India has magical places for honeymooners who are looking for a bit of privacy along with spectacular scenery and unforgettable experiences.

Romantic Honeymoon in the Valley of Flowers

This enchanting valley in Uttaranchal, about 595 km from Delhi, offers the headiest of honeymoons. Surrounded by mountains, this World Heritage Site, bursts into bloom during July and August with the melting of the snow. A staggering diversity of flowers and medicinal plants (some of them endangered) carpet an area of 87.5 km.

It is said that the fragrance of the blooms is so strong that it can make people faint. Locals say that this is fairyland and those who venture too far among the flowers can be abducted by the fairies.

The Pushpawati River divides this alpine valley into two halves and many streams flow through the area. There are around 500 species of flowers here such as lilies, edelweiss, daisies, geranium, holly, pansy, zinnia, petunia, orchids and anemones. Tourists come here all the way to see the beautiful blue Himalayan poppy.

Some indigenous flowers here are the hard to find Brahma’s Lotus (brahmakamal) and Cobra Lily. And of course, there are butterflies galore.

A trip to the Valley of Flowers is only for the fit. Once you get to Rishikesh from Delhi, you travel by bus (11 hours) to Joshimath. Another bus ride (1 hour) from Joshimath to Govindghat. And then, the difficult but highly enjoyable 14 km trek to Ghangria, following the Lakshman Ganga River. It is a pretty steep climb and raincoats will come in handy.

Finally, you climb 3 km from the Ghangria base camp to the Valley of Flowers where a romantic sea of flowers awaits honeymooners.

Honeymoon on a Houseboat in the Backwaters of Kerala

You will know why people call Kerala ‘God’s Own Country’ when you cruise along the tranquil palm-fringed backwaters. You float by sleepy villages, paddy fields, water lilies, coconut groves, temples and wildlife sanctuaries. There are trees everywhere and rustic homes with red tiled Chinese pagoda roofs. In fact, the concept of the Chinese pagoda was borrowed from Kerala.

The eco-friendly houseboats are equipped with modern comforts. There is the popular suite houseboat with two bedrooms that have bathrooms attached, kitchenette, living room, and an open lounge. The crew consists of a guide, oarsmen and a cook. Some houseboats even offer water skiing facilities.

Dining out in the open lounge with your beloved in the moonlight is an unforgettable experience.

Honeymoon in the Golden City of Jaisalmer

This stunning city in Rajasthan is known as the golden city because of its forts, palaces and ‘havelis’ (massive mansions of the nobility) built from yellow stone. The sands of the desert add their own touch of gold.

Jaisalmer is in the middle of the Thar Desert and possesses a haunting, stark beauty with its undulating sand dunes (some 500 feet tall), exquisite pavilions and filigreed balconies from a bygone era. The Jaisalmer Fort, one of the oldest in the world rises like a beautiful mirage from the sands. It is the only inhabited fort in the world.

You can experience Rajasthan’s rich royal heritage in the heritage hotels. The famous Desert Safari on camel will reveal to you the many beauties of the Thar Desert, such as magnificent sunsets unmarred by buildings.

India offers a multitude of terrains for honeymooners: mountains and valleys in the Valley of Flowers, backwaters in lush Kerala, and the golden desert in Jaisalmer.