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Whenever India appears in global media, it’s often cast in a yellow tint—whether it’s through visual filters or the symbolic use of mangoes, marigolds or turmeric. These golden motifs have long stood in as shorthand for an entire subcontinent.
Growing up in Calcutta (now Kolkata), I was not initially aware of the widespread association of these things with Indian identity globally, but even then, the persistent association of yellow with everything Indian felt oddly limiting.
In the old capital, as Autumn transitions to Winter, there is a kaleidoscopic carnival of colors, expressed through festivals and celebrations of Durga Puja, Diwali, Bhai Dooj and Christmas. A change in perspective can feel like walking through a living rainbow. So why reduce a country this diverse to just one hue?
That’s why I want to show you an India that’s rarely seen—one that goes beyond the yellow filter and clichés and explores its full, often overlooked spectrum. So let’s begin!
The blues of Munnar
Once every 12 years, the Munnar Hills of Kerala are cloaked with the rare blue-purple ethereal bloom of Neelakurinji. The name whispers its roots in Tamil: “Neela,” for blue, and “Kurinji,” the mountain flower.
This delicate flower blossoms only once in its life before fading forever, briefly turning Munnar’s hills into a breathtaking mosaic of blue and purple. During its rare appearance, it draws admirers, naturalists, and photographers from around the world.
The best spots to experience this phenomenon are Eravikulam National Park, Rajamala, and Koviloor. According to official sources, Neelakurinji flowers will blossom in 2030 in the Munnar region. And when the flowers return, Munnar will transform into India’s bluest brushstroke.
To reach Munnar, travellers usually fly into Cochin International Airport, the closest major hub. From there, a scenic three-hour drive winds through tea estates and spice-scented hills. You can hire a cab, rent a car, or catch a public bus from Aluva for a more local experience.
Wego can help you chart the journey—whether you’re comparing flights to Cochin or booking a cozy hillside stay. With different options for booking a stay in Eravikulam, it’s easy to find something that fits your travel style without stepping far from the spectacle.
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Himalayan alpine hues
In Uttarakhand’s Valley of Flowers, color rises with altitude. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, this alpine zone unfurls like a watercolor during the monsoon, especially between July and September.
Most revered is the Brahma Kamal, a sacred Himalayan flower that blooms at night, cupped like hands in prayer. Revered in both Hindu and Buddhist traditions, it grows in the highest altitudes (3700–4600 m) and is rarely seen in full bloom, making its appearance all the more magical.
Its quiet elegance is matched by the Himalayan Blue Poppy, known as the Queen of Himalayan flowers. It blooms in soft clusters that ripple across the hillsides, swaying gently beneath the peaks like dancers in blue ball gowns.
The Himalayan Slipper Orchid, commonly known as the Lady’s slipper, brings a whimsical touch to the valley, resembling dainty pink cowboy boots streaked with deep purple and brown color.
Wander further and you’ll encounter Violet Monkshood, once used for hunting, now a jewel of Tibetan medicine, and the humble Himalayan Fleabane—purple daisies perfect for a flower crown or a dreamlike polaroid.
To get here, you can book a flight to Jolly Grant Airport (Dehradun). From Dehradun, take a train to Rishikesh, then a cab or bus toward Govindghat—the last motorable point before the trek begins. From Govindghat, it’s a 16-kilometre uphill hike into floral wonder. Many travellers spend a night in Rishikesh or Dehradun to acclimatize before the trek.
Wego can help you begin that journey—whether it’s finding the best flights to Dehradun, or a place to rest in the city before you head for the hills. and Wego makes it easy to search for stays that fit your pace, whether that’s spiritual calm or trekking energy.
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Colorful tapestry of Sikkim
Every spring and early summer, i.e., April to July the Yumthang Valley in Sikkim is showered with different species of rhododendrons—as if adorned by a cosmic floral blanket.
To witness rhododendrons in their full glory, visit the Shingba Rhododendron Sanctuary, lying at the heart of Yumthang Valley amid serene meadows and towering Himalayan peaks. Home to around 40 distinct species of rhododendrons, the sanctuary bursts into a spectacular palette each spring.
It is also a treasure trove of rare and endemic flora like Potentillas, Saxifrages, Primulas, Aconites, Poppies, Gentians, and more—all thriving in this alpine haven.
While all of Northeast India has the charm of a storybook, a drive through North Sikkim feels cinematic and surreal—its winding roads framed by emerald forests and wildflowers, painting the mountains in striking hues.
Reaching this alpine sanctuary isn’t difficult—but it does take a little planning and patience. You can land at Bagdogra Airport near Siliguri, or at Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport in Kolkata if you want a better connectivity. From there, you travel onwards to Gangtok, the capital of Sikkim, via car, taxi, or bus. Once in Gangtok, it’s a scenic uphill route to Lachung, the village base for Yumthang.
