This story appears in the May 2017 issue of National Geographic magazine. A few years ago I was on an assignment in India. I had a day off, so I went to the Mullick Ghat flower market in Kolkata.

It’s been like blooming spring. Exports have shot up, new states are cashing in. The pandemic proved to be a turning point, as apps began to play a role too.

Flower valleys are scattered all over India, from the north to the south and east to west. No matter where you go in the country, you're likely to find one of these beautiful valleys.