Hello,
@Ashok! Welcome to the forum!
Our journey would begin from the capital Delhi. I would like some help in knowing how to reach Valley of Flowers?
Here are your different transportation options from Delhi to the Valley of Flowers in Uttarakhand:
1. By Car - There are two routes that can lead you closer to the Valley of Flowers. However, all vehicles can only reach up to Govind Ghat. From Govind Ghat to the Valley of Flowers, you are only allowed to trek to reach it. The trek is about 17 kms long and would take you a few hours to complete. So here are the routes that you can take up to Govind Ghat:
- Route No. 1 via Haridwar - Delhi > Meerut > Haridwar > Rishikesh > Rudrapayag > Joshimath > Govind Ghat.
This route is about 540 kms and it can take you 13 to 15 hours to cover the distance without a night halt. However, with a night halt in Rishikesh, it can take you a day to reach Govind Ghat. This route is okay, although there are some bad stretches of road. Only drive during day time so you are more secure and safer. I'd say that about 70% of this route is in good condition and the remaining would be a bit of a challenge to go through. During the monsoon season, road blockage due to heavy rains causing landslides are common.
- Route No. 2 via Haldwani - Delhi > Ghaziabad > Moradabad > Rudrapur > Haldwani > Raniket > Karnaprayag > Joshimath > Govind Ghat.
This one is about 560 kms and it can take you 14 to 16 hours to cover the distance without a night halt. The common stopovers here are Rudrapur and Haldwani, where tourists usually halt for the night. Like the first route, road blockages can also occur here especially during the rainy season.
So in Govind Ghat, you can just park your car in the hotel and rest for a night to have some energy for your trek the next day. The first part is the 14 km trek from Govind Ghat to Ghangria. It's a steep climb so it can be challenging. You'd pass through rivers, flowers and streams in this trek as well. Make sure you hire a porter or mule if your luggages or bags are heavy. You can then rest for the night at Ghangria, which has an assortment of hotels and lodges. The next day, you can start your 3 km trek from Ghangria to the Valley of Flowers.
2. By Bus - There are no direct buses from Delhi to Govind Ghat. Your best option would be to board a bus going to Haridwar or Rishikesh and from there, either hire a shared taxi or taxi to take you to Govind Ghat. Here are some timings of buses to Haridwar from Delhi:
- Uttar Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (UPSRTC) Buses - Bus services usually begin at 8:00 am. Here are the usual timings: 8:00 am, 9:45 am, 11:00 am, 12:00 pm, 12:30 pm, 1:15 pm, 4:30 pm, 9:30 pm, 11:00 pm and 11:30 pm. Buses are either AC or Volvo ones. Fares are between Rs. 383 to Rs. 631 per passenger. These buses depart from the Kashmiri Gate ISBT in New Delhi.
- Private Buses - There are many private buses plying this route. Adventure Booking Centre has two timings: 11:30 pm and 11:35 pm. One bus is non AC and the other has AC. Fare is at Rs. 282 and Rs. 349 respectively. Blue World Tourist Company has two timings as well: 11:30 pm and 11:35 pm. One bus is non AC and the other has AC. Fare is at Rs. 282 and Rs. 349 respectively. These buses depart from the Anand Vihar Station.
From Haridwar, you can ride a shared taxi or bus to take you to Joshimath. Bus timings are as follows from Haridwar to Joshimath:
- State Buses - Timings are between 4:30 am to 7:00 am. The last bus usually leaves by 7:00 am but make sure you're at the station at 4:00 am as it's not unusual for the last bus to leave as early as 6:00 am.
So your next option would be by a bus from Delhi to Rishikesh. Here are some bus timings for this route:
- Uttar Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (UPSRTC) Buses - Bus services usually begin at 8:00 am. Here are the usual timings: 8:00 am, 12:00 pm, 3:00 pm, 4:30 pm, 9:30 pm and 11:30 pm. Buses are either AC or Volvo ones. Fares are between Rs. 448 to Rs. 760 per passenger. These buses depart from the Kashmiri Gate ISBT in New Delhi.
- Private Buses - Adventure Booking Centre has one timing at 11:30 pm for two buses. One bus is non AC and the other has AC. Fare is at Rs. 450 and Rs. 475 respectively. Blue World Tourist Company has two timings as well: 11:30 pm and 11:35 pm. One bus is non AC and the other has AC. Fare is at Rs. 400 and Rs. 450 respectively. These buses depart from the Anand Vihar Station.
From Rishikesh, you can ride a shared taxi or bus to reach Joshimath. It's the same as the buses from Haridwar to Joshimath, they leave very early in the morning. So you have to be at the long distance bus stand in Rishikesh as early as 4:00 am as much as possible.
From Joshimath, you can ride a shared taxi going to Govind Ghat. The shared taxis are usually Sumos which can accommodate 9 to 10 passengers. You'd have to wait for it to fill up with passengers. Hiring it fully without waiting for the other passengers costs Rs. 800 and above.
3. By Train - There are also no direct trains from Delhi to Govind Ghat. You have to ride a train either to Haridwar to Rishikesh. Train timings from Delhi to Rishikesh are:
- Ajmer Haridwar Express Train No. 19609 - Departs during Sundays, Tuesdays and Fridays only. Departure time is 3:40 and arrival time is 10:25.
- Yoga Express Train No. 19031 - Departs daily at 4:21 and arrives at 12:10.
- Dehradun Express Train No. 19019 - Departs daily at 5:06 and arrives at 14:50.
There are also some trains plying between Delhi to Rishikesh, but they are fewer than the Delhi Haridwar trains. Here is one timing I was able to find:
- Delhi Rishikesh Passenger Train No. 54471 - Departs daily at 17:35 and arrives at 4:20.
From Haridwar or Rishikesh, you have the same options as posted above, either a bus or shared taxi.
1. What mode of transport do you suggest?
The best mode of transportation would still be your own car. It's more convenient and you can control your stopovers. Further, if the driver is experienced, the journey will be safer and less bumpy. If you have to take public transportation, consider the train as it's more comfortable especially with the higher class.
2. We have two cars in the family, so you think it would good taking our cars?
Yes, I'd recommend just taking your car especially if you have children or elderly members in your family. It's better if your car has a higher ground clearance as well.
3. What would the travel time be from Delhi to the Valley of Flowers?
If you go directly, without any stopovers or night halts along the way, it can take you 13 to 16 hours to reach Govind Ghat. The Valley of Flowers is then about 17 kms away from that. The trek is usually a day or two long so in total, it's going to be three days.
But with stopovers and night halts in Rishikesh and Govind Ghat, it can take you a day or two to reach Govind Ghat. Adding in the trek, which can be two days at the most, it can be four days for the whole journey to be completed.
I hope this helps.
