Ghangaria, also known as Gobind Dham, is a small village located in Uttarakhand’s Chamoli district. Situated at about 3,099 m above sea level, it serves as the last human settlement before the Valley of Flowers National Park and the Hemkund Sahib treks begin. This beautiful village is a perfect mountain escape for travellers looking for a thriving village tourism with the opportunity to explore the Bhyundar Valley.
Ghangaria is connected to the nearby Pulna Village and marks the place where the bubbling Pushpawati and Laxman Ganga rivers meet. This quiet and peaceful village becomes lively with visitors from June through October, when the snow melts and the trails reopen.
Ghangaria village is the perfect basecamp: high enough to help you acclimatize, yet brimming with several stay options and food stalls. Join us as we discuss about how Ghangaria gives you a perfect head start before exploring the depths of the Valley of Flowers.
Places To Visit Near Ghangaria Village
Ghangaria is popular as a base camp for the Valley of Flowers Trek and the Hemkund Sahib pilgrimage. Along with these popular destinations, let us explore all the nearby attractions that you may consider exploring:
1. Valley of Flowers National Park
Just 5 km up a well-marked trail from Ghangaria lies the Valley of Flowers, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Popular for its carpet of hundreds of alpine blooms, including Blue poppies, Brahma Kamal, primulas, and more. Its landscape is set against a backdrop of towering peaks and rushing waterfalls. This 4-6 hour round-trip trek rewards you with rolling meadows awash in colour, the bubbling Pushpawati River, and unparalleled Himalayan beauty.
2. Hemkund Sahib
A further 6 km beyond Ghangaria (separate diversion from the valley of flowers), there is a famous pilgrim route to Hemkund Sahib Gurudwara. It is located at an altitude of 4,572 m, making it one of the highest Sikh temples worldwide. Surrounded by seven snow-clad peaks of Saptsring, it offers peace and spiritual enrichment to the devotees. Visitors can partake in free langar, offer prayers, and visit the Sikh Museum at Hemkund. The steep climb takes about 3-4 hours one way and is best started before dawn to avoid afternoon weather changes.
3. Hemkund Lake
Situated beside the Hemkund Sahib Sikh shrine, the Hemkund Lake is an alpine glacial lake. Its clear water adds beauty by reflecting the sky and surrounding peaks. Although icy cold, many sikh devotees take a ritualistic dip in its waters. Beyond its spiritual importance, the lake is a photographer’s heaven, especially at sunrise, when the snow-covered mountains reflect pink and orange hues of the sky. You can also visit a famous temple, Lakshman or Lokpal Temple, located on its shore.
4. Kagbhusandi Lake Trek
For those seeking solitude, the Kagbhusandi Lake trek diverges from Ghangaria through Bhyundar village. At 5,230 m, this emerald-green lake, named after a local myth of a crow (‘Kaga’) and eagle (‘Bhushandi’), lies amid Hathi Parbat’s tall ridges. The moderate-to-difficult 2-day outing (5-7 hours each way) winds through dense forests and rocky moraines. This trek is best undertaken in May-June or September-October for clear skies and lush meadows.
5. Govindghat Gurudwara
Govindghat is where most trekkers begin their journey. It’s Gurudwara Gobind Dham (3,048 m) in Ghangaria offers free lodging and meals. This eases costs and encourages camaraderie among pilgrims who go on the Hemkund Sahib trek.
6. Bhyundar Khal Expedition
If you are an adventure seeker beyond the valley of flowers, you can explore more of the Bhyundar Khal region. This less-trodden and high-altitude pass (over 5,100 m) retraces Sir Frank Smythe’s 1931 exploration of the Mt. Kamet area. Over 7-9 days of expedition, you’ll cross glaciers and technical moraine fields. This difficult-level trek takes you through remote campsites like Tipra Khark (3,700 m) and Icefall Camp (4,300 m) before summiting the pass and descending toward Gamshali village.
