India is a land of wonders for people thirsty for the beauty of nature. The large array of places that this land offers can surprise almost any traveler. There are several tourist places in India, which include sea beaches, mountains, forests, and historical sites. Besides, India also has quite a few valleys that are breathtakingly beautiful. These stunning valleys, located across different states in India are fed by various rivers, including the Narmada, Teesta, Kaveri, Jhelum, Lidder, and others.
Kashmir Valley
There are only a few places on earth the beauty of which has been compared to the enchantment of heaven since the earliest of time. The Kashmir Valley, drained by River Jhelum, is one such wonderful location that has attracted the attention of nature lovers for a long time. The Kashmir Valley is surrounded by high mountain ranges on various sides - the Karakoram Range in the north, the Zanskar Range in the east, and the Pir Panjal Range in the south as well as in the west.
The valley is covered with greenery - lush forests and flowering plants. There are magnificent lakes all around. Some of these include Dal Lake, Wular Lake, Satsar Lake, and others. The valley offers a different view during each season. During winter, it's covered in snow. But during spring and summer, you can visit the Kashmir Valley to enjoy the view of apple orchards in bloom. And the fall is the time to see the Kashmir Valley in the golden hue of the Chinar or Maple trees.
There are a few amazing tourist places in Srinagar, the capital of the Jammu and Kashmir, which is located in the Kashmir Valley. The place attracts a lot of tourists these days after years of political unrest had caused the tourism industry of this astounding valley to suffer to a great extent.
Spiti Valley
Himachal Pradesh, undoubtedly, is one of the most enchanting states in India. It has several tourist destinations, which include, among others, Kullu, Manali, Rohtang Pass, and the capital city of Shimla. It also has several valleys, among which is an enthralling valley - the Spiti Valley, which is fed by the Spiti River. This valley, located between India and Tibet, is a cold desert, which has meager vegetation.
The Spiti Valley is an important location for Buddhism and houses quite a few monasteries. It is a connection point of culture and religion between India and Tibet. These include the Tabo Monastery and the Key Monastery. Dhankar Lake is often visited by tourists during their Spiti Valley trips. Chandratal and Surajtal are also a few lakes, which can be visited from this valley. The Spiti River that flows through the valley often dives into a few deep gorges. Besides, the Pin Valley National Park and Kibber Wildlife Sanctuary, a few destinations that are the favorite of wildlife lovers, are also located in the Spiti Valley.
Lidder Valley
In addition to the Jhelum River, the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir is also fed by one of its tributaries - the Lidder River. This river forms a valley in Kashmir, which isn't less charming than any of the valleys in India. The Lidder Valley is also surrounded by mountain ranges. The Pir Panjal range stands in the south while the Sindh and Zanskar Ranges guard the valley from the north.
The Lidder River flows through a gorge through this valley and creates some places that seem to come right out of an artist's canvas. The Lidder Valley remains green and fresh during summer and is covered with a thick, white blanket of snow during winter. There are a few regularly visited tourist places along the Lidder Valley. These include popular tourist destinations, such as Pahalgam, Aru, and Akad.
Solang Valley
When you want an experience of the most alluring places in Himachal Pradesh, such as Manali or Rohtang, you need to visit the Solang Valley. The valley is the perfect spot to look at some of the majestic peaks of the Himalayan range. During summer, the valley offers pleasant weather. However, winter brings magic to the Solang Valley. During winter, the valley turns white with snow.
After the snowfalls, the Solang Valley also offers tourists the opportunity to engage in adventure sports, such as skiing, riding snow scooters, snowmobiling, paragliding, and camping at wild campsites. While visiting this place, you can ride the Ski Himalayas Ropeway to get the perfect view of the Solang Valley.
Valley of Flowers
Valley of Flowers, a National Parks located in the state of Uttarakhand, offers a paradise for trekkers and nature lovers. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, this valley is created by the Pushpawati River, which runs through this area. The Valley of Flowers National Park derives its name due to the presence of numerous colorful flowering plants, which are in full bloom during the season of spring.
