India

Nanda Devi and Valley of Flowers

WHS Score 3.15 Votes 7 Average 3.86

Nanda Devi and Valley of Flowers National Parks cover mountain landscapes in the West Himalayas that are renowned for their diverse alpine flora.

The Nanda Devi is India's second-highest mountain, and its park holds a spectacular landscape of glaciers, moraines, and alpine meadows. The nearby Valley of Flowers has diverse flora and is known for its medicinal plants and a huge variety of butterflies. Mammals encountered in both parks include tahr, snow leopard, musk deer, serow, Himalayan and black bear.

Community Perspective: Nanda Devi NP is closed to tourism (and mountaineering), while the Valley of Flowers does see a decent number of visitors. Go and watch the flowers in full bloom in July-August. Getting in requires a fair bit of hiking (though one stretch can be skipped by using a helicopter), as described by Zoë, though the Valley itself doesn't take much time to explore.

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Site Info

Official Information
Full Name
Nanda Devi and Valley of Flowers National Parks (ID: 335)
Country
India
Status
Inscribed 1988 Site history
History of Nanda Devi and Valley of Flowers
WHS Type
Natural
Criteria
  • vii
  • x
Links
UNESCO
whc.unesco.org
All Links
UNESCO.org
Related Resources
News Article
  • Jan. 28, 2024 timesofindia.indiatimes.com — New 7km road to bring UNESCO site Valley of Flowers closer
  • Feb. 8, 2021 npr.org — Portion of the Nanda Devi glacier broke off, scores are feared dead
  • July 6, 2020 timesofindia.indiatimes.com — Local villagers set up shops and eateries in ecologically-fragile Valley of Flowers
  • June 3, 2019 bbc.com — Nanda Devi: Bodies spotted in hunt for climbers missing in India
  • March 8, 2017 hindustantimes.com — Forest department fines Chinese team for entering Valley of Flowers during off season
  • June 1, 2016 ndtv.com — 3 Years After Kedarnath Tragedy, Valley Of Flowers To Re-Open Tomorrow

Community Information

  • Community Category
  • Natural landscape: Mountain
Travel Information
No travel information
Recent Connections
View all (20) .
Connections of Nanda Devi and Valley of Flowers
Geography
  • Highest (over 5000m)
    Gauri Parbat (6719m)
  • Himalaya
    "The rich diversity of species reflects the valley’s location within a transition zone between the Zanskar and Great Himalaya ranges to the north and south, respectively, and between the Eastern and Western Himalaya flora." (OUV)
  • Glaciers
    "The Inner Sanctuary .....and contains Nanda Devi itself and the two major glaciers flanking the peak, the Uttari (north) Rishi Glacier and the Dakkhni (south) Rishi Glacier. These are fed by the smaller Uttari Nanda Devi and Dakkhni Nanda Devi Glaciers respectively. The Outer Sanctuary..........is split in two by the Rishi Ganga; on the north side lies the Ramani Glacier,....and on the south lies the Trisul Glacier, flowing from the peak of the same name."
  • Roof of the World
Trivia
History
  • Women Explorers
    Joan Margaret Legge(1885-1939) was a botanist from England, who lost her life on 4 July, 1939 while collecting samples at Valley of flowers, India. (wiki) - she was there on behalf of Kew Gardens
Ecology
Damaged
World Heritage Process
  • Extended
    2005: To include Valley of Flowers National Park
Religion and Belief
  • Goddesses
    Nanda Devi National Park is named after Nanda Goddess, a manifestation of Goddess Parvati
WHS on Other Lists
  • World Heritage Forest Programme
  • Biodiversity hotspot
    Eastern Himalaya, Nepal
  • Centres of Plant Diversity
    IS2 Nanda Devi - "The Valley of Flowers is internationally important on account of its diverse alpine flora, ..The rich diversity of species reflects the valley’s location within a transition zone.... A number of plant species are globally threatened, several have not been recorded from elsewhere in Uttarakhand and two have not been recorded in Nanda Devi National Park. The diversity of threatened species of medicinal plants is higher than has been recorded in other Indian Himalayan protected areas. "
  • World Biosphere Reserves
    Nanda Devi (2004)
Timeline
  • Holocene
    The Valley of Flowers has its own microclimate that was made posible only after the end of the ice age in the Himalayas
Visiting conditions
WHS Names
18
News
timesofindia.indiatimes.com 01/28/2024
New 7km road to bring UNESCO site …
npr.org 02/08/2021
Portion of the Nanda Devi glacier …
timesofindia.indiatimes.com 07/06/2020
Local villagers set up shops and e…
Recent Visitors
Reserved for members.

Community Reviews

Show full reviews
First published: 29/12/24.

Zoë Sheng

Nanda Devi And Valley Of Flowers

Nanda Devi and Valley of Flowers (Inscribed)

Nanda Devi and Valley of Flowers by Zoë Sheng

Nanda Devi is closed. For tourists and mountaineers. You COULD go to the northern area as a scientist but it requires permits you won't get, and as you thus avoid the dangers (that's why it was closed) you are better off not going. You can't even see the peak from the Valley area. The Valley of Flowers is open and a majestic hike. It comes close to the "5 day to visit" and it could be seen as a tour-only visit but there are ways around it and you don't need a tour guide. It's better though - and not even expensive. I think overall I spent less than 100 dollars on all this.

To visit the Valley of Flowers you will first fly into Dehradun which is actually Jolly Grant airport that is closer to Rishikesh than the former. Your goal is Rishikesh, the birth of yoga, and there will be LOTS of Caucasian ladies on the flight (from Dheli mainly, although you can take a 6h bus from there and Dehradun is connected well with other cities). First I thought there are going to be lots of trekkers but they actually all come for the yoga. You will see a lot of yoga centers as you drive through the city. I can't say they are any good because honestly didn't try but in no way did people seem "fit" that I can recommend it or was there a "go to place". After Rishikesh there is no more …

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First published: 21/08/11.

Anonymous

Nanda Devi And Valley Of Flowers

Nanda Devi and Valley of Flowers (Inscribed)

Nanda Devi and Valley of Flowers by Paul Schofield

I visited the Valley of Flowers last week. While there were quite a bit of hardship on the route because of landslides, the valley provided an exhilarating experience. The flowers were in full-bloom and moist with rains. I could not see much of the mighty peaks due to clouds though!

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