How would you feel if you get lost in a valley full of flowers, green mountains around it and a clear, blue sky above? Ethereal, right? Col. Edmund Smyth might have felt the same when he discovered the Pushpawati Valley in 1862. The valley was rediscovered by the climbers Frank S. Smythe, Eric Shipton, and R.L Holdsworth in 1931.

They found beds of alpine flowers blooming upon the valley floors. They renamed the place ‘The Valley of Flowers’. The flowers found here are mostly orchids, poppies, marigolds, daisies, anemones, primulas, and rhododendrons. Since the area remains under snow from October to March, the best time to visit the Valley of Flowers is from June to September. The flowers start blooming them and completely transform the valley.

You can reach the Valley of Flowers through trekking. The distance of the trail is around 17 Kms. The trek begins from Govindghat, near Joshimath. The path from Govindghat to Ghangharia is extremely beautiful. You can also travel to the Silk pilgrimage Hemkund Sahib on the way to Ghangharia. Nowadays, mules and helicopters are also available for people who cannot walk the entire trail. At the end of the journey, when you will be greeted by the smiling wildflowers, you will feel blissful.