The Valley of Flowers National Park is also rich in flora and fauna. It is home to some of the endangered and rare animals and birds, including snow leopard, brown bear, musk deer, blue sheep, Himalayan Monal, and several other birds and animals. This valley is also the starting point for the Hemkund Trek.
Ketti Valley
Ketti Valley, also spelled as Ketty Valley, is often considered as one of the hidden gems for travel thirsty nature lovers exploring the state of Tamilnadu. Located close to Ooty, this 7000 feet deep valley owes its fame to its flora and fauna. There are forests all around, which offer the perfect spot for travelers who are looking to spend time close to nature away from the concrete jungle of the busy cities.
If you're planning to visit Ketty Valley, you can take a toy train ride from Ooty to this valley. There are several tea plantations all around in the Ketty Valley. When you're there, you can spend some time walking along the trodden trails of the nearby forests. If you're lucky, you can also experience some wildlife from some distance. This valley also has several waterfalls with unmatched charm. If you look around from Ketti Valley, you'll find ranges of blue mountains and hills extending to the horizon.
Neora Valley
Created by the Neora River in the state of West Bengal, the Neora Valley is home to an amazing national park - the Neora Valley National Park - situated at an altitude of 3200 meters. This valley in India is known for being one of the habitats of the elusive red panda. Besides, the Neora Valley National Park is also popular among tourists as it is quite rich in terms of flora and fauna.
Several other animals, such as leopard cat, Asiatic Black Bear, Asian Golden Cat, Barking Deer, Flying Squirrel, Clouded Leopard, and others. The forests of the Neora Valley National Park also have numerous types of avian and reptilian species that add to the variety.
The Neora Valley National Park is perfect for trekking through the diverse landscape. You can enjoy the ambiance of the forest while just strolling around. Besides, you can also take a jeep ride through the forests. If the weather is clear, you can also get a glimpse of some of the majestic peaks of the Himalayan Range from different points of the Neora Valley.
Dzukou Valley
Located at the border of the states of Manipur and Nagaland, the Dzukou Valley is undoubtedly one of the most scenic valleys in India. The valley attracts tourists for the natural beauty it offers.
Often referred to as the Valley of Flowers of Northeast India, the Dzukou Valley boasts of amazing flora and fauna. A number of seasonal flowers bloom in this valley. Among them, the Dzukou Lily, which is endemic to this valley, is the most famous. Other flowers that color the valley vibrant during the spring season include different types of lilies, euphorbias, aconitums, and so on. The Dzukou Valley is the home to Lake Loktak, which is an important tourist destination of Imphal.
The Dzukou Valley is known as one of the most visited places by trekkers during the Japfu Peak Trek.
Yumthang Valley
The state of Sikkim has a few places of breathtaking beauty and is also home to some of the most splendid valleys of India. Yumthang Valley is surely one of them. Created by a tributary of River Teesta, this valley is full of flora and fauna. In fact, the Shingba Rhododendron Sanctuary is located in this valley. The Yumthang Valley has various types of rhododendrons. These flowers color the valley in different vibrant shades when they are in full bloom.
The towns of Lachen and Lachung are located close to Yumthang Valley. Although it's vibrant with rhododendrons during summer, the Yumthang Valley is all white with heavy snowfall during winter.
Araku Valley
A valley in the Eastern Ghats in the state of Andhra Pradesh, Araku Valley is known for its dense forests and tribal culture. The valley is home to the Anantagiri and Sunkarimetta Reserved Forest and boasts of diverse flora and fauna.
The Borra Caves, known locally as Borra Guhalu, is the star attraction of Araku Valley. Located at an altitude of 705 meters on the Ananthagiri Hills of the Araku Valley, this cave has various stalactite and stalagmite formations that create some interesting shapes.
