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5 TYPES OF UNIQUE FLOWERS AT VALLEY OF FLOWERS
The Valley of flowers, Uttarakhand, is located amongst the snowy peaks of Gauri Parvat, Rataban, Saptsing and Nilgiri Parvat and within the Nanda Devi Biosphere.
This valley is one of the most scenic wonders of nature and had been declared as an UNESCO World Heritage site.
Valley of flowers is open now to general public after 2 years… about time, for all travel buffs to come out of pandemic constraints and check out how nature has bloomed in the meanwhile.
There are about 600 species of flowers in the valley that include angiosperms, gymnosperms and pteridophytes of which 498 are flowering plants. Carpeting the whole valley, these colorful poppies, marigold, daises, Lilies, Calendula, Zinna, rosy rhododendrons look ethereal.
Each flower blooms at a different time of summer and so a visitor coming in July will find a different color landscape as compared to the one who came in June.
This valley gets different types of visitors to Valley of Flowers. Few are photographers, eager to capture sublime pictures of the flowers individually and valley as a whole. The botanists come to discover more features of the special species growing here. Some visitors are on a religious trip to Hemkund sahib and visit here out of curiosity.
However, majority of visitors are lovers of nature and adventure coming for the first time to verify the facts they heard about this place or repeaters mesmerized by their first trip here.
All types of visitors here do surely play a guessing game – identify the flower!
So, if you are planning to go here this monsoon season, here is some inside information of some rare flowers that are found in this enchanting valley. Use this guide to win points when your co-trekkers begin the “identify the flower” quiz up here…
1. Red Mountain Fleeceflower (Polygonum Amplexicaule)
The Heart shaped leaves of this perennial plant seem to be clasping the stem. Bottlebrush-like tiny flowers are deep red to pink in color blooming on 5-15 cm spikes. Flowers are solitary or branched. This high altitude flowers are indigenous to the Himalayas and found all the way from Afghanistan to South West China.
The blooming season of this flower is June to September
2. Jhair-Mairala, Kathmantiyal(Spiraea Canescens)
The deciduous Jhair Mairala Kathmantiayal shrub has small and hairy leaves. The name Canescens itself means white or grey hairs. The White flowers bloom in clusters of 4-6mm across. They flower from May to June.
These flowers are mostly found at an altitude of 1500 to 2300 meters. They are also found in the route from Govindghat to Ghangaria
3. Brahma Kamal (Saussurea Obvallata)
Brahma Kamal is a unique flower and the state flower of Uttarkhand. This rare flower blooms once in a year and the process of blooming takes more than 2 hours. It emits a strong and soothing odor when blooming to attract its pollinators the bats and some moths.
Named after creator of the universe Brahma, it is highly revered flower by Hindus. This flower is said to bring good luck and prosperity.
Found in 3,000-4600 m altitude, they are purple flowers inside boat shaped bracts that are colored greenish yellow. They are offered to deities in the hill temples around the area, especially Badrinath, Kedarnath and Tunganath.
The root has medicinal value as it is used for cuts and bruises. It is used in Tibetan medicine as well.
Due to its special significance, a stamp commemorating this flower has been issued by postal department.
4. Himalayan Cobra Lily
The flower is has a unique feature! Its petals look very much like a cobra hood. The hood shape or the spathe of the flower is dark in color purple with white or purple stripes. The hood like structure also has a narrow tail like tip which measures1 to 4cms.
The stem and the stalk of the leaves are brown and spotted. This flower blooms from May to June at 2,400 – 3600 meters
5. Himalayan March Orchid
It is a medicinal perennial herb and endangered too. The flowers are pink-purple in color blooming on upright spike. Both the sepals and petals of the flower are equal in size. The flowers grow in a curved spur about 1.8cms long.
Roots are tuberous and yield salap that is used as aphrodisiac, expectorant and a nervine tonic.
HOW TO REACH
By Air
The nearest airport is Jolly Grant Airport, Dehradun. From the airport you can travel by Road to Govind Ghat. From there you need to trek 16 kms to reach the Valley of flowers.
Helicopter services
Heli Services are available if required if you plan to visit both Hemkund Sahib and valley of flowers. However this service is totally dependent on the weather.
By Road
Heli Services are available if required if you plan to visit both Hemkund Sahib and valley of flowers. However this service is totally dependent on the weather.
Govindghat is connected to many cities in the state of Uttarkhand by road.
There are many more unique flowers that you will discover in the Valley of Flowers. Our team at Kashti Adventures will support you all through the long trek from Govind Ghat. We also will help you identify and discover names and features of the flowers in the valley. For that of course you have to book your slots as quickly as possible as we have special offers for the early birds.
Check our website https://kashtiadventures.com/ and Instapage or simply contact us for details of offer. For more information on Valley of Flowers check here https://kashtiadventures.com/valley-of-flowers-trek/