This guide is about the Valley of Flowers Trek — dates, price, day-by-day itinerary and booking are on the trek page.
Quick answer: The Valley of Flowers is in Chamoli district, Uttarakhand, above the village of Ghangaria near Badrinath. To reach it, get to Rishikesh, drive about 255 km (9–10 hours) to Joshimath, then about 30 minutes to Govindghat on the Badrinath highway, take a shared jeep 3 km to Pulna and walk 11 km up the Bhyundar gorge to Ghangaria; the valley gate is about 4 km above it. The state's pilgrim portal puts Govindghat about 280 km by road from Rishikesh, 300 km from Haridwar and 330 km from Dehradun.
This page covers the journey only: where the valley is, which station or airport to aim for, the road legs from each city, and how you get from the highway to Ghangaria, where you sleep. For the trail kilometres and heights inside the valley and up to Hemkund Sahib, see Valley of Flowers trek distance and height.
Where is the Valley of Flowers located?
The Valley of Flowers National Park lies in Chamoli district of Uttarakhand, at the head of the Pushpawati river valley. It is part of the Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The nearest road is the Badrinath highway at Govindghat, and the nearest village is Ghangaria, the last settlement before the park and the base for both the valley and Hemkund Sahib.
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| State | Uttarakhand |
| District | Chamoli |
| Protected area | Valley of Flowers National Park, in the Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve |
| Last town with ATMs and full mobile signal | Joshimath, 1,890 m (6,200 ft) |
| Roadhead | Govindghat, 1,828 m (5,997 ft), on the Badrinath highway |
| Trailhead | Pulna (also written Poolna), 2,050 m (6,730 ft), 3 km beyond Govindghat |
| Base village | Ghangaria, 3,048 m (10,000 ft) |
| Nearest railway stations | Rishikesh, Haridwar and Dehradun |
| Nearest airport | Jolly Grant Airport, Dehradun |
People searching "Badrinath Valley of Flowers" are close to the mark: the Uttarakhand Tourist Care portal's Hemkund Sahib page puts Govindghat about 25 km, or about an hour by road, from Badrinath.
How far is the Valley of Flowers from Delhi, Rishikesh, Haridwar and Dehradun?
The road ends at Govindghat, so every road distance below is to Govindghat. After that you still walk to Ghangaria, which the state portal gives as 13 km on foot from Govindghat; with Trekkaro you ride the first 3 km to Pulna and walk the last 11 km.
| From | Road distance to Govindghat | Time by road | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rishikesh | About 280 km | Portal: 10–12 hours; our cab takes 9–10 hours to Joshimath | State portal; trek page |
| Haridwar | About 300 km | 10–12 hours | State portal |
| Dehradun | About 330 km | 10–12 hours | State portal |
| Joshimath | About 20 km | About 30 minutes | Trek page; worked out from the portal (Joshimath–Badrinath 45 km, Govindghat–Badrinath about 25 km) |
| Badrinath | About 25 km | About 1 hour | State portal |
| Kedarnath side (road from Gaurikund) | About 260 km | 9–10 hours | State portal, via Guptkashi |
| Delhi | No official figure; travel Delhi to Rishikesh first, then add the Rishikesh row | 6–7 hours by bus to Rishikesh, then the drive above | Trek page |
The portal gives the road route as Rishikesh, Devprayag, Rudraprayag, Karnaprayag, Nandaprayag, Joshimath and Govindghat. Its Badrinath page warns that the road beyond Joshimath is landslide-prone, so check road conditions before you set out, more so in the monsoon months when the valley is in bloom.
How do you reach the Valley of Flowers from Delhi?
Treat it as two journeys: Delhi to Rishikesh on your own, then Rishikesh to Ghangaria with the group.
- Delhi to Rishikesh. Take a bus from ISBT Kashmere Gate (6–7 hours), a train to Haridwar Junction followed by about an hour to Rishikesh, or a flight to Jolly Grant Airport, Dehradun, which is 20–25 km (about 45 minutes) from Rishikesh. Arrive the day before Day 1.
- Day 1: Rishikesh to Joshimath. The group's shared cab leaves Jumping Heights, Rishikesh, for the 255 km, 9–10 hour drive up the Alaknanda past Devprayag and Rudraprayag. You sleep in Joshimath; the health baseline and briefing happen here.
- Day 2: Joshimath to Govindghat to Pulna. A 30-minute drive down to Govindghat, then a shared jeep for the 3 km road to Pulna, where motor access ends.
- Day 2: Pulna to Ghangaria on foot. 11 km beside the Pushpawati river through the Bhyundar gorge, 4–5 hours, about 1,000 m of ascent.
