Authored by Ashwini Neetan

Every time I pulled open that drawer, it would remind me of my dreams and goals. There was something in that drawer that would fire up a series of thoughts.

Back here in India, we have a habit of lining the wardrobes and drawers with old newspapers. The newspaper in that drawer would work me up every time I saw it.

It had a picture of Plitvice Lakes National Park in Croatia with a caption ‘One of the world’s best waterfalls’. And every time I saw that picture, butterflies would fly in my stomach. Slowly, as the days passed, visiting Plitvice Lakes became my number one travel goal.

Paulo Coelho in ‘The Alchemist’ says – “When you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it.”

And thus all the universe conspired me to visit Croatia on my first ever trip to Europe. And needless to say, the visit to Plitvice Lakes National Park was the highlight of the trip. I fell deeply and madly in love with Plitvice and I’m certain you will too. But in the absence of old newspaper in your sock drawer, I’ve put together 10 reasons to convince you.

10 Reasons to Visit Plitvice Lakes, Croatia

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I fell deeply in love with Plitvice and am certain you will too. So Ive put together 10 reasons to convince you. You’ll be booking a flight to Croatia soon!

I fell deeply in love with Plitvice and am certain you will too. So Ive put together 10 reasons to convince you. You’ll be booking a flight to Croatia soon!

Meet a Waterfall at Every Turn

16 cascading lakes come together to form a place so unique and gorgeous that it almost looks like heaven on Earth. These lakes are known for their cascades and the ongoing biodynamic process of Tufa, or Travertine formation, which only occurs under specific ecological and hydrological conditions.

This travertine formation is prominent in Plitvice Lakes National Park and is a constant process, so is happening even as you stroll through the National Park. It makes the soil underneath very vulnerable which creates numerous waterfalls as it flows down the path. So you’re likely to meet a waterfall at every turn!

See Waterfalls of Every Size

Plitvice is exclusive because it nests not one waterfall but a whole range of waterfalls – of various sizes and of various heights. Again, Travertine formation is one the reason for this and the other one being Plitvice’s huge sprawl of area – a massive 72,800 acres!

There are a series of small waterfalls next to the rickety wooden paths that leads you to ‘Veliki Slap’, the biggest waterfall in Plitvice. Plitvice is divided into upper lakes and lower lakes. While the lower lakes have small patches of large number of waterfalls here and there, the upper lakes consist of huge stretch of lakes that cascade down into a wonderland.

Go to Plitvice to see not one but many waterfalls.

Witness Various Hues of Blue and Green

Tranquillity reigns at Plitvice. This is a place with dreamy lakes, plump forests, mesmerising waterfalls and serene environs.

Crowds don’t deter the charm of Plitvice, but what is more surprising is the colour of the water here. As many shades as you can name you’ll find here; azure, turquoise, cyan, electric, turquoise and many more.

Get Lost in Paradise

Plitvice is a hikers paradise, with 2 entrances and 8 paths to trek. Figuring out which path to take can be a bit tricky. But jump over to this page for a perfect guide to exploring Plitvice Lakes.

Whichever path you take, you’re sure to be amazed. Apart from the standard trekking paths, there are numerous paths that vanish into woods, and those that vanish at the edge of the track (though it’s not advisable to continue hiking after the path ends!)

To Be Jealous of the Fish

In some parts of Plitvice, the water is so transparent and clear that the life underneath is visible to naked eye. With water as clear as crystal glass, even the scales of small fish can be seen evidently.

That these fish swim in such pure water is enough to make any one jealous. Especially as swimming for human beings is prohibited here!

This rule is an attempt to save the rich marine life of Plitvice which is home to many species of water creatures. If you really want to swim in a similar ambience, then do take a trip to Krka National Park, the little sister of Plitvice Lakes.

See Nature Bounce Back

In the early 1990’s, Plitvice Lakes National Park and the surrounding area was the target of the Yugoslav wars. This sad incident severely altered the ecological balance in Plitvice Lakes leading UNESCO to add Plitvice Lakes to the List of World Heritage in Danger.

Later, when the war ended, Croatian government took special care to bring Plitvice back to its earlier state. This move made Plitvice to bounce back to glory and in 1998, it was removed from the list of endangered sites. It is quite incredible to witness how nature manages to find its way amidst man’s selfish deeds!

Flora and Fauna

Another striking thing about Plitvice is its huge forest bank. The thick vegetation is home to various endangered and rare species of flora and fauna. Birds, reptiles, amphibians, butterflies, mammals and numerous species of plants – all live in perfect harmony in Plitvice.

Some of the uncommon species of Flora and Fauna found in Plitvice include the Siberian Leopard plant, the common sundew, butterwort, bladderwort, brown bear, zooplankton, hedgehogs and dormouse – to name a few.

Go to Plitvice to find rare flora and fauna nestled in the deep woods.

An Experience to Last a Lifetime

Often appearing in the list of top 10 waterfalls to see in a lifetime, Plitvice deserves every bit of attention. Undeterred by the tourism haul, Plitvice retains its virginity amidst the crowds that flock here in every season.

The ground staff do an amazing job of keeping the National Park clean and organised. A visit to Plitvice is like a hangover you can’t get rid off. Go to Plitvice to have an experience that lasts for a lifetime and beyond!

The Drive is Mesmerizing

If anything can give offer stiff competition to the beauty of Plitvice, it’s the drive there. It was drizzling when we drove to Plitvice that made the experience even better.

Large stretches of tiny flowers with yellow and purple colors were heavily sprinkled across the fields that never seem to end. The roads that snake in between the thick woods with electric green leaves together with the splatter of raindrops hitting the windows made a heavenly drive to Plitvice.

Go to Plitvice to drive one of the beautiful stretch of roads in the world.

Ever Beautiful Throughout the Seasons

Plitvice is ever beautiful, though changes its looks for every season. If the Autumn colors of the foliage in Plitvice entice the eyes, the cheerful green vegetation of the Spring invites for a treat.

While Autumn and Spring boast off their beauty in glory, Winter doesn’t hold back and shows off its frozen lakes and waterfalls while trees are covered with fresh snowfall. Go to Plitvice to come back again!

Now that you are impressed with Plitvice Lakes National Park, get to work and book your next flight to Croatia!

CAMERA GEAR WE RECOMMEND FOR SHOOTING WATERFALLS ↓

Nikon D5300 24.2 MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera

Canon PowerShot SX50 HS 12MP Digital Camera

ZoMei Z818 Light Weight Heavy Duty Portable Travel Tripod

SPREAD THE WORD! PIN THIS TO YOUR TRAVEL PINTEREST BOARDS ↓

I fell deeply in love with Plitvice and am certain you will too. So Ive put together 10 reasons to convince you. You’ll be booking a flight to Croatia soon!

I fell deeply in love with Plitvice and am certain you will too. So Ive put together 10 reasons to convince you. You’ll be booking a flight to Croatia soon!

Ashwini and Neetan are a wanderlust bitten couple who love to crunch miles through their road trips. For them, traveling is not just about seeing a place like a tourist, it is about feeling and experiencing it like a traveler. Experiences are what they vouch for and swear by.

On Hopping Miles, they share their itineraries, experiences, know-hows, what to and what not to do, those little secrets and everything else that can save you a fortune! They hop to places unseen and you too are bound to hop with them.

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