You have heard people endlessly raving about the pretty cherry blossoms in Japan. So much so that they book tickets to witness this beauty. But were you aware that India has a version of this in the mighty Himalayan ranges? Astonishing, isn’t it and you don’t even need a visa to witness it! See a bunch of captivating pink, scarlet, red, purple, and magenta rhododendrons blossoming in full glory. The ideal time to witness rhododendrons dancing is from late February to late April. So plan a rhododendrons trek to these places and the stunning sight you are about to witness will be a core memory for you!
6 Treks To Witness The Himalayas Ablaze With Hues Of Blooming Rhododendrons
1. Brahmatal Trek
Brahmatal Trek
Uttarakhand 🇮🇳Blankets of snow, the Brahmatal trek with beautiful landscapes and sprawling forests.
Delhi to Brahma tal trek: 436 km
Best Season – Mid November to March
Snow – Mid December to Mid March.
Stay – Guest house, Camping. pic.twitter.com/rpfdso9vIS— RIPSY ANAND@ travel blogger (@RipsyAnand) March 6, 2020
If you are certainly impatient and cannot wait for an entire trek to witness the glory of rhododendrons in the Himalayas, then Brahmatal Trek in Uttarakhand is perfect for you. You will find rhododendrons as soon as you start the trek. The base camp for the trek is Lohajung and this place is filled with these gorgeous flowers. On the way, you will have another magical experience at Bekaltal. It has a glistening lake and the petals are floating on it; you can imagine where we are heading with this!
2. Deoriatal-Chandrashila Trek
At ~ 12,083 ft, Deoriatal Chandrashila is a perfect gateway trek beginners.
It’s a perfect package with a thrilling summit walk, scenic camp sites, enough big mountain views and lovely rhododendron forests.
And yes, there’s also World’s highest Shiv temple, Tungnath Mahadev. pic.twitter.com/qHijoX5cgQ
— TrekkersOfBharat (@TrekkersofInd) April 26, 2022
This trek in Uttarakhand has a bountiful collection of rhododendron forests. The trek up to the Deoriatal Lake is beautiful and as you come face to face with the lake, you heave a sigh of relief. Why? The sight in front of you is just too mesmerising. There are gorgeous canopies of rhododendrons alongside the lake. So much so that you will also have the opportunity to walk a thick bed of fallen rhododendrons. Honestly, it screams main character vibes, get that Bollywood scenic shot! Don’t forget to put a cluster of rhododendrons behind your ear. P.S. You might witness some snow on this trek.
3. Goechala Trek
Rhododendron campanulatum ‘Roland Cooper’ flowering @TheBotanics
Seed selection from Cooper’s 1916 expedition to NW Himalaya. Seeds came from southern slopes below Rhotang Pass in what is now Himachal Pradesh. #RhodoFest pic.twitter.com/ooVesEe4G1— Alan Elliott 🏴 (@alan_elliott) April 23, 2018
This trek is known to have people embark from all over the world because it has large sections of rhododendrons in the Himalayas. To be precise, the portion between Tshoka and Phedang is locally known as ‘the rhododendron belt’. You will be surrounded by scarlet hues of these blooming flowers which is no less than an aesthetic Pinterest picture in real life.
Also Read: From Gurez Valley To Gavi, 10 Offbeat Destinations Across India’s Diverse Landscapes!
4. Sandakphu-Phalut Trek
March 14 is also Phool Dei, a beautiful floral festival in the Kumaon-Garhwal Himalaya.
At this time of year, those mountains witness blooms of chimula/simru (Rhododendron barbatum – pictured, R. campanulatum) along the treeline, and burans (R. arboreum) in mid-altitude forests. https://t.co/KlurKEOKt3 pic.twitter.com/ln9GVYR3K3
— Vaibhav Kaul (@Himalayologist) March 14, 2021
Let’s go towards West Bengal and catch a glorious sight with a perfect view of Kanchenjunga and Mount Everest. Here, trek to the sections of Samanden and Molley where you will be enthralled by rhododendron forests! All the pretty pinks around you might just evoke last year’s Barbie vibes! But you will also get to witness pretty colours of light pink, white, and yellow. You can also visit Singalila National Park to glimpse these flowers.
5. Ranthan Kharak
Rhododendron niveum from the eastern #Himalaya flowering in the Copse @TheBotanics #rbgehort #ScottishRhododendronFestival pic.twitter.com/dIZZg2DoDG
— David Knott (@DKnott8) April 9, 2019
Ranthan Kharak has emerged as a new hotspot for rhododendrons in Uttarakhand. As this trek is a new location, you will not find crowds here, hence it is rather a calmer and peaceful trek. Because it doesn’t have much human interaction, birds are flocking the trees here. This trek will serve you rhododendrons like no other trek. From Namik to Bajimanian to Chopu campsites, the places are filled with glorious blossoms.
6. Kedarkantha Trek
Spring view of the #Himalayas, Red #Rhododendron is National flower of #Nepal.
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📸 By @mountain.gram #travel #Wanderlust #travelphotography #photography #PhotoOfTheDay #mountains #travelblog #travelblogger #BlackInNature #nature #NaturePhotography #BucketList pic.twitter.com/yL05Am2IXu— Bucket List Nepal (@BucketlistNepal) June 2, 2020
Another Himalayan trek which is blazing with rhododendrons! Here you get a side of snow-capped peaks of the Himalayas and a bunch of pretty rhododendrons. It doesn’t end there, you will see gushing waters of rivers Tons, Supin Yamuna and Ganga, almost all the time. Isn’t that crazy, india truly is incredible and fascinating to explore. Taking short breaks and enjoying the pretty meadows is such a great experience!
Also Read: The Himalayas Are Bathed In Red With Rhododendron Blooms
Now that you are aware of these beautiful treks, you can embark on the Himalayas and soak in the season of blooming rhododendrons!
Cover Image Credits: Canva
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