The monsoons are a great time to head out and explore nature’s beauty. The landscapes are a dozen shades of green, and the weather too is a welcome change from the oppressive summer heat. Milind Bhide, Founder and Managing Director of Countryside Adventure Holidays lists some treks you absolutely must do in the monsoons, to see a different side to nature.

Valley of Flowers, Uttarakhand
A corner of the Bhyundar Valley in the Garhwal Himalayas in Uttarakhand comes alive for a few weeks during the rains for a few weeks in July and August and blooms with hundreds of varieties of Himalayan flora. It is popularly called 'Valley of Flowers' and was designated as Biosphere Reserve by the UNESCO in 1998. This is a popular trekking trail, especially in the monsoons. The nearby Gurudwara Hemkund Sahib, the highest Sikh temple in the world, is also a popular destination with trekkers and pilgrims alike.