Valley of Flowers, Uttarakhand, where every step feels like poetry in color.

What can be better than to trek to a UNESCO World Heritage Site? The Valley of Flowers National Park was created by the Indian Government in 1980 and in 2002, it was considered as the UNESCO World Heritage Site. This is one of the prime reason that Valley of Flowers trek is the most renowned and popular treks in India.

There is a lot of history that is connected with the Valley of Flowers. The most interesting part of this magical valley is that it was discovered in 1931. A group of three mountaineers Frank S. Smythe, Eric Shipton, and R. L. Holdsworth lost their way returning from a successful Mt. Kamet expedition when they accidentally stumbled upon this beautiful valley completely covered with beautiful wildflowers. Frank S. Smythe named this beautiful place as ‘Valley of Flowers’ and visited again along with a team of sherpas in 1937 to explore the entire valley. After that many renowned people explored the valley and in 1980, the Indian Government made it into a national park protecting the species of floras and faunas.

The Valley of Flowers has a lot of connection with mythology as well. According to Hindu mythology, this region was frequently visited by the Pandavas and the Hindu Gods. As per Ramayana, the magical herb ‘Sanjeevani Booti’ that Lord Hanuman found to revive Lord Laxman is believed to be found here. In fact, this valley is also known as the Nandankanan – the celestial garden of Lord Indra.

This place has a deep connection with the Sikhs as well. The Gurudwara Shri Hemkund Sahib is considered to be the holiest shrine in the Sikh religion. It is believed that the tenth and the final living guru of the Sikhs – Shri Guru Govind Singh in his previous birth used to meditate in this place and achieved union with God. He described this place as a glacial lake in the Himalayas that has been surrounded by seven mountain peaks. This is the reason, this place is also known as the ‘Sapat Shring’. In the late 19th century, the search for this holy place began and in the year 1936, the first-ever Gurudwara was built there and is known as Hemkund Sahib. Majority of the devotees who visit there takes a dip in the holy Hemkund or Lokpal lake. There is also the Lokpal temple which is another name of Lord Laxman who is believed to meditate in this place. So it can be said that this place is famous for both Sikhs and Hindus.

Moreover, the State flower of Uttarakhand – Brahma Kamal grows extensively in the Hemkund Valley. In the Himalayan region, this flower grows in high altitudes of more than 4000 meters. Mythologically, it is believed that the majestic Brahma Kamal has bloomed from the belly of Lord Vishnu. There are many references to this flower in Indian Mythology. Furthermore, the Valley of Flowers and the Hemkund Valley are the only places where the Himalayan Blue Poppy grows that can be found in abundance.

The Valley of Flowers trek is considered to be the ideal trek for beginners and also for kids as well. One can visit two places during this trek – the Valley of Flowers and Hemkund Sahib. During the monsoon months of July to mid-September, the flowers bloom at their best and it is a treat to watch these blooming flowers. The trail also takes you through the river Laxman Ganga. And the most beautiful part of this trek is that the trail takes you through lush green forests and the surrounding mountain and the valley is covered with mist and cloud.

The Valley of Flowers and the Hemkund Valley are considered to be a haven for rare species of flora and fauna. There are 520 different species of plants available here and it is said that even the Vedas have been written from the skin of trees available in this valley and are home to rare flowers like the Brahma Kamal, Blue Poppy, Yellow Saxual, and Red Spider Lily. Not only plants, there are 13 species of mammals also available in the Valley like the Blue Sheep, Black Bears, and Snow Leopard. So make sure to keep your cameras ready and capture every moment.