Destinations / Top wonders of the world you did not know about / Valley of Flowers in the Himalayas, India
Valley of Flowers in the Himalayas, India
Valley of Flowers is located on the slopes of the western Himalayas in India. Almost inaccessible to tourists due to the high altitude and huge distance from the nearest town, Ghangaria (almost 8 hours to climb the Himalayan slopes), the Valley of Flowers was and it is still considered one of the most beautiful places on Earth. Included in the Hindu mythology, it was brought to the international public in 1931, when a British mountaineer, Frank S. Smythe, arrived by chance at the edge of the huge natural garden.
Coulntless wildflowers, with as many different colors, completely covering the valley in the Himalayas, create a breathtaking view. Currently, Valley of Flowers is part of Nanda Devi National Park (the park covers an area of over 85,000 square miles). Actually the Valley of Flowers itself is 8 km long and 2 km in width, located at an altitude of 3500 - 4000 m, with over 500 species. On more than 2500 hectares, over 600 species of subalpine, alpine and alpine plants grow, such as the Himalayan blue poppies and maple, which, along with three other species are not found anywhere else. Another 31 species are recognized as endangered species, while 45 others are medicinal plants, applied daily by local residents. Fauna of the Valley of Flowers is also very specific. In the valley there are 114 species of birds. Also, 13 rare and endangered species such as the yellow pine marten, blue sheep, black bear and snow leopard live here.
No wonder that such a magnificent creation of nature has become a pilgrimage site. Furthermore, by the entrance to the park, in the village of Gangria, by the Lokpal lake the is located a Sikh temple in the honor of the Hemkund Sahib, and the Hindu temple Lakshmana, the younger brother of Rama. Getting to the Valley of Flowers is easy, so thousands of people visit it and other tombs every year, although it is strictly forbidden to do camping in the valley, as the park has no conditions for human habitation.
It is included, since 1988, in the UNESCO heritage. Locals are still convinced that the Valley is populated by fairies and elves.
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