A meadow of flowers, velvety-green forests, dreamy hills – isn’t that what Windows wallpapers look like? We’ve found those places and they are all in the country! These flower valleys in India are a thing of dreams! By Shubhanjana Das
1.Valley of Flowers, Uttarakhand:
We don’t know what Heaven looks like but we are certain that it must resemble the Valley of Flowers in Uttarakhand. This sea of Brahma kamal, Yellow Cobra Lily, Jacquemont’s Cobra Lily, Wallich’s Cobra Lily, Elegant Slipper Orchid, Himalayan Slipper Orchid, Himalayan Marsh Orchid flowers (among others) is one that you need to witness at least once in your life. The Bhyundar Valley, where these flowers bloom, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. After a 6.2 mile light trek, one glance at the Valley of Flowers and you’ll believe in the wonders that Mother Nature is capable of. Remember, the bloom lasts only from June till September.
2. Yumthang Valley, Sikkim:
Nestled at 3596 metres, Yumthang Valley in Sikkim is where you need to go to fulfil all your filmy fantasies of walking on flowerbeds with your partner with the snow-frosted mountains towering all around you. Cinquefoils, Rhododendrons, Iris, Poppies, Louseworts, Primroses, and Cobra-lilies grace Yumthang valley from late February to mid-June, transforming it into a sight you will have a difficulty believing, even after you witness it. It is only at Yumthang that the rhododendron blooms in 24 different varieties.
3. Kaas Plateau, Maharashtra:
If we were Hulk, we would simply jump from one flower valley to the other, given that all of them are spectacular! Kaas Plateau in Maharashtra is every photographer and botanist’s dream for it is here that 850 different kinds of flowers bloom from late August to September. But, there’s a twist in the plot. You have to wait for this place to turn into a purple-blue idyllic beauty for these flowers bloom only once every seven years. The Toothbrush Orchid, Deepkadi Flowers and Indian Arrowroot are among the many that grave this plateau and we think it is well worth the wait!
4. Dzoukou Valley, Nagaland:
We’re letting you in on Northeast India’s well-kept secret – Dzoukou Valley. Rolling lands of vast verdure stretch, with light playing hide and seek behind the hills at 2452 metres is exactly where we want to be. But, to watch the valley being painted in the colours of aconitums, rare Dzukou white and pink lilies, euphorbias, and many other species of flowers from June to September, you have to trek the trail which, depending on your fitness, may be a challenge. This sanctum of peace awaits you but not without some effort.
5. Munnar Valley, Kerala:
If you thought coffee and tea plantations is all there is to Munnar, you probably missed it during late September to the beginning of October for this is when the magic happens. The Shola forests of the Western Ghats shelter the Neelakurji, a rare lavender-coloured flower that blooms once every 12 years from August to October. You will need to have someone to pinch you once you witness this paradisal setting.
6. Tulip Garden, Kashmir:
As if we needed more reasons to visit Heaven on Earth! The Tulip Garden in Kashmir titled one of the top 5 in the world at the Tulip Summit in Canada in 2017, is itself a shining testament of India’s rich biodiversity. Every year, from March to May, the garden hosts its annual festival during the full bloom of spring. Mark your calendars for the upcoming year’s annual showcase of tulips and daffodils at the foothills of the sylvan Zabarwan Range.
Related: India’s Top 10 Most Instagrammed Destinations Might Make You Re-Plan Your Next Trip
