Today
finally we will be heading to the actual Valley of Flowers, from Ghagharia it
is a 3 Km trek (groan) to the start of the valley, entrance fee is Approx. 150
for Indians and Rs 600 for foreigners, and today is again a damp day, some rain
and low clouds on the horizon, we got our self a packed lunch, a pack of
Biscuits, a bar of chocolate and some fried rice, we are off at 0700 hours, we
have the whole day to trek to the valley and then another few hours t explore,
we are informed we can stay back at the valley , we would have to start on the return journey
by 1430 hours
 |
| Ronny, Cristine, Me ( Two others walked ahead) |
As we
start we realize it is again a steep trek with a good 60 degree incline trek,
it was going to be a messy day ahead, I took shelter behind a little tin hut
and took off my warm clothes, I was already sweating and we had walked maybe
500 meters, it was approx. 10 degrees, but I had worked out a sweat quick and I
knew the raincoat would be a much needed piece of garb I would be having all
day long.. We had
a few stream crossings and water crossings fresh water from the glaciers
flowing below us as we crossed the streams on rickety tin bridges
 |
| The field of flowers |
 |
Water Crossing
But
finally we did reach the flowers, we did reach the valley of flowers with an
area of 84 square km we could only explore a few Km, it is a place that needs
to be visited over a period f time, and time spend there to see the different
flowers, I am ready to visit this place again next year and see flowers that
would not be in bloom this year, Why are they not in bloom you ask?
Well the
flowers bloom and often have a 10 – 15 days period before they make way for
other flowers to bloom, so visit to the valley over a few years at interval of
2 weeks is needed to see it all.
|
As we
walked suddenly they were all around us, and they were of different types,
sizes and shapes, some we had seen , some we had not before, it was a amazing
sight
 |
| Add caption |
Yes
curiosity got the cat , and a visit to the local video store will help you
identify some of the flowers that grow in the valley.
 |
| Add caption |
Many a
merry traveller will make make for lovely images as you walk along the path, we spend a few hours taking in the scenes
 |
| My Friends Ronald D' Costa and Cristina |
 |
| Enroute to the Valley |
and the flowers
 |
| Add caption |
 |
| Add caption |
 |
| Add caption |
 |
| Add caption |
The flowers
are such because they want to attract the insects for pollination purpose it is
all about propagating life. All of this beauty just so creation can go on, just
so the insects are here to help carry on with life.
 |
| Bees Pollinating |
 |
Bees in Action
Even for
people who are not able to make the trek they too can enjoy the sight thanks to
Pittu it is a basket that one sits in and the locals can carry about 100 kg on
there back on this steep climb, for approx. Rs 1800.00
|
 |
Pittu
Every amazing day does need to turn around and one needs to head back to base, come 1430
hours its time to start back home
|
 |
| Heading back to base |
Take
your time walking back, there is a guard at the entrance who checks out the
name of all the visitors who had gone in for the day, the temperatures so drop
quiet a bit at night, and is more like 9 degrees at night
VOF done
now it would be about heading back the next day to Ghagaria and back to the
world we came from.
 |
Start Back
The return
journey via mule was a different experience and quiet a walk, I would much
rather do the walk then the mule but then had already paid for the Mule so here
we are moving back to Govindghat on the Mule
|
