India is composed of the most varied and enchanting landscapes. Some parts of the country also feature aesthetically appealing vistas that cannot be experienced anywhere else in the world. There’s a wealth of mountains, lakes, and untouched valleys waiting to be explored. As you decide on the locations to explore, consider visiting these valleys in India whose beauty is unmatched on your bucket list.
Overview
The pristine views of Ziro Valley will win over your heart and soul because it’s quite literally a magical place. While the valley isn’t frequented by tourists all year round, it’s definitely a happening place on the days of the Ziro Festival Of Music. This event is a more authentic, eco-friendly Coachella type of outdoor music festival that’s slowly making Ziro popular.
Ziro is not just a valley celebrated for its divine views but also a location where you get a peek into the lives of a tribal group called Apatani. The way of living of the Apatani tribe is extremely unique and they are kind enough to show tourists their lifestyle.
Consider yourself lucky if you get invited to an old-style Apatani house for some Apong (an alcoholic drink prepared from fermented rice). Another tradition you’ll see is that old Apatani women wear large wooden nose piercings. This is a lifestyle followed by women of the Apatani tribe to look less attractive so that they aren’t kidnapped by members of another nomadic tribe.
As you explore the villages in Ziro, be mindful that it’s someone’s home, so you have to be extra careful of respecting their privacy.
Best Time To Visit Ziro Valley
A good time to visit Ziro would be during the celebration of two festivals, namely Dree which is usually celebrated on 5th July, and Myoko which is celebrated between 20th and 30th March. During these festivals, the tribe comes together and the atmosphere is joyous.
How To Reach Ziro Valley
To reach here, keep Guwahati (the biggest city in Assam) as your starting point. From here you can take a train that stops at Naharlagun station. After the 7-hour train journey, you can avail of shared public transport from the station and reach Ziro valley in about 3 to 4 hours.
Overview
In Nubra, you’ll have rivers, snow-capped mountains, wildflowers on green pastures, and open skies all in one frame. You can catch mountain reflections in the Shyok River and soak in the view of puffy cotton candy clouds. The view from this valley is nothing less than heavenly and that might even make your pictures look photoshopped.
One important thing to know before planning your trip here is that Indian nationals need an Inner Line Permit while foreigners need a Protected Area Permit to visit Nubra. Ideally, you would need at least 3 days to explore Nubra Valley. You’ll have to also account for a day to get acclimatized since the valley is at an elevation of 10,000 feet above sea level.
Take your time soaking in the beauty of the place and visiting the villages and locals. Must-visit villages in this area include Diskit, Hunder, and Turtuk. We also hope you get to see Bactrian Double Humped Camels grazing but please avoid disturbing them.
Best Time To Visit Nubra Valley
The best time to visit Nubra is when it's warm and pleasant, so you can trek in comfort. April to June and September and October are good months to consider. This is before the chilly winters hit and freeze the region.
How To Reach Nubra Valley
Nubra Valley can be reached by jeep or bus from Leh. The journey takes 6 hours or so, but you’ll hardly feel it because the progressing dramatic landscapes unfold keeping you comforted.
Also read: Experience The Ladakh Festival
Overview
Araku Valley is a beautiful valley situated in the Eastern Ghats of India at an elevation of 2,990 feet above sea level. It’s the place to resort to when you just feel like quietly gazing at lush green coffee plantations. Many people also visit Araku Valley from Vizag as a one-day getaway.
Take long walks at Padmapuram Gardens and stroll the Tribal Museum on your first day here. Also, don’t forget to visit the Borra Caves which is a prime attraction for tourists; it’s one of the deepest caves in India and can easily take 2 hours to explore. Katiki Waterfalls, Galikonda View Point, and Ananthagiri Coffee Plantations are other visits that you should build into your itinerary.
Best Time To Visit Araku Valley
The weather is pretty pleasant all year round in Araku. But most people prefer visiting Araku between the months of September and February so that they don’t have to deal with summer or monsoon weather.
