Valley of Flowers National Park

Current Context: After its annual closure for the monsoon, Valley of Flowers National Park (Chamoli district, Uttarakhand) reopened to tourists in June 2025.

ABOUT Valley of Flowers National Park

• Location & Status:
  • In Chamoli district, Uttarakhand, within the Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve.
  • A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2005 (paired with Nanda Devi NP).
• Discovery :
  • Discovered in 1931 by British mountaineer Frank S. Smythe.
  • Officially declared a national park in 1982 (87 sq km core) to protect alpine flora.
• Flora & Fauna:
  • Flora: Over 400 species of wildflowers (primulas, poppies, daisies), including endemic and medicinal plants.
  • Fauna: Endangered species such as Snow Leopard, Himalayan Brown Bear, Blue Sheep, and Himalayan musk deer.
  • Birds: Monal pheasant, snow partridge, and other high-altitude avifauna.
• Ecological Significance:
  • Represents a transition zone between the Zanskar and Great Himalaya
  • Provides critical habitat for Himalayan biodiversity and supports glacial meltwater feeding major rivers.