No Data
Valley of Flowers in March
Uttarakhand, India
March: still sealed. Snow begins melting at the lowest elevations (Govindghat at 1,828m) but the valley at 3,658m is months from opening. The Hemkund Sahib gurdwara (near Ghangaria) is also closed. Avalanche risk on the approach trail peaks in March as unstable snow packs collapse.
The March story
Still sealed. The logistics: fly to Dehradun or Jolly Grant airport → drive to Joshimath (270km, 10 hours — or Rishikesh to Joshimath, 250km, 10 hours) → drive to Govindghat (24km, 1 hour) → trek to Ghangaria (13km, 5-6 hours, can take mule or helicopter) → walk to Valley of Flowers (3.7km, 2-3 hours, no mules allowed in the valley). The Ghangaria helicopter service (₹3,000-5,000 from Govindghat) is weather-dependent but saves the day 1 trek for those with limited time or fitness. Ghangaria accommodation: GMVN guesthouse (₹800-1,500), private guesthouses (₹600-1,200). The village has no road access — everything arrives by mule or helicopter. Book well ahead for July-August peak season. The valley allows only walking — no camping, no fires, no picking flowers, no off-trail wandering. Rangers enforce strictly.
Why March scores 0/5
Weather
Closed. Snow still deep. Trek trail buried. Hemkund Sahib route also shut. Opens June 1 at earliest.
Roads & Access
self drive: Drive to Govindghat.. road condition: Char Dham highway.. public transport: Bus to Govindghat. Trek or helicopter.. from nearest city: Rishikesh 270km to Govindghat. Then 13km trek.. last km difficulty: hard (13km trek)
Safety & Emergency
Safety: 3/5. rescue: Forest Dept at valley gate. helpline: UK Tourism. ambulance: 108 (to Govindghat only). police station: Govindghat. nearest hospital: PHC Govindghat (basic). Joshimath 20km.
Network
VI: No, JIO: No, BSNL: Yes, NOTE: Yes, AIRTEL: No. BSNL at Govindghat. Zero at Ghangaria.
Kids
Kid-friendly (2/5) — Once-in-a-lifetime natural wonder, Hemkund Sahib gurudwara is educational
Elevation
3,658m — High altitude, acclimatisation needed
Who should go
- ✓Travelers with basic fitness
- ✓Nobody — sealed and dangerous
Who should think twice
- ✗Those with mobility issues
- ✗Everyone — avalanche risk on approach, no services
All 12 Months
| Month | Score | Note |
|---|---|---|
| January | 0/5 | Closed. UNESCO World Heritage valley buried under meters of snow. No access until June 1. Trail completely impassable. |
| February | 0/5 | Closed. UNESCO site buried under meters of snow. Trail from Govindghat impassable. No access until June 1. |
| Marchviewing | 0/5 | Closed. Snow still deep. Trek trail buried. Hemkund Sahib route also shut. Opens June 1 at earliest. |
| April | 0/5 | Closed. Snow melting at lower elevations but valley floor still inaccessible. Trail preparation by forest dept. |
| May | 0/5 | Closed. Trail clearing in progress. Valley still has snow patches. Official opening June 1. Book Ghangria stays. |
| June | 2/5 | Opens June 1 but few blooms yet. Green grass, snowmelt streams. Good for avoiding Aug crowds. Leeches starting. |
| July | 4/5 | Blooms beginning, 8-16°C. Heavy monsoon rain daily plus leeches on trail. Worth it for early Brahmakamal and primulas. |
| August | 5/5 | PEAK BLOOM. Mid-Jul to mid-Aug is the iconic carpet. |
| September | 3/5 | Blooms fading by mid-Sept, 6-14°C. Late season flowers only. Trail to valley still open. Quieter than August. |
| October | 1/5 | Closes early October. Valley brown and dormant. Only stubborn hikers remain. Trail closing for 8-month winter. |
| November | 0/5 | Closed. First snow. Valley going dormant. Trail shut. Govindghat base quieting down. 8-month closure begins. |
| December | 0/5 | Closed. Deep snow buries the valley. UNESCO site hibernates. No access until June next year. |
Practical Details
How to reach
Rishikesh 270km to Govindghat. Then 13km trek.. Roads: Char Dham highway.. Self-drive: Drive to Govindghat.. Public transport: Bus to Govindghat. Trek or helicopter.. Last stretch: hard (13km trek)
Elevation
3,658m
Difficulty
moderate
Budget tier
budget
Permits required
undefined
Nearby in Uttarakhand scoring high in March
The Window — every Sunday
Best score this week, the honest skip, road intel, and what changed. Free. No spam.
One email per Sunday. Unsubscribe anytime.