valley of flowers/hemkund in aug...help needed / Trip account

mantru

Hi guys i have tried to read all the possible threads on valley of flowers and Badri still I have lots of doubt...Pls help me in finalising the trip.......

day 1(1st aug):mussoorie express depart delhi at 2105 arrvl at 0545 at haridwar next morning take a bus at 7 am-Do you think we'll get the first bus out ??
day 2:bus from haridwar to joshimath (its a 11-12 hr journey) approx fare 250/- reach and rest-hotel ??
day 3:get up early take a 6 am bus to Badri and get off at Govindghat...14 km trek of 6-7 hrs ?? to ghangariya- overnight stay..Hotels??confusion do we carry our baggage till ghanghariya and book a hotel there or carry our pack till ghanghariya...avalibility of hotels...leave xtra luggage at govindghat
day 4:to valley of flowers and back--overnight at ghangariya
day 5:to Humkund..its a 6 km trek but a steep one start early at 5 am to 5.30 am ...in how many hours can i reach if i walk at a leisurely pace and back ovenight stay...
day 6:start from ghangariya at 6 am reach govindghat at 10 am...Badri(How long to reach badri)
would like to visit the Yog Badri Temple on the way to badri called Pandukeshwar ...does anyone have idea about this place and can we visit this temple and proceed to badri the same day...
day 7:Badri and around...to Mana ...Mata Murti Temple ,Bhim Pul,Adi Kedareshwar(i have read that its good to visit this temple before visiting the badri main shrine...this is dedicated to shiva) ,Taptakund ...overnight stay at badri...hotels????
day 8 :to haridwar...Do we have to return to joshimath or get a direct bus to haridwar or rishikesh from badri.......overnight stay...
day 9:train to delhi....

mantru

are people boycotting me or what...i got a very weak response for spiti as well...i see everyone gets a responce apart from me....i am sad

brownboy66

Mantru - people are not boycotting you (although I too am surprised you have not received more replies) - especially from our own esteem cat granfather (Nick-H) who probably wants to adopt your avatar!

mantru

thanks for the reply....but this is my second experience wher not even a work from so many people who has visited the place.......its not that i have not read the forum posts but still after that also ...you know smalls doubts crop up and i usually plan for all my friends so i have to be sure before i send them the details....

Sadanand Kamath

I had visited Valley of Flowers in Aug.'90 and my last visit to Badrinath was in 2003. Hence I thought those who have been to these places in the recent period will be in a better position to give their inputs. Since no one has responded to your querries, let me try my best

1. It is better to take early morning bus from Haridwar/Rishikesh to Joshimath so that you reach Joshimath by evening. Hence, I would not advise you to take the bus on the day you reach Haridwar. The Haridwar-Joshimath distance is 274 kms.

2. You can try GMVN at Joshimath. If I recall correctly, they have two TRHs.

3. At Joshimath, there is a gate system for journey towards Badrinath. The first gate opens at around 6.30 a.m. The distance between Joshimath to Govindghat is around 20 kms. You can leave extra luggage at Govindghat.

4. Govindghat-Ghanghriya distance is 14 kms which can be covered in about 7-8 hours. You can try GMVN TRH for overnight stay. Alternatively, there are few dabhas who provide basic accommodations.

5. Ghanghriya-Hemkund is 6 kms trek which will take about 3-4 hours but one can return to Ghanghriya in about 2 hours. In fact, Ghanghariya-Hemkund-Ghanghariya-Govindghat can be done in one day provided one starts the trek say around 5.00 a.m. However, you will have to reach latest by 5.00 p.m. to Govindghat to catch the bus to Badrinath due to gate system.

6. I have no idea about the Yog Badri temple.

7. I would suggest you to stay overnight at Badrinath and catch the early morning bus (05.30 a.m. bus if I remember correctly) for Rishikesh/Haridwar. If you are lucky, you can view Neelkanth peak in golden colour early morning at Badrinath.

Since you are travelling in rainy season, I would advise you to keep at least one extra day in your trip. The possible main landslide spots are Byasi (between Rishikesh and Devprayag) and between Pandukeshwar and Badrinath.

I hope this helps.

Sadanand.

P.S. Mantru, I think, you have a wrong impression about members boycotting you. Please look at your thread Kinnaur, Lahul, Spiti trip report and judge for yourselves .

.

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mantru

thanks for your reply...that was a trip account but if you see this you'll realise what i meant...but its ok....i read the forum alot so it helped me....

kinnaur and spiti in march end for 9 days

mridula

Mantru, I have not done VOF but stayed in Joshimath in 2005, we were trekking through Kuari Pass that year. There are quite a few hotels and what we did was to look around and then check into one budget hotel slightly away from the bus stand. But the name is eluding me.

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mridula

http://www.gonomad.com/traveltalesfromindia/

amarshah

A cheap and decent lodge in Joshimath would be Marwadi Hotel just opp the climb to the Auli ropeway. The owner Raju is pretty helpful, we got delayed in catching the Cable to Auli due ot a landslide and spent the night there. He made it possible for us at 11pm at night. This was in Feb'08

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Amar

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somnath

Mantru,

Good suggestion from Sadanand bhai but I prefer not to waste one day at the beginning of the tour. Better to save one extra day.

Mantru, If you are going to arrive at 6.00 or 6.30 am then you can try to start for Joshimath at morning itself. We did the same after a really long journey from Kolkata. Bus stand is located just beside (left side) the Rly Stn. Thus you are getting one extra day (it may become handy if you face rain which is common) or you can relax after coming down to Haridwar. BTW, try to avail left window seat in bus. Ha ha…. Sadanand, can you remember that thread ?

Hotels: GMVN is always good but there are so many other hotels beside the main road. Just check the room and yes, you can bargain. Yes there are two (sadanand you are right). We used to stay at …. Pindari just beside the GMVN.

GMVN at Ghangariya, you need to book really early. Else you are not going to get a chance – it is in demand.

day 5:to Humkund – good home work, Mantru. It is steep indeed (well, I know it is not as difficult to a lady basically from Darjeeling). But I recommend overnight stay at Ghangariya only. It helps to enjoy the trail.

Next day – Ghangariya to Govindghat to Badrinath (plz try to reach Govindghat early to get a bus / shared jeep to Badrinath).

To visit Pandikeswar (sorry, no 1st hand info) you need to have your reserved car I guess. Just regular public transportation …… I don’t think it is going to help you. It would be better to visit from Badri?

Hotels At Badrinath: though I am not a fan of Ashrams / dharamshala etc but Bharat Sebashram Sangh ( there are two buildings but I am referring to the new building) is a real exception. I’ve never seen such a great staying option in an Ashram. I am not sure if the photograph of the interior of the room is uploaded but it is available. And a great location !


BTW, these two threads are also helpful to get some quick info (I am sure you’ve noticed).

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1.) Help reqrd. for Valley of Flowers (Garhwal) and Rudranath.

2) http://www.indiamike.com/india/uttar...advice-t41410/

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And, finally don’t be upset if your questions are taking some time to attract some members. Hey, how can IMers boycott someone from our favorite Darjeeling?

- Cheers.

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mantru

thanks guys...really appreciated you replies....i know each replies counts.. to make my trip foolproof...apart from the weather...

solo_trekker

Hiya...

Have been to the Valley of Flowers twice...
Just a couple of things that I thought I might add...

Try catching the bus which leaves Haridwar at 5 - 5.30...
That way you just might make it past the gate at Joshimath...

Actually, it doesn't make much of a difference, as you would leave Joshimath early in the morning if you were to stop over...
Or else, you reach Govindghat directly in the evening (if really lucky) and start your trek early the next day...

Choose a seat on the LEFT of the bus...
Till Srinagar you have the Ganges & then the Alaknanda mainly on your right; but after that you have the Alaknanda on your left for a good seven hours or so...!!! And a steep mountain wall on your right...!

Check out...
Valley of Flowers & Hemkund Sahib

Cheers...!

mantru

looks like there arnt maky people travelling to vof this year..dont see any new posts .....

praveen_yadlapalli

We(2 guys) are starting to VOF from Delhi on June 25th

is that appropriate time? we don't have the option of going in jul/aug

mantru

hey i guess its ok to go but as far as i have read the forums...you 'll not find many flowers around this time...however the valley will be as beautiful around that time too...

mantru

Hi all few concerns...as one of my friends hav just 6 days of leave i am not certain how to plan the return trip...below is the itinerary...i know its going to be hectic....pls help..

1 day haridwar to joshimath----- Reach at 6-7 pm
2 Start for govindghat at 7 am earlier the better reach at 8am then proceed for Ghangaria ,reach around 1-2 pm -Rest for the day
day 3 : valley of flowers and back
day 4Hemkund and back
day 5 start early for govindghat ...take a bus to haridwar
day 6 haridwar to delhi.......

i have no idea if we can get a bus to haridwar on day 5 th and what is the frequency...and what time can they reach haridwar..
haridwar to delhi can be done either by train or bus...

waiting for your reply...

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Mantru
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