the route
Valley of Flowers Map
Follow the trek from the road head at Govindghat to the flower meadows, one kilometre at a time. Press play to trace the route, drag along the elevation profile to see any point on the trail, or switch to the Hemkund Sahib side trip and the drive up from Rishikesh.
Shared jeep
Govindghat → Pulna
- Distance
- 0.0/ 19.1 km
- Altitude
- 1,804m
- Climbed
- +0m
- Typical time
- 0 min
Elevation profile
- < 4%
- 4–8%
- 8–15%
- 15–25%
- > 25%
The route at a glance
The road ends at Govindghat on the Alaknanda. A shared jeep covers the next few kilometres to Pulna, and from there a stone-paved footpath climbs through Bhyundar to Ghangaria, the only village on the trek and the base for both the valley and Hemkund Sahib. The park gate is a short walk above Ghangaria, and the meadows open out beyond it.
| Stop | Distance from Govindghat | Altitude |
|---|---|---|
| Govindghat | 0.0 km | 1,804 m |
| Pulna | 5.0 km | 2,128 m |
| Bhyundar | 10.5 km | 2,566 m |
| Ghangaria | 14.3 km | 3,100 m |
| Park entry | 15.1 km | 3,190 m |
| Valley meadows | 19.1 km | 3,544 m |
| Hemkund Sahib (from Ghangaria) | +5.8 km | 4,163 m |
For transport options and timings on each leg, see how to reach; for a day-by-day plan, permits and what to pack, see the trek guide. Photos taken along the way are in the gallery.
About the map data
The trail and road lines come from OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL). Altitudes are read from satellite elevation data (Copernicus DEM) along the path, so they are approximate and can differ from signboards by 50 m or more. Published altitudes for Hemkund Sahib vary widely, with 4,329 m and 4,632 m both often quoted; the satellite data puts the lake at roughly 4,150 to 4,200 m. Typical times assume an easy pace with short breaks; plan extra time in the monsoon. Photo pins show where geotagged photos from the gallery were taken.