A true traveler always experiments, brings out the wanderer in you. It gets you amazed by how much you might discover.
After our regular dose of hidden places and their mind-boggling pictures, we are sure no popular or offbeat place is alien to you anymore. But we are not gonna stop flooding and surprising you.
To keep you glued and inspired, here’s a list of 10 unexplored places in India. Over-shadowed and overt, these places will leave you stumped with their untouched beauty.
1. Osian, Rajasthan
Osian (Osiyan), also known as the 'Khajuraho of Rajasthan', has earned this name due to its many temples, some of which are very erotic. It is an ancient temple city located 65 kms north of Jodhpur in the state of Rajasthan in western India.
This place is of utmost significance to the Jains and the Hindus as some of their most important shrines lie in this beautiful city. Amongst the many temples that this town is host to, the ones that stand out in their beauty and grandeur are the Surya or Sun Temple, the Sachiya Mata Temple and the main Jain temple dedicated to Lord Mahavira. Endowed with golden sand dunes all around, one can get a majestic aerial view of this place from the Sachiya Mata Temple.
2. Keibul Lamjao on Loktak Lake, Manipur
( Picture courtesy - Wikimedia )
Imagine standing on a piece of land that floats on water. No, not for some fictitious narration or a movie scene, but in real life – this is something that’s actually possible in Manipur.
Welcome to theKeibul Lamjao National Park. It is located in the Bishnupur district of the state of Manipur in India. It is 40 km2 (15.4 sq mi) in area, the only floating park in the world, located in North East India, and an integral part of Loktak Lake.The national park is characterized by many floating decomposed plant materials locally called phumdis. To preserve the natural refuge of the endangered Manipur Eld's deer or brow-antlered deer (Cervus eldi eldi), or sangaialso called the dancing deer, listed as an endangered species by IUCN, the park which was initially declared to be a sanctuary in 1966, was subsequently declared to be a national park in 1977 through a gazette notification.
3. Lonar Crater, Maharashtra
(Picture courtesy - Thrillophilia)
About 52,000 years ago, a 2 million ton meteor that plummeted towards Earth, is believed to have hit at this spot in Lonar. The hyper-velocity impact created a 150-metre deep and 1.8-km wide bowl-shaped hole or crater. This is now the site where Lonar Lake, an unusually saline water body, is located,at Lonar in Buldhana district, Maharashtra, India. The Lonar Lake is Earth's largest and only salt water lake in basaltic rock. It is not just any meteorite crash site, it has triggered many questions that are beyond understanding - like why is the lake both saline and alkaline at the same time? Why doesn't the compass work here? What lies at its bottom? Scientists across the world believe that the meteorite is still buried deep in the crater.
4. Krem Mawmluh & Krem Ri Blai, Meghalaya ( cave explorations )
(Picture courtesy - Travelstruck @ Facebook )
If you're a real caving enthusiast, you should consider traveling to Meghalaya. Meghalaya is in the top 10 of caving destinations in the world, and many caves are still undiscovered.
The major caves in the Khasi Hills are located in the areas of Cherrapunjee, Shella, Pynursla, Nongjri, Mawsynram and Langrin.The main entrance of this famous cave is located at the bottom of the western flank of Lum Lawbah.The entrance is easily found by following the river behind the cement works of the Mawmluh Cherra Cements Limited, downstream for about 200 metres to a point where the river disappears underground.The main sink entrance requires wading through water, which in the dry season turns into a deadly black quicksand from the effluents of the cements works. The best option to enter the cave would be through a high level bypass entrance which runs parallel to the main passage.
5. Wayanad, Kerala
( Picture courtesy - Tripadvisor )
Wayanad, the green paradise is nestled among the mountains of the Western Ghats, forming the border world of the greener part of Kerala. Clean and pristine, enchanting and hypnotizing, this land is filled with history and culture. Located at a distance of 76 km. from the sea shores of Kozhikode, this verdant hill station is full of plantations, forests and wildlife. Wayanad hills are contiguous to Mudumalai in Tamil Nadu and Bandhipur in Karnataka, thus forming a vast land mass for the wild life to move about in their most natural abode. Wayanad is unique in that it is situated in an elevated picturesque mountainous plateau in the Western Ghats. The vast stretches of mist - capped mountains, green meadows of valleys, white water springs, blue water lakes and wild forests express the splendid natural beauty of Wayanad. Its pretty image not withstanding, perhaps what the visitor finds most endearing about this quaint little hill station is its large tribal population of about fifty-strong tribes and their fascinating lifestyle. Travellers can stay at the tree top houses and mud huts and enjoy the thrills of jungle life.