So you reach Ghangaria on the evening of Day 2, the day after you leave Rishikesh, and the valley entry gate is about 4 km above the village, walked the next morning.
Which is the nearest railway station and airport?
The state portal names Rishikesh, Haridwar and Dehradun as the nearest railway stations and Jolly Grant Airport, Dehradun, as the nearest airport. For a Trekkaro batch, Rishikesh is the one that matters, because pickup is at Jumping Heights there:
- Haridwar Junction has trains from Delhi and most major cities and is about an hour from Rishikesh.
- Jolly Grant Airport is 20–25 km, about 45 minutes, from Rishikesh. Fly in the day before, so a late flight does not cost you the Day 1 drive.
- Rishikesh is the drop point on Day 6 too, with train, bus and taxi links to Delhi and Dehradun.
Is there a helicopter to Ghangaria?
The state portal lists a helicopter service between Govindghat and Ghangaria, described as limited, and charter flights from Dehradun to Govindghat. It gives no fares or timings, and helicopters are not part of the Trekkaro trek, which walks the gorge. The portal also lists mules and palkis (a chair carried by porters) for the Govindghat–Ghangaria leg. If you want to carry less rather than ride, Trekkaro offers backpack offloading for ₹2,000 + 5% GST (up to 9 kg).
What will you find at Ghangaria?
Ghangaria is the end of the approach and where you sleep for three nights (Days 2, 3 and 4) in a hotel or guesthouse on triple or quad sharing. It has tea shops, a Gurudwara that serves free langar, a Forest Department post where Valley of Flowers permits are checked, and a basic medical facility. The valley entry gate is about 4 km above the village, and the trail to Hemkund Sahib branches off from here too.
- Cash: the last ATM is in Joshimath; cards are not accepted on the trail, so carry small notes.
- Signal: reliable up to Govindghat; beyond Ghangaria expect little or none. Make your calls before you leave Govindghat.
- Permit and ID: Trekkaro arranges the park entry fee and forest permits; carry your original government photo ID (checked at Ghangaria and again at the valley gate) and the doctor-signed medical certificate that each trekker brings.
How much does the cab from Rishikesh cost?
Transport between Rishikesh and Joshimath is not in the trek fee. Trekkaro helps the group book shared cabs at ₹7,500 per vehicle one way (a 5–6 seat vehicle), paid directly to the driver and split among the trekkers in it: ₹1,250 each with six people or ₹1,500 each with five, for each direction. The short local legs (Joshimath to Govindghat, the jeep to Pulna, and the shared cab from Govindghat back to Joshimath on Day 5) are paid separately in cash. The full budget, including what the ₹7,500 + 5% GST (₹7,875) trek fee covers, is in our Valley of Flowers cost breakdown.
How do you get back?
On Day 5 you walk 11 km down from Ghangaria to Pulna (3–4 hours), take a jeep or walk 3 km to Govindghat, and ride a shared cab 30 minutes up to Joshimath for the night. On Day 6 the cab drives about 255 km (9–10 hours) back to Jumping Heights, Rishikesh. Monsoon roads can be slow and landslides can close the highway, so book your onward train, bus or flight for late night on Day 6 or the next day.
Valley of Flowers trek dates and route | Valley of Flowers trek cost | Best time to visit Valley of Flowers
Frequently asked questions
Valley of Flowers is in which state and district?
It is in Uttarakhand, in Chamoli district. The national park is part of the Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve, and you reach it on foot from Ghangaria above Govindghat.
What is the nearest railway station and airport to Valley of Flowers?
The nearest railway stations are Rishikesh, Haridwar and Dehradun, and the nearest airport is Jolly Grant, Dehradun. From any of them you still have a long drive to Govindghat and a walk to Ghangaria.
How do I go to Valley of Flowers from Delhi?
Reach Rishikesh by bus, train via Haridwar or a flight to Dehradun, then drive to Joshimath for the night. The next day you go on to Govindghat and Pulna and walk 11 km to Ghangaria.
What is the distance from Govindghat to Valley of Flowers?
About 18 km to the valley gate on Trekkaro's route, by our own sum: 3 km by jeep to Pulna, 11 km on foot to Ghangaria and about 4 km more to the gate. The state portal counts 13 km on foot from Govindghat to Ghangaria, which makes about 17 km if you walk the whole way.
Can you take a helicopter to Valley of Flowers?
Uttarakhand's pilgrim portal lists a limited helicopter service from Govindghat to Ghangaria, but not into the valley itself. The park is entered only on foot, and the Trekkaro trek walks the whole way from Pulna.
