Raunak Airan says: Reply

      Thank you. Nothing makes me happier. 😀

      1. Lekshmi Mohan says: Reply

        Hey there. Loved reading your blog. I’d like to know some more details about the trip. Will you be able to help me out with that? I want to do the trip on my own and not through any agent. Do I have to take permits for the trek, beforehand? Are there marked trails? And what about the lodges? How much in advance do I have to book? Planning to go in July 2019. Many thanks in advance.

        1. Raunak Airan says: Reply

          Hi Lekshmi,

          Thank you. Yes you can absolutely do it on your own. No prior permits or booking required. You’ll find a place on the spot. Also, the permit is available at the check point to the Valley. Yes the trail is marked and doable.
          If you have any more questions, you can connect with me on FB or Instagram. Happy to help 🙂

          1. Lekshmi Mohan says:

            Perfect. I’ll connect with you on FB

  21. Saumyya says: Reply

    Can be go to haridwar frm kolkata via train….then from their to badrinath via bus?

    1. Raunak Airan says: Reply

      Yes why not, if there are trains to Haridwar from Kolkata. Or reach Delhi and catch a bus to Haridwar. It is only about 5 hours from Delhi.

  22. Parag says: Reply

    I am planning go for trek to valley of flowers with my wife . We will be reaching at GovindGhat on 13th August.
    We haven’t book any stay options so far.
    Queries:
    1. Is it ok to go as individual or recomanded to join any trek group?
    2. Heard about landsliding, did you experienced any such thing or extreme weather conditions ?
    3. pre booking is required or run time stay options would be available?
    – in case pre booking needed then any suggestions for the same?

    Thanks in Advanced.

    1. Raunak Airan says: Reply

      1. Yes. Absolutely no trekking group required.
      2. It is monsoon. Would be drizzling most of the time. Rest it cannot be predicted. All went well with me.
      3. I am afraid that you should pre-book since you are travelling on independence day weekend. It would be too crowded and the prices would surge. You should look up online for that.

      Wish you a great trek ! 🙂

  23. Gurbani jain says: Reply

    Is it will be ok to travel in the end of August …..i have fear of rain…..and flood …??

    1. Raunak Airan says: Reply

      Yes I did too. This is a monsoon trek. It would be raining/drizzling most of the time. Don’t worry. Just leave. Everything should be good. No one can predict what is coming.

  24. Ankur Krishna says: Reply

    Hi
    Thanks! It’s a nice write-up. Is booking rooms in advance recommended ?
    As I am not sure about places in esp in Ghangharia.

    How about shared taxis from Haridwar to Govindghat ?

    And how about the gear, how cold is it usually?
    Regards
    Ankur

    1. Raunak Airan says: Reply

      Not really.You will find rooms on your arrival at Ghangaria. Buses and shared taxis go to Gobindghat. You may though have to wait a little for a shared taxi.
      It is usually drizzling. So you must have a poncho/raincoat and shoes with a good grip. Carry a jacket too. All the best!

  25. Shelly says: Reply

    Thank you so much
    nice pictures….
    And helpful guidelines….
    Is it a very though trek?
    I have no idea🙄

    1. Raunak Airan says: Reply

      Hi Shelly!
      Thank you. Not quite tough. But you definitely need to have basic level of fitness. It is certainly doable for a beginner.

  26. The blog is amazing. I’m a solo Traveller, planning to go in July 2019. Do I have to book for trek pass in advance? And also, can I do the trip on my own without any agent?

  27. Aparna says: Reply

    Do you see any issue if I go there with my two year old baby???? Amazing blog btw.

    1. Raunak Airan says: Reply

      Thank you Aparna.

      Taking your 1 year baby may not be the best idea since the trail is slippery and at the height VoF is, oxygen levels can be a concern.

  28. kushal bali says: Reply

    Hey can you tell me that trek to valley and hemkund is safe with your spouse without any guide and the hotels too?

    1. Raunak Airan says: Reply

      Yes it is safe. But you gotta be fit enough before you undertake such treks. I hope you guys are. 😊
      No guides required.

  29. Prajakta says: Reply

    Nice way of exploring solo and expressing it as well. .
    Quite helpful.!!
    Me and my husband also want to make it in mid july, but didnt want to go through tour operators, to save additional cost.
    thanks

    1. Raunak Airan says: Reply

      Yes you need not any guide/operators. All the best ! 😀

  30. Ash says: Reply

    Hi Raunak!
    My friend and I would like to visit the VoF but we only have 4/5 days. We will be coming from Mumbai and were thinking of flying to Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun and then taking a bus ti Govind Ghat. But we haven’t been able to find any overnight buses. Do you happen to know if overnight buses do this route? Or if there are any other options?
    Thanks very much,

    1. Raunak Airan says: Reply

      Hi !
      Sorry but buses in Uttarakhand do not run overnight in the hills. Private taxis would but that would mean a hole in the pocket.

  31. Ashish Gautam says: Reply

    Hello,
    We are a bunch of friends planning for a trek this August. We are confused between Nag Tibba, Chandrashila or the Valley of Flowers. Can you please recommend which one would be the best? Or any trek apart from these 3 with similar difficulty?
    Thanks a lot.

    1. Raunak Airan says: Reply

      Without a doubt – Valley of Flowers, considering th month.
      Connect with me on Instagram or fb if you have more/any queries.😊

  32. Ashutosh says: Reply

    What are the chances of getting accomodation in ghangaria if i visit between 11th to 15th. I do not have prior booking. Can stay in gurudwara hall as well.

    1. Raunak Airan says: Reply

      Visiting at that time(near Independence day) is, as I already mentioned, a bad idea. You will eventually get a place if you are willing to shell out huge bucks.

      Not too sure about the Gurudwara. There may be a long queue for that too.

  33. Mansingh Jadhav says: Reply

    Hello Raunak
    Its been along time since we last met . It was at V of F in aug 1917 perhaps . You are the one who clicked my photo at Joan Merry Legs final resting place . I am the same uncle from Maharashtra Kolhapur wearing an orange T shirt . Occasionally I come accross your posts on travell but honestly I dont read them . I had been to Auli for sking .
    I will meet you when I will visit Delhi . Waiting for your travel tales .

    1. Raunak Airan says: Reply

      Yes sure Uncle. Someday I’ll visit your place too. 😊

  34. Uttam Ghosh says: Reply

    Thank you Raunak / Team.
    You described the trek very clearly and smartly. I have plan to visit on 1st week of October.
    All information are available , so thank you once more.
    Another thing that I noticed , u responded everyone’s reply and all responses are logical and acceptable.
    So one more thanks.

    1. Raunak Airan says: Reply

      Thank you, Uttam. A little appreciation goes a long way and gives me motivation to keep sharing about my treks and travel.

      1st week of October isn’t the best time though. The valley may not remain open. Chances of snowfall are high too. You should re-consider the timing.

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