Because the region lies close to international borders, special permits are required. Indian travellers need a Protected Area Permit (PAP), while foreign nationals need a PAP along with a Restricted Area Permit (RAP) or Inner Line Permit (ILP). These are typically arranged through local tour operators in Gangtok and require a few basic documents like passport photos and ID proofs. It’s a small step, but one that opens the gate to this beautiful hidden gem.
You can take help of Wego to have a seamless experience—From finding flights to Siliguri (Bagdogra) or Kolkata, to planning a layover in Siliguri or Gangtok before heading to the higher valleys. Whether you’re after homestays in Gangtok or cozy inns in Lachung, you can find perfect rest stops en route to a riot of springtime colours.
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Emerald tea gardens
Tea or chai is intrinsically embedded in the social DNA of an average Indian—Whether at sunrise, on a bustling street corner, or from a quiet balcony, sharing a cup of tea is a daily ritual across India. But rarely do we picture where this ritual begins—not in spice bazaars or sun-baked streets, but in the lush, mist-covered hills where tea is grown.
In the highlands of South and Northeast India, green unfolds in every direction: tea bushes stitched into slopes, women weaving through rows with baskets on their backs, the air thick with the scent of tea leaves. Here, green isn’t just a colour—it’s a landscape, a livelihood, and a way of life.
India has many tea-growing regions, but two names dominate the narrative: Assam and Darjeeling. And here’s why-
Assam
According to the official website of Kaziranga National Park, the best time to visit the tea gardens of Assam is between mid-May and June—when the landscape turns vivid green.
Whether you find yourself at the iconic Monabarie Tea Estate (the largest in Asia) or wandering through one of the many tea gardens surrounding Kaziranga National Park, such as Halmari or Ghograjan, a sensory delight awaits at every turn.
Here, the green colour isn’t ornamental—it’s alive. The tea leaves glisten under a misty sky, their surfaces almost waxy to the touch, and the air is heavy with scent of fresh tea leaves.
Listen closely and you’ll hear the soft rhythm of leaves being plucked, a quiet choreography that has played out for generations. And when you finally pause for a cup, steeped just minutes from where it was grown, it tastes less like a drink, and more like the land itself.
To begin this journey, fly into Guwahati’s Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport. From there, you can travel by taxi or train to towns like Tezpur, a perfect base near Assam’s key tea districts. Wego can help you map it all out—starting with flights to Guwahati and stays in tea town nearby.
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Darjeeling
If Assam is lush and loud, Darjeeling in West Bengal is the pause that follows. Perched high in the Himalayas, its tea gardens don’t overwhelm the landscape—they dissolve into it. The greens here are gentler, edged with silver mist and mountain light.
Spend a few quiet days here, and the palette begins to shift. The mornings aren’t golden—they’re soft, veiled in fog. Even the tea tastes lighter, more floral, like it’s taken on the altitude. Darjeeling may be globally renowned, but its colours rarely make it into the Indian imagination. And yet, they should—because this too is India, just seen through a quieter lens.
Most travellers fly into Bagdogra Airport or, for broader access, into Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport (Kolkata), before taking a train to New Jalpaiguri (NJP). From there, you can choose an uphill drive or a scenic ride on the Toy Train (Darjeeling Himalayan Railway), a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Wego can help you piece this journey together—whether you’re catching a flight into Bagdogra, pausing overnight in Siliguri, or booking a hillside stay in Darjeeling itself.
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Autumn pinks of Meghalaya
When the world thinks of cherry blossoms, it thinks of springtime in Kyoto or Washington D.C. Rarely does it imagine India—let alone the misty hills of Meghalaya. But would you believe it if I tell you that in November, Shillong turns unexpectedly pink?
Unlike its global counterparts that bloom in spring, Meghalaya’s cherry blossoms arrive late in autumn. Trees across the city and its hillsides erupt in soft pinks, casting a delicate blush over everything from roadside fences to forest edges. It’s a pink that doesn’t shout; it shimmers.
Locals and travellers gather beneath these blooms during the Shillong Cherry Blossom Festival and the Shillong literary festival—proof that colour, too, can be a form of connection. This isn’t the India we often picture, but maybe it should be.
To witness it, you can fly into Shillong Airport, though options are limited. You can book a flight to Guwahati’s Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport with Wego, a major hub just under four hours away by road. From either airport, taxis and shared cabs are readily available, and Meghalaya Transport Corporation (MTC) runs bus services into Shillong’s city centre, where you can also book a stay.
For those drawn to something a little more adventurous, Meghalaya Tourism operates a helicopter service between Guwahati and Shillong—a short, scenic flight that offers a bird’s-eye view of the hills just as they begin to blush pink.
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Discover India’s unseen colors
We’ve reached the end of our technicolor journey, but the adventure is just beginning. The next time you picture India, I hope your imagination now embraces alpine whites, cherry blossom pinks, monsoon greens, and the rare blues that bloom once in a lifetime.
Wego is your starting point for this discovery. Find your way to these overlooked hues, because sometimes, the most beautiful colors are indeed the ones you have yet to see.
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