In the morning I woke up with a butterfly in my stomach. We were off early, and it was a dull pink in the sky, and there was a cold freshness that made me pull my jacket tighter. I felt surreal in the 3.5 km walk to the Valley. Gradually the country shifted. Pine was traded with meadows. and then, as a curtain was parted, I beheld it.

I would not know how to describe how it felt to be there. Picture a strip of the land that continues after kilometres and everything, every single piece of land is covered with flowers blue, yellow, red, pink almost like the petals in this wind know that they are playing a part in some divine universe. Brahma Kamals, Blue poppies, Himalayan daisies, anemones, and hundreds of other flowers whose names I cannot even pronounce grew in harmony with each other in absolute silence. 

It was a sweet smell in the air that was not oppressive. There was the murmur of the breeze and one caught in it the buzz of bees, the chirping of birds and a far-off rustling of the Pushpawati River. It was on a rock that I sat down and watched. The clock stopped.

I am not talking down on it, though it is beautiful, it is breathtaking. But it is not only on this trek that you learn stuff. You also learn to treat your body well and the boundaries of it, especially when the altitude gains more. You get to know patience - Himalayan trails have no shortcuts. And best of all, you learn presence. 

There are always sounds in this world that never cease to clatter and here you are another soul in the great purpose of Nature. There were also other trekkers I would bump into on the road - single people, couples, schooling groups, and all of them had their own reasons as to why they were here. We told stories, laughed and could not say anything. and even the mountains bound us together.

Day three was when we thought of climbing up to Hemkund Sahib which is a sacred Sikh pilgrimage place at 14100 ft. This was tough, steep, cold, hard work. A visit to the crystal clear glacial lake and the gurudwara situated next to the lake was like a soul satisfying reward. This chai and the khichdi which was a part of the langar was something to be savored and with that we would sit by the calm waters of the river which mirrored the mighty mountains. It was tranquil, serene and very touching.

Ghangaria is just a small and simple town with comfortable guesthouses and campsites. Food is easy, i.e. rotis, sabzi, rice and Maggi (needless to say). Internet? It is no matter. But that is the likewise, you end up having to take your plugs out, you are compelled to view the sky rather than your screen. 

The trek is moderate in its own as long as anyone has good fitness and determination they can do it. It has a combination of smooth roads and rocky terrain though nothing too technical.

To this day, weeks later, my eyes are shut and I am magically taken away, back, back, to the rich hues, the invigorating mountain air, the good-natured mules that came along our trail, the pleasant crunch of my feet hitting the ground of the forest. Valley of flowers is not only a trek. It is an emotion. It is a place that can speak to you, that life has not lost its beauty, that nature still has powers to heal and that silence is not always necessary, but sometime it can say more than thousands of words ever could.

• Region: Chamoli district, Uttarakhand
• Best Time to Visit: Mid-July to late August (peak bloom)
• Duration: 5–6 days
• Altitude: ~14,100 ft (highest point: Hemkund Sahib)
• Difficulty: Moderate
• Permit: Yes (required to enter the Valley)

 For More details visit: https://trekthehimalayas.com/valley-of-flowers-trek