How To Reach Araku Valley
Visitors love reaching Araku via train from Vizag to capture the actual beauty of the Eastern Ghats. The view of a series of small waterfalls from your train window will keep you glued and relaxed in your train seat.
Overview
The Valley of Flowers National Park in Uttarakhand is a UNESCO World Heritage Site for having a huge variety of flora and fauna. Orchids, poppies, daisies, and marigolds are some of the flowers that will greet you when you trek this valley. In the winters, the place turns into a winter wonderland and you won’t get to see a stretch of colorful exotic wildflowers.
Some hikers take 3 hours to trek the valley while others who stop for breaks and photos can take 6 to 8 hours. The entire 8 km valley trail is well laid out, so you’ll not be lost. Do keep in mind that you don’t have to do the entire trail but as much as you feel comfortable with.
In total, trekkers need to dedicate a minimum of 6 days for this trip if traveling from Rishikesh. If you can give 8 to 12 days, you can keep your voyage at a more relaxed pace.
Best Time To Visit Valley Of Flowers
The best time to visit this valley is from June to October. The most intense blooming of flowers happens between mid-July and mid-September.
How To Reach The Valley Of Flowers
To reach the Valley of Flowers, you’ll first need to get to Rishikesh. Your next focus should then be to take public transportation and reach the Govindghat village. There are several buses and shared jeeps that take tourists to Govindghat. From this village, the valley is roughly 16-17 km away.
After reaching Govindghat, you can rest at a guest house. The next goal is to keep journeying forward and reach villages closer to the valley. The closest base village is Ghangaria (as the valley is just 4 km away from here). From Ghangaria, the journey is entirely on foot, so gather the energy to hike the valley.
Also read: Top 7 Things To Do In Uttarakhand
Overview
Spiti Valley is the one that manages to crawl into the itinerary of most travelers going to explore the majestic mountains of Himachal Pradesh. So, don’t be surprised to see this name on this list of the best valleys in India.
It barely takes convincing to get to Spiti Valley, but a random YouTube video or even a grainy picture of the valley is enough. The valley is an unbelievably beautiful place to hike and camp under the starry skies. You would need to chalk out at least 8 days for such a trip since 5 days will be lost in traveling to the valley. Upon reaching the valley, keep Kaza as the base village from where you can explore more of what Spiti has to offer.
Key Monastery, Chandratal Lake, and Kunzum Pass are a few other stops you must include when in Spiti.
Best Time To Visit Spiti Valley
The best time to visit Spiti Valley is from May to September. Most travelers try to avoid visiting Spiti Valley during the winters because of the sub-zero temperatures that the region experiences. The heavy snow and slippery roads also increase the difficulty of hiking the terrain.
How To Reach Spiti Valley
Most people reach here by either keeping Manali or Shimla as the starting points. The majority prefer taking the route via Manali because it’s shorter than Shimla and the terrain is less challenging.
Overall it’s not the easiest valley to reach, but can be termed a hardcore adventure because the road trip is going to be a minimum of 8 hours.
Overview
Yumthang Valley is extremely similar to the Valley of Flowers, so much so that it’s also recalled as the Sikkim Valley of Flowers. Primulas, rhododendrons, and magnolias flood the valley, and the view can make you go bonkers.
But the main highlight of Yumthang Valley is not just the flowers; it’s the natural hot springs that are believed to have healing powers. Your mind and body can benefit from the healing properties by soaking in the super therapeutic hot springs.
The trip to this valley is extremely scenic where you have a large number of pine trees and high mountains keeping you company on the open roads.
Best Time To Visit Yumthang Valley
You should ideally plan your visit between April and June because this is when the entire valley is covered with a blanket of flowers. In the winters, this changes, and the valley gets covered in a thick layer of snow; not a flower in sight but still an alternatively pretty view to capture.
How To Reach Yumthang Valley
Yumthang lies in the north of Sikkim and to get here you’d need to reach its base village namely Lachung.
