Valley of Flowers National Park is located in West Himalaya, in the state of Uttarakhand,India and is known for its meadows of endemic alpine dowers and the variety of flora. This richly diverse area is also home to rare and endangered animals, including the Asiatic black bear, snow leopard, musk doer, brown bear, red fox, and blue sheep. At 3352 to 3658 meters above sea level, the gentle landscape of the Valley of Rowers National Park complements the rugged mountain wilderness of Nanda Devi National Park to the east. Together, they encompass a unique transition zone between the mountain ranges of the Zanskar and Great Himalaya. The park stretches over an expanse of 87.50 sq. km and is about 8 km long and 2 km wide. Both parks are encompassed in the Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve (223,674 ha) which is further surrounded by a buffer zone (5,148.57 sq.km). This Reserve is in the UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves since 2004.

Photo: Alosh Bennett