Valley of flowers trip may not be possible in 2013
Two vital bridges are missing between Govindghat and Valley of flowers. Trek between Govindghat and Ghangaria is also badly affected. Government has many other issues to solve before it can start working here.
I had talks with some locals and come to know that this year the trip to valley of flowers may not be possible. The vital bridge on Alaknanda River is swept way in flood. Gurudwara Management committee has already called off Hemkund Sahib Yatra this year.
If we start one be one the hurdles in our trip to valley of flowers they can be summarized as follows.
- The bridge over Alaknanda :-
- The trek between Govindghat and Ghangaria is damaged:
- A bridge over Pushpawati river 500 meters from Entry gate of valley of flowers:
We need at least a temporary bridge over Alaknanda. I think this will soon be made. Even if Hemkund Yatra is to be started next year the repairing work has to be done this year only. The accessibility of Ghangaria is only for 5 months a year. To start any work on trek this bridge has to be constructed. I am very positive that the bridge will be constructed soon.



Our trek between Govindghat and Ghangaria is at many places near the Pushpawati River. It is badly affected and needs to be rebuilt. You can imagine the destruction Pushpawati River would have done by comparing the pictures of Pulna Village below.


To repair and rebuilt the trek it may take this full season. However the temporary trek may be built soon. Once the trek is repaired and rebuilt we can reach Ghangaria. However I do not have confirmed reports but I am apprehensive about a vital bridge over Pushpawati River on our trek between Govindghat and Ghangaria(See picture below).
Considering the destruction at Pulna Village there is high probability of this bridge being swept away in floods. If it is also swept away it needs to be rebuilt.
This used to be my favorite spot for sitting and watching the river for some time. It was really a very romatic place on the trek to valley of flowers from Ghangaria. You can see some golden moments of past in below images.



Unfortunately I have confirmed reports that the bridge is not there anymore. Considering the facts that to reach up to this point we need to first correct step one and two, it may take lot of time. I have a strong apprehension that the trip to valley of flowers may not be possible this year.
However I have reports that Village Ghangaria is not at all affected by floods, all hotels are safe. The trek between Ghangaria and Hemkund Sahib is also ok. All the information given above is collected from my local sources.