Top 10 Must Visit Valleys in India

As a traveller, have you ever seen something so intricate, natural, and stunning that it literally swept you off your feet? Visualise a place, which is bestowed with exotic flora and fauna, majestic mountains, and sparkling rivers – we are talking about some stunning valleys of India, which will simply leave you awestruck. Let’s talk about these natural wonders of India, which are worth exploring for any ardent traveller.

Zanskar Valley, Ladakh

Zanskar valley is located in the south-west region of Leh at an altitude of 13,154 ft and spread over an area of 5,000 sq km. This valley is named after the Zanskar River, which flows down from the mountain and waters the rose bushes and other herbal plants in this valley. Nestled amidst snow-capped mountains of the Himalayan range, this is one of the most beautiful valleys in the world. The ravine provides captivating views of the surreal beauty of nature and attracts many tourists. You should know that it remains inaccessible for about 7 months of the year due to heavy snowfall. The Zanskar River freezes and turns into a captivating sheet of snow during winter, which is popularly called as the Chadar trek. A few tourists come here especially in winter to relish the opportunity of trekking on this challenging terrain. Besides that, many visitors come here to explore the ancient Buddhist monasteries. During summers, travellers enjoy white water rafting on the Zanskar River.

How to reach:

By Air: The nearest airport to Zanskar is at Leh. Leh is well connected to major cities like Jammu, Srinagar and Delhi with major airlines flying into Leh. Hire a taxi from the airport or you can go for shared taxis or buses to get to Zanskar Valley.

By Rail: The nearest rail head is Jammu. After getting off at the railway station, one can take a shared bus to Zanskar Valley via Kargil.

Where to stay:

You can stay in the Jammu and Kashmir Tourism Bungalow. Other options are three guesthouses and some campsites in Zanskar. Padum town, which is situated at a distance of 19 kms from Zanskar, has a three-star hotel.

Valley of Flowers, Uttarakhand

Nestled amidst the Garhwal hills of the Himalayan Mountain Range, the valley of flowers has been accredited as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. It is one of the main attractions of the Chamoli region of Uttarakhand. This beautiful canyon is fittingly named as the Valley of Flower, as it is blessed with a fabulous assortment of gorgeous flowers, which fill up the valley and create an enthralling panorama. In fact, there are some rare varieties of flowers here, such as: the blue Himalayan poppy, Himalayan bellflower, Morina longifolia, Himalayan maple, and brahmakamal – interestingly, these flowers are found only on the higher stretches of the Himalayas. Besides regular tourists, this valley is hugely popular among explorers, botanists and mountaineers, who come here either to study the rare flowers or to enjoy trekking. It is also home to some endangered species of animals such as snow leopard, red fox, musk deer, brown bear, and blue sheep. The best time to visit this valley is between mid-April and June, as it remains closed for 7 months in a year due to heavy snowfall.

How to reach:

By Air: The Jolly Grant Airport is the nearest Airport to Valley of Flowers. You can book a cab to reach Govind Ghat. From there onwards, you have to commence trek of 16 kms to reach the Valley of Flowers.

By Rail: The nearest railway station to Valley of flowers is Rishikesh. You can reach Govind Ghat by bus or cab and then you have to commence trek of 16 kms to reach Valley of Flowers.

Where to stay:

No one is allowed to stay in the Valley of Flower region. So, you can stay at Ghangaria or Govindghat, where you will find GMVN Tourist Rest House and Forest Rest House. Private Lodge and Hotels are also available in these two places.

Kashmir Valley, Kashmir

Snuggled between the Pir Panjal and the Karakoram Range of mountains, the majestic Kashmir Valley is blessed with an unprecedented charming landscape. Over the years, this gorgeous valley has not only captured the imagination of the travellers around the world, but also inspired many artists, poets, and filmmakers. With snow-capped mountains, verdant meadows, cascading waterfalls and beautiful groves of pine trees – this is the only place, where you would feel that the blue sky actually reflects the exquisiteness of the lakes, which are complemented by the beds of blooming flowers.

How to reach:

By Air: Srinagar airport is approximately 14 km from the city. There are daily flights to Srinagar, operated from Delhi, Mumbai and Jammu.

By Rail: Nearest rail head for Srinagar is Jammu about 305 km. Trains from Delhi, Calcutta, Pune, Mumbai and other cities arrive at the Jammu Tawi station daily.

Where to stay: There are many options to stay in Kashmir Valley. One can stay in houseboats (known as Shikara locally) in Srinagar. Most of these houseboats anchor along the banks of Dal Lake and Nagin Lake only. Just like hotels, the houseboats of Kashmir are also categorised. There are Deluxe, A-class, B-class, C-class and D-class houseboats in Srinagar. Besides that, there are many hotels in Srinagar, located around the Dal Lake.

Sutlej Valley, Punjab

The Sutlej Valley is named after the famous Sutlej River, which is the longest of the five rivers of Punjab. This beautiful valley is flanked by some striking snow-capped mountains and verdant hills. It is also home to one of the largest Bird Sanctuaries in India, named as the Harike Bird Sanctuary, which has many rare species of birds such as Yellow Clowned Woodpecker, Water Cock and Tufted Duck among others. This valley is perfect for nature walk. The entire region around this valley is also beautiful and one can take a walk through mustard fields and apple orchards.

How to reach:

By Air: Amritsar Airport is the closest airport situated at a distance of 68 km. Hire a taxi or bus from the airport to reach the Harike Wildlife Sanctuary within one and half hours.

By Rail: The nearest railway station is Tarn Taran railway station situated at 33 km south to the sanctuary.

