In case you are planning a visit to India in the next couple of months before the on-set of winter, we suggest that you squeeze in some time from your busy itinerary and visit the Valley of Flowers, nestled in the cozy nook of the Himalayan state of Uttarakhand, some 3,600 odd meters above sea level.

As the name itself suggests, the Valley of Flowers is a pristine destination swarming with the choicest flowers that miraculously mushroom with the onset of summers when the snow on the mountains melts. On your way to this relatively virgin destination, you are sure to encounter plenty of cascading waterfalls accompanied by the fragrance of a bouquet of flowers that together promise to mesmerize your senses.

In order to protect and preserve the untouched sanctity of the place, the state tourism department has made a conscious decision of not allowing any lodge or hotel to operate in this area. So, while on your visit, remember to book yourself in an accommodation in Ghangaria, the base camp for your trek to the Valley of Flowers. The locals, who are convinced that the place is inhabited by fairies, have known about the existence of the place since time immemorial, but it was not until recently that the outside world came to know of it.

The Valley of Flowers was declared a National Park by the government of India in the year 1982 and has been recently acknowledged as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. A home to numerous celebrated and rare species flowers like the Brahmakamal, the Blue Poppy and the Cobra Lily, The Valley of Flowers beckons flower-lovers, botanists, trekkers and nature enthusiasts of all sorts. They all come flocking to get a glimpse of the splendor of nature, painted spectacularly in vivid hues.

But here is a foreword of warning - visiting it might not be as easy to a metropolis, if you are not used to the concept of trekking. This one promises to be a physically demanding trip so you better be prepared. Also, the rugged terrain is sure to consume a lot of your time and patience. So, a little bit of prior planning and thought is what could save you loads of inconvenience. And once you are there, the sheer sight is sure to put all your woes to rest.