With its gently undulating dwarf bamboo grasslands, peppered with wildflowers set against theatrically morphing clouds that descend upon the hills, Dzukou Valley&rsquos striking landscape, sandwiched between northern Manipur and southern Nagaland, has been attracting hikers from all over the world.
The star attraction is the rare pink Dzukou Lily, an endemic variety found only here, and whose inflorescence adds a dash of colour to the otherwise emerald green valley for two months beginning June. Post lily season, Dzukou&rsquos less glamorous flowers begin to bloom, one after the other. Most hikers avoid the frosty winter here, when the mercury plummets below zero, waterbodies freeze and waterfalls turn into surreal-looking suspended glassy popsicles. But this is also what makes the &lsquolow season&rsquo the most beautiful time of year. As they say in Scandinavia, there&rsquos no such thing as bad weather, only wrong clothing.