Other major Araku Valley attractions include several waterfalls, such as Tadimada Waterfalls, Ranajilleda Falls, Chaparai Waterfalls, and Katiki Waterfalls. When you're visiting this valley, pay a visit to the Araku Tribal Museum, which offers interesting views about the history and culture of the Araku Valley. You can also Mastygundam, a pool formed on River Machkund, which is located here.
Parvati Valley
Created by the Parvati River, this valley in India is another gem for travel lovers from the state of Himachal Pradesh. This place is close to the spot of the confluence of River Parvati and River Beas. There are several small streams as well as gushing waterfalls at various places across the valley. In this valley, you can also find a few hot springs that offer some respite from the freezing temperature of this region.
The Parvati Valley is the perfect spot to unwind yourself in the silence of nature. This place boasts of several eye-catching, green meadows along the banks of the rivers. Besides, it also offers some scintillating scenes that will be etched in your memories forever.
Nubra Valley
Nubra Valley, created by two rivers - Shyok and Nubra - is a valley of rugged beauty located in the Ladakh region. Often referred to as the Orchard of Ladakh for the presence of numerous orchards in the region, Nubra Valley, which is a cold desert, offers contrasting conditions during winter and summer. During winter, the valley, which contains farmlands, turns white with snow and is extremely arid and dry. However, during summer, it turns a bit greener and the lakes reflect the clear blue sky.
Nubra Valley, one of the highest valleys in India, has orchards of apples, the products of which are extremely popular across the globe. Besides, the region also produces walnuts, almonds, and apricots.
There are several monasteries in Nubra Valley. Some of these monasteries in Nubra Valley are Hemis Gompa, Diskit Gompa, Stok Monastery, Samstanling Gompa, Chemrey Gompa, and Stakna Gompa. The Shey Palace is also a popular attraction in the region. The Hunder Sand Dunes, located in the Nubra Valley, are part of this highest cold desert in the world. You can hitch a ride on the double-humped Bactrian camels of Nubra Valley to have a memorable experience at the place.
Kangra Valley
A breathtaking location in the Western Himalayas, Kangra Valley is home to some of the popular tourist destinations in Himachal Pradesh. As with any other valley of Himachal Pradesh, the Kangra Valley is also equally stunning and offers mesmerizing sceneries from various places of the valley.
The captivating Masroor Lake is located in this valley. Some of the most well-known hill stations of India, namely Dharmasala and McCleodganj, are located in the Kangra Valley. In addition to nature's gifts, the Kangra Valley also offers the tourists a touch of history as well. The Masroor Rock Cut Temple and the Baijnath Temple of Lord Shiva are some historical temples in the valley. Besides, the Noorpur Fort also attracts tourists. There are also several tea gardens in the region. You can also take a ride on the Kangra Valley Railway, which is more popular as the Kangra Valley Toy Train.
Dibang Valley
Named after the Dibang River, which flows through the state, the Dibang Valley is one of the most picturesque Indian valleys. Located between Bomdila and Tawang, this valley in Arunachal Pradesh is rich in natural beauty, which is common across Arunachal Pradesh.
The Dibang Valley is home to the Mehao Wildlife Sanctuary and the Dihang Biosphere Reserve. When you visit this valley, you can spend time on the shores of Sally Lake, Kampona Pond, and Mehao Lake. Some historical places of interest in Dibang Valley are Rukmini Nati Fort and Bhismaknagar Fort.
Patratu Valley
The state of Jharkhand has some outstanding places that are yet to be completely explored by tourists. Among these unexplored places in Jharkhand is the Patratu Valley. The valley is known for the lush green forests around it. The Patratu Dam, where you can enjoy boating, is also located in this valley.
One of the major attractions of Patratu Valley is the road that leads to it from Ranchi, the capital of Jharkhand. This road follows a zigzag pattern with numerous hairpin bends. Besides, the forests around the roads offer soothing greenery for the eyes to relax. While visiting the valley, stop at one of the hairpin bends and catch a bird's-eye view of the Patratu Valley of Jharkhand.
Are you aware of any other Indian valleys that are even more attractive than any of these valleys in India?
Share your views with us in the comments.
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