6. Phugtal Gompa, Jammu & Kashmir
(Picture courtesy - Iamonholidays travel blog)
A place which is as remote as Phugtal Monastery creates a curiosity in any traveller. Away from the reach of people, a big cave in a cliff, houses this architecture.Barren picturesque Ladakhi landscapes always attract the tourists. Imagine when you have to traverse across such beauty and trek the high mountain paths to reach a destination which looks like a honey comb perched on a hill! It is a must to explore and know a few things about Phugtal Monastery before you rush!Phugtal Monastery was a natural cave in a cliff at Lungnak Valley, Ladakh. The present monastery is built around the natural cave which served as an ideal place for the monks.A voyage to Phugtal Monastery is not an easy one as it is located in the remote part of Zanskar Valley. It is also one of the unique monasteries in India. It is going to be an unending journey through the mystic Ladakhi landscapes. It is a must trip for every hardcore traveller.
7. Unakoti, Tripura
(Picture courtesy - www.themysteriousindia.net)
Among India’s lesser-explored destinations, Tripura takes its name from a word meaning ‘Three Cities’ — similar to the Greek word ‘Tripolis’ — or perhaps from Tripura Sundari, the popular presiding deity of the region.Far from the country’s popular tourist circuits, the third smallest Indian state may not have a well-developed infrastructure for travellers but its cultural charm and welcoming locals make up for what it lacks in cold concrete. A living reminder of this fact can be found nestled amidst the thick forested Jampui Hills of north Tripura.
Bound by the meandering Manu River, this region is home to one of the most spectacular heritage sites in South Asia — the giant bas-relief sculptures of Unakoti.Located around 178 km from Agartala, Unakoti’s ‘Lost Hill of Faces’ is a centuries-old Shaivite pilgrimage spot, unlike anything you’ll find in India. In fact, mesmerized travel bloggers have often called this hidden gem India’s version of Macchu Picchu.
The ancient site (whose name means one less than a crore, or 99,99,999 — a crore in Bengali is called koti) has gigantic sculptures of Hindu deities that have been chiselled out of the hill and that are believed to date back to between the 8th and 9th centuries. Most of them are about 30 to 40 feet high and have an earthy rawness that is more akin to the tribal style of art than to the classical Indian style.
8. Waichin Valley ( Magic valley ), Himachal Pradesh.
(Picture courtesy - www.Goeventz.com)
This trek will introduce you to the less traveled trails of the beautiful and peaceful valley in the Himalayas. Magic Valley as the name suggests is known for its mesmerizing beauty that it offers throughout its trail. The view is truly fascinating and the purity of the environment will keep you awestruck throughout your journey.Waichin is a village approximately 4 kms above Malana. The population of this village is very low because of its location. There are no motorable roads that go to Waichin. The only way to reach is the one mentioned above. In winters even the villagers shift down to Jari because it is impossible to survive there. Most of the spices that they use in their food are grown there only. Best time to visit this village is the month of September.
Thats Magic Valley for you, a place that holds magic in each and every single inch of itself. Go discover the undiscovered, The secret heaven of Earth.
9. Damro, Arunachal Pradesh
(Picture courtesy - Pinterest)
Surrounded by the beautiful states of Assam and Myanmar, Arunachal Pradesh is often ignored for the other popular states in North East. However, this hidden beauty is a land of abundant natural resources. Often featured in some of the best offbeat destinations to visit in the country, Arunachal Pradesh has a lot of unexplored regions which need to be on your travel list. Boasting of being the base for the longest bridge in Arunachal Pradesh, Damro is one of the best places to start your journey in this beautiful state.Situated in the Mariyang Block of Upper Siang In Arunachal Pradesh is the charming village of Damro Gidum.
Made of ropes and bamboos, the longest hanging bridge In Arunachal Pradesh here sways gently over the River Yamne. Using canes and wires, it is held between suspension cables with a walkway made of halved bamboos for paneling used as protection. The use of these materials is also the mark of the local tribal culture. This 1000 ft. long suspension bridge is used by the tