The Valley of Flowers is a high Himalayan meadow in Uttarakhand that turns into a carpet of wild flowers in the short monsoon summer.
It is a national park, so you need an entry permit, and the forest department now takes the registration online. You cannot stay inside the valley. You walk in from Ghangaria for the day and walk back out by evening. The permit runs for a few days, and foreigners pay more than Indians.
Who needs a permit
You need an entry permit for every person, Indian or foreign. The valley is a protected national park, so you enter only through the forest gate above Ghangaria, with your permit and identity. No one stays the night inside; you return to Ghangaria each evening.
The walk, in plain words
You base yourself at Ghangaria, the last village, which you reach by a long uphill trek from Govindghat, near Joshimath. From Ghangaria you walk about four kilometres up to the valley gate, then wander the flower meadows along the trail. You start early, enjoy the valley through the morning, and turn back in good time, because the gate closes in the afternoon and no one may stay inside.
How to register, step by step
Register online for the forest entry permit before you go, or at the forest counter above Ghangaria on the day. Give each traveller's identity and the correct nationality. Pay the fee, and carry the permit and the same original identity to the gate, because staff check them. Keep your permit, because it covers a few days of entry, so you can go in on more than one day.
What it costs
Your cost is the forest entry fee per person, which is higher for foreigners than for Indians, and it covers a set number of days. The official registration shows the current figure when you book. We do not print a fee we cannot see clearly on the official source, because these figures change. You will see the current amount before you pay. [Exact Indian and foreigner fees are to confirm on the official registration. Last checked 13 September 2026.]
The daily rule
You enter only in the day, and you must be out by the afternoon closing time. There is a daily flow of visitors, and the forest may cap numbers on busy days, so start early. You carry your own food and water, because there are no shops inside, and you carry your rubbish out, because it is a protected park.
Season, so you plan the right months
The valley opens for the season around the start of June and closes about the end of October, and the flowers are at their best in the monsoon weeks of late July and August. The trail is wet and slippery then, so wear good shoes and a rain cover. Outside these months the valley is closed and under snow.
Common mistakes to avoid
- The biggest mistake is planning to camp inside, which is not allowed; you return to Ghangaria each night. The next is coming too early or too late in the season, when there are few flowers or the valley is shut. Do not start late in the day, because the gate closes in the afternoon. Do not litter, because it is a protected national park.
Questions people ask
Do I need a permit for the Valley of Flowers?
Yes. You need a forest entry permit, now registered online, and you enter only in the day from Ghangaria.
Can I stay the night in the valley?
No. No one stays inside. You walk in for the day and return to Ghangaria.
Do foreigners pay more?
Yes, foreigners pay a higher forest fee than Indians.
When do the flowers bloom?
At their best in the monsoon weeks of late July and August. The valley is open from about June to October.
Where do I register?
Online for the forest entry permit, or at the forest counter above Ghangaria.