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Valley of Flowers in November
Uttarakhand, India
November: closed and freezing. Snow covers the valley. The trail to Ghangaria is blocked. All seasonal infrastructure (guesthouses, food stalls) at Ghangaria is shut. The valley enters full dormancy. The seeds that will become next year's 600+ species survive under snow.
The November story
Closed and freezing. The valley is under first snow. The trail is blocked. All Ghangaria infrastructure is shut. The eight-month sleep begins. The seeds and root systems that sustain 600+ species survive under snow — some of these species have been doing this for millions of years, since before the Himalayas reached their current height. November is for reading: Frank Smythe's 'The Valley of Flowers' (1947) remains the definitive account.
Why November scores 0/5
Weather
Closed. First snow. Valley going dormant. Trail shut. Govindghat base quieting down. 8-month closure begins.
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 — deep dormancy under snow
Who should think twice
- ✗Those with mobility issues
- ✗Everyone — valley dormant under snow
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. |
| March | 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. |
| Novemberviewing | 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
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Nearby in Uttarakhand scoring high in November
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