7. Gupt Khal Expedition
Mentioned in Frank Smythe’s Valley of Flowers book, the Gupt Khal (5,800-6,000 m) route explores several glaciers on its way before reaching this secret pass. It overlooks several notable peaks like Nilgiri, Nilkantha, Nilgiri, Rataban, Kamet, Hathi, and Mana. This difficult trek is often done along with the Bhyundar Khal expedition. It is ideal for experienced trekkers, looking for a two-week exploration of the lesser-known passes of the Himalayan region.
How To Reach Ghangaria
Ghangaria is connected to Pulna village via a one-street and non-motorable road. It is accessible to visitors from its nearby towns, like Joshimath and Govindghat. You can drive up to Pulna, and from there you will have to trek to Ghangaria. Here is how you can plan your travel and reach to Ghangaria Village:
By Air
The nearest airport to Ghangaria is Jolly Grant International Airport in Dehradun (276.9 km drive from Govindghat, plus a 9.7 km trek to Ghangaria). The airport has many direct and connecting flights from most major cities in India, including Chennai, Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Kolkata, Lucknow, and Mumbai.
If there are no direct flights from your city to Dehradun, you can fly to Delhi first. From Delhi, you can travel to Dehradun or Rishikesh by road or train. From there, you will find several bus and cab options to reach Joshimath or Govindghat, and then you can trek to Ghangaria.
During peak season, you can ride a helicopter or hire mules/porters from Govindghat or Pulna to Ghangaria (by trekking).
By Train
The nearest railway stations to Ghangaria are Rishikesh Railway Station (260 km from Govindghat) and Haridwar Railway Station (248.8 km from Govindghat). Both stations are connected to cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Varanasi, Lucknow, and more. Alternatively, you can first travel to Delhi from your city and then continue your journey to Rishikesh, Haridwar, or Dehradun by train or bus. Further, you can reach Joshimath or Govindghat by road to finally arrive at Ghangaria village.
By Road
Rishikesh – Devprayag – Srinagar – Rudraprayag – Karnaprayag – Gopeshwar – Pipalkoti- Joshimath – Govindghat- Ghangaria
Ghangaria Village is near Govindghat and Joshimath, which are connected to major cities of Uttarakhand. You can reach these cities by hiring a shared taxi or by catching a UTC bus. From Delhi, you can get a direct bus from Kashmiri Gate or Anand Vihar bus stand to Dehradun, Haridwar, or Rishikesh. You can also drive your private vehicle from Delhi and drive till Govindghat, where a parking lot is available for travelers. From Joshimath, shared taxis and UTC buses run to Govindghat (15.2 km).
Accommodation Options in Ghangaria
There are many stay options in and around Ghagaria, ranging from luxury hotels to GMVN guest houses and Gurudwara lodgings. We recommend booking accommodations in advance from June to September, as rooms fill up quickly during the peak seasons of the Valley of Flowers trek and the Hemkund pilgrimage. The accommodation options in Ghangaria include:
- Gurudwara: You will get free lodging and langar meals offered by the Sikh community. However, you may not find rooms here during peak season.
- GMVN Tourist Guesthouses: These are budget rooms run by the state tourism board with all the basic amenities. You can book them through the official GMVN website.
- Forest Rest Houses: Offer cozy and comfortable accommodation amid the forests, providing a full village tourism experience at Ghangaria.
- Dharamshalas: These provide free stay options for tourists in Ghangaria, featuring common rooms for guests.
- Homestays: These are family-run lodges offering simple beds and home-cooked North Indian meals.
- Tented Camps: Many tour operators provide semi-permanent camps with mattresses and shared washrooms for the groups travelling to the Valley of Flowers.
- Luxury Private Hotels: These stay options in Ghagaria offer all the luxury and modern facilities at premium rates.
Wrapping Up
Ghangaria serves as the perfect basecamp, offering the peace of village life and access to all the tourist facilities. Whether you seek the floral splendor of the Valley of Flowers or the spiritual trekking destinations like Hemkund Sahib, Ghangaria helps you prepare and acclimatize, giving you a head start. With reliable transport links, varied lodging options, and a supportive Gurudwara at its heart, this village transforms into a home for every trekker and pilgrim from June to October. So, lace up your boots to prepare for your next adventure to the Valley of Flowers and let Ghangaria mesmerize you with its beautiful village life.
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