Where to stay: There are many hotels and rest-houses around 10 km from the Harike Wildlife Sanctuary.

Kangra Valley, Himachal Pradesh

Besides its incredible natural beauty, the Kangra Valley is a worldwide popular destination for the Kangra Fort and Masroor Rock cut temple, which is declared as a World Heritage site by UNESCO and popularly known as ‘The Himalayan Mountains.’ The beauty of this valley lies in its fascinating layers of pine trees and orchards. There are many rivulets in this valley, which are replenished by the glaciers and help in sustaining the incredible ecosystem of this place. The best time to visit this valley is in the month of April. To enjoy the breathtaking views of this valley, one can board the Kangra Valley Railway and soak up the beauty of this region.

How to reach:

By Air: The nearest airport at Gaggal in Kangra is at a distance of 7 km, this is the nearest airport. There are daily flights from Delhi to this place.

By Rail: The nearest broad gauge railhead is Pathankot, 70 km away.Pathankot is on Delhi Jammu Railway line and there are plenty of trains to choose from at different timings.

Where to stay:

There are many hotels and resorts in Dharamshala, 31 km away.

Dzukou Valley, Nagaland

Located on the border of Nagaland and Manipur, the Dzukou valley is one of the most picturesque valleys in the northeast region of India and attract trekkers from all over the world. This amazing valley turns into a carpet of wild flowers in spring, which are watered by two streams of the Japfu and the Dzukou rivers. Besides flowers, this entire valley is flanked by bamboo trees, which create a kind of boundary around these flowerbeds – and these elements blend together to create some remarkable sights. Nature lovers, botanist, and explorers frequent this place – as there is something for everyone and possibly that is why they call it the “Valley of Flowers of the North East.”

How to reach:

By Air: The nearest airport is Dimapur, 91 km. Dimapur gets flights from Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru.

By Rail: The nearest railhead is Dimapur, 91 km. You can book a cab or board the NST (Nagaland  State Transport)  bus from Dimapur to reach here.

Where to stay: There are many hotels and resorts in Dimapur. But, there is no private facility in the valley, so you have to stay at trekker’s hut.

Ketti Valley, Tamil Nadu

One of the most fascinating facts about the Ketti Valley is that it is the second largest gorge in the world. Nestled amidst the blue Nilgiri Mountains, this gorgeous valley is blessed with a variety of flora and fauna. One can enjoy many activities in this natural paradise such as hiking, trekking, and bird watching. This valley is flanked by beautiful hills, which cover the area from Coonoor to Ooty in Tamil Nadu. You can also take the toy train from Ooty, which runs through this valley, to savour its awe-inspiring beauty. Other main attractions of this valley are: the Shiva Lingam temple, tea plantations and some waterfalls in the area.

How to reach:

By Air: The nearest airport is Peelamedu Airport, 48 km away. You can book a cab or take a bus from there to reach the valley.

By Rail: Ketti has a railway station, which gets trains from the major cities of India.

Where to stay: There are many hotels and resorts in Ketti.

Dibang Valley, Arunachal Pradesh

Dibang Valley is more popular for its wildlife than its overall natural beauty. It is named after the Dibang River, which flows through this valley in Arunachal Pradesh. Another main attraction of this valley is that it is situated near the Indo-China border and divided into two sections. While its upper half belongs to some rare and endangered animals like Gongshan and Mismi Takin, the second half is home to a wide variety of birds. This region is complemented by undulated mountains, waterfalls, and lakes, which contribute to making it a natural paradise.

How to reach:

By Air: The nearest Domestic Airport is Chabua Airport, Dibrugarh, 192 km, and it is well connected to many major cities like New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Bangalore, Ahmedabad, Dimapur and Hyderabad.

By Rail: The nearest Railway Station is Murkeongselek Railway Station from Anini located at a distance of 323 Kms from the district headquarters.

Where to stay: There are some medium to budget accommodations available near the Dibang Valley such as: Circuit House, Minu Hotel, Forest Rest House and Lhasa Hotel among others.

Chambal Valley, Madhya Pradesh

A few decades ago, the Chambal Valley was considered as one of the most notorious places in India, which were ruled by some dacoits. Things have completely changed over the years and now people frequent this valley to savour its scenic beauty. It is named after the Chambal River, which flows through this valley. One of the most fascinating aspects of this valley is that it is surrounded by verdant mountains as compared to the valleys, found in the Himalayan region, which are flanked by the snow-capped mountains. The lush green forests of this valley are home to a variety of flora and fauna. Other main attractions of this place are some prehistoric sites in the form of temples, which are sprinkled across the valley and offer interesting insights about the history of India.

How to reach:

By Air: The nearest airport  is in Agra, 70 kms. You can book a taxi or take a bus ride to reach here.

By Rail: Agra is the nearest rail head.

Where to stay: There are many accommodation options available near the Chambal Valley.

Silent Valley, Kerala

Located in the Nilgiri Hills of Kerala, the Silent Valley is home to many endangered animals and birds. This verdant valley is also blessed with some rare plants, which are found in its evergreen forests. In fact, there is a National Park in this valley, which has been specifically created to protect its rare flora and fauna. There are various lakes and hillocks in this valley, which contribute in supporting its fragile ecosystem.

How to reach:

By Air: The nearest airport  is Coimbatore, 68 Km. You can book a taxi or take a bus ride to reach here.

By Rail: The nearest railhead is also Coimbatore.

Where to stay: There are many accommodation options available near the Silent Valley.

Planning to travel to India? Check out some Amazing Tours!