Ghangharia - A Valley in the Woods
Ghangaria is bestowed with natural abundance and exhibits diverse flora-fauna along with the refreshing views of the sun-kissed Himalayas. The travelers can either go for hiking, village walks or nature quest in the wilderness.
The gorgeous, Valley of Flowers can be accessed from here which is a short trek of 4 km from Ghangaria. Hemkund Sahib, the famous pilgrim place of the Sikhs can also be visited. A short trek of about 6 km will lead you to Hemkund Sahib from Ghangaria. The travelers can also hire taxis on a sharing basis up to 4 km from Govindghat.
To avoid the strenuous trek route, you can avail of the services of a porter or a mule. Ghangaria features a functional helipad and one can cover the distance by a helicopter. The ideal time to visit this place is between the months of June to October.
Activities in Ghangaria
Trekking: Ghangaria is the base camp for the mesmerizing Valley of Flowers trek which rewards trekkers with abundant natural beauty in the form of waterfalls, verdant hills covered with pine and oak trees, gushing rivulets and streams and of course, myriad flowers. Other treks in this region are: Gupt Khal Trek and Bhyundar Khal Trek
Pilgrimage: Hemkund Sahib is one of the most revered Sikh shrines in Uttarakhand and thousands of pilgrims partake in arduous pilgrimage every year. The shrine is sleeping under a thick blanket of snow during winters.
Village Tourism: Ghangaria is the last habited village one encounters on the Valley of Flowers trek. One can explore the beautiful village situated at the confluence and learn about their rustic way of life, customs, and beliefs.
Staying in Ghangaria
Ghangaria is a little hamlet one comes across while traveling towards Valley of Flowers and Hemkund Sahib. Since night halt at Valley of Flowers is not permitted, trekkers and tourists tend to find accommodation at Ghangaria. There is plenty of options available ranging from private hotels to government-owned guesthouses (GMVN). A forest rest house and a Dharmashala offer cheap alternatives.
Ghangaria Food Guide
Due to the growing influx of tourist and pilgrims to Valley of Flowers and Hemkund Sahib respectively, there are plenty of restaurants and roadside food stalls mushroomed at Ghangaria where north Indian vegetarian food is served along with few popular Chinese, Punjabi and Garhwali dishes. Apart from that, one can find eating options at the hotels which have an in-house restaurant.
Suggested Trekking Itinerary Ghangharia
Day 1: Arrive at Govindghat or Joshimath from Haridwar/Rishikesh by Road.
Day 2: Trek to Ghangharia from Govindghat (13 kms). Night stay in Ghangharia.
Day 3: Trek to Hemkund Sahib and back to Ghangharia. (You can also take ponies)
Day 4: Trek to Valley of Flowers and back to Ghangharia. (You can also save time by directly trekking back to Govinghat, but total trek for the day will become around 21 kms).
Day 5: Trek down to Govindghat/Joshimath. (If interested and time permits, you can also visit Badrinath, Mana Village, and Pandukeshwar. With an extra day, you can also explore Joshimath Places to see and Auli).
Day 6: Drive to Haridwar/Rishikesh or Dehradun.
Ghangaria Weather
Check out the Ghangaria weather report for December
Ghangaria Weather in December
The minimun and maximum temperature in December in Ghangaria is 2°C and 13°C respectively. The weather is generally chances of snowfall in December and you would feel chilling cold throughout the day. Heavy Woolen clothes are recommended for Ghangaria in December.
What is Ghangaria famous for?
Ghangaria is famous among tourist as Sikh Pilgrimage, Gurudwara, Trek, Base of Valley of Flowers, Village Tourism, Secluded.
Ghangaria is recommended destination for Corporates, Couples, Family and Kids, Foreigners, Groups, Solo.
Ghangaria is popular destination for following activities/ interests - Adventure, Base Camps (Trek), Gurudwara, Pilgrimage, Trekking.