Lachung is a tourist hotspot located 110 km away from Gangtok (the capital city of Sikkim). The drive from Gangtok to Lachung should take roughly 5 hours. You can find accommodation at Lachung and later on proceed to Yumthang Valley, which is at an elevation of 12,100 feet.
The road journey from Lachung to Yumthang Valley is 1.5 hours long. Several shared jeeps and private local vehicles will be willing to drop you at the valley. This trek is slightly tedious, but the beautiful pastures, rivers, and flowers make it worth the trouble.
Also read: 5 Tranquil Lakes In Sikkim You Must Visit On Your Next Vacation
Overview
When you visit this valley, you’ll see endless rolling green pastures and might be tempted to just take off your shoes and walk barefoot. It’s a gem of a place located on the border of Manipur and Nagaland in the Northeast of India.
The valley is picture perfect and looks as though it’s one of those pitch green valleys seen in animated movies or children's books with forests. There are hardly any trees, so it’s just a series of plain green pastures on hillocks.
But the landscape is blessed with a hue of different colors in the month of July when a bunch of flowers blooms to overpower the greenness of the valley. The most notable flower to see here is the Dzukou lily. Small streams pass through the valley and it covers an area of 27 square kilometers.
Dzukou valley is the lesser-known valley in India on this list. If you like taking off-beat paths you should definitely make a trip here.
Best Time To Visit Dzukou Valley
May to mid-July would be warmer months, but since Dzukou is at an elevation of 8,000 feet, it’s much more pleasant and perfect to see the flowers in bloom. You can also consider September and October because this is when the rains make the land look even fresher.
How To Reach Dzukou Valley
You can get here via Nagaland or Manipur. A tip from us is that Nagaland is going to be the easier and more convenient route to take.
In Nagaland, your travel will begin in Kohima (the capital and central city in Nagaland). From here you can take cabs or local transport to reach Jakhama (spelled as Zakhama on Google Maps) or Viswema. These two villages are 20 to 25 km away from Kohima. You have to get here first as these are the base villages from where you can hike to Dzukou valley.
Summing Up
And there you have it! The 7 best valleys that India has to offer trekkers and outdoor enthusiasts. Our list is a mix of the famous, offbeat, and unique valleys that you can attempt to visit if you wish to explore the varied landscapes and beauty of nature in India.
Which Is The Most Beautiful Valley In India?
The North of India is proclaimed to have the most beautiful valleys ever seen in the country. Kangra and Parvati Valley in Himachal Pradesh, Valley of Flowers in Uttarakhand, and Zanskar Valley are proof of the same. However, there are plenty of beautiful valleys in the other parts of India as well.
Which Is The Biggest Valley In India?
The Kangra Valley in Himachal Pradesh is the biggest valley in India. It offers numerous opportunities to trek, hike, and camp.
Is Spiti Valley Dangerous?
The journey to Spiti Valley is definitely among the most challenging ones in India. The terrain and narrow mountain passes make the journey difficult and the roads do become dangerous during the winter.
Which Is The Most Famous Valley In India?
Nubra Valley in Leh, The Valley of Flowers in Uttarakhand, and Kangra Valley in Himachal Pradesh are some of the most famous and frequently visited valleys in India.
How Many Valleys Are There In India?
There is a partial list of 76 valleys recorded in India, but there can be way more that haven’t been registered yet. The states of Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, and Nagaland have some of the most iconic valleys in the country.
Which Is The Largest Valley In Asia?
Lying between the Mahabharat range and the Churiya range in the south is the Dang Valley which is the largest valley in all of Asia.
Which City Is Known As Silicon Valley Of India?
Due to the growing number of start-ups and being the highest exporter of IT services, Bangalore is known as the Silicon Valley of India.
Which Is One Of The Beautiful Valleys Of The Himalayas?
Not just one, but the Himalayas are studded with several beautiful valleys. Some of the most popular valleys in the Himalayan range are Gyirong valley, Gama valley, Chentang valley, Yadong valley, and Zhangmu valley.
