The world-famous Valley of Flowers in Chamoli district welcomed 40 visitors from various parts of the country on Thursday, marking the first day of its opening.
However, the tourists faced challenging conditions as they had to navigate through two sites where recent avalanches had blocked the trek route. Unpredictable weather patterns this year prevented the valley from showcasing its usual riot of colours.
“Normally, the snow melts, and the trek becomes accessible to tourists. However, this year the snowfall persisted until recently,” said BB Martolia, the director of the Valley of Flowers.
UTDB has identified three river rafting destinations under the Vibrant Village scheme, which focuses on uplifting rural areas. To facilitate the implementation of river rafting in Harsil Valley, Uttarakhand Tourism has granted approval to two rafting companies, which have already started their operations. The rafting season will run until June 30, 2023.
“Our staff worked tirelessly for days to clear the avalanches at two points along the Pushpawati and Saraswati rivers. Finally, today, visitors enjoyed the valley’s stunning views, with snowflakes adorning both sides of the trek route.”Typically, the Valley of Flowers opens in June, allowing tourists to stroll amidst the blooming wonders. Unfortunately, this year’s opening day was characterised more by snow than flowers.
The entry fees for visiting the valley remain INR 150 for Indian nationals, INR 600 for foreigners and INR 75 for students from schools and colleges.
