Valley of Flowers is closed in November
The Valley of Flowers is open 1 June to 31 October (entry 7 am to 2 pm, out by 5 pm) and Hemkund Sahib from late May to about 10 October; Ghangaria, the only place to stay, closes with them. The way in is on foot: about 10 km from Pulna, 4 km past Govindghat, up to Ghangaria.
Explore / Uttarakhand / Valley of FlowersValley of Flowers
Monsoon Meadows & the Hemkund Sahib Lake
A high glacial valley in Chamoli that flowers through the monsoon, at its best in July and August — a national park that, with Nanda Devi, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The way in is on foot: from Pulna, 4 km past Govindghat on the Badrinath road, about 10 km up to Ghangaria, the only place to stay on the trail, then 4 km into the valley. From Ghangaria a steep 6 km climbs to Hemkund Sahib, the Sikh gurdwara on a glacial lake.
Part of a longer route
Valley of Flowers sits on a curated circuit — most people visit it as one stop of several.
What a day here looks like
The things most people actually do in Valley of Flowers, by time of day.
Morning
- Pulna to Ghangaria trek (about 10 km)6h · strenuous
- Valley of Flowers walk from Ghangaria (4 km each way)7h · strenuous
- Hemkund Sahib gurdwara and glacial lake trek (6 km each way)Jun–Sep7h · strenuous
About 20h of activity in total — the planner spreads this across your days and fits travel time around it.
Must-see highlights
Valley of Flowers walk (4 km from Ghangaria)
Monsoon alpine blooms, peak July–August
Hemkund Sahib gurdwara and glacial lake (6 km climb)
Pulna–Ghangaria trail (about 10 km)
Ghangaria, the base village
Govindghat gurdwara on the Alaknanda
Badrinath and Mana up the road from Govindghat
UNESCO World Heritage Site with Nanda Devi
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On the map
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors · Rishikesh 275 km · Jolly Grant (DED) 290 km
Nearest transport
Stay options
In Nov, expect stays around 30% cheaper than the base rate.
Best time to visit
July – August (peak bloom)
How to get here
Rishikesh → Govindghat
cab · 10h
₹5,900
approx.
Rishikesh → Joshimath
bus · 10h
₹350
approx.
Nearby attractions
Valley of Flowers questions, answered
What is the best time to visit Valley of Flowers?
The best months are July, August, June. July – August (peak bloom) December scores lowest on weather and conditions.
How many days do you need in Valley of Flowers?
Most people spend 3 days in Valley of Flowers. There are around 3 main things to do, totalling roughly 20 hours of activity.
How do you get to Valley of Flowers?
The nearest railway station is Rishikesh (275 km) and the nearest airport is Jolly Grant (DED) (290 km). The cheapest common route is Rishikesh → Joshimath by bus, about ₹350 per person one way.
How much does a Valley of Flowers trip cost for 2 people?
3 days for two: ₹9,407 budget, ₹19,840 mid-range — stay (one room), food, local transport and entry, at typical rates; in November stays run about 30% lower. Travel to Valley of Flowers is extra — from about ₹350 a person by bus from Rishikesh. Stays start at ₹1,700 a night and food is about ₹400 per person a day; entry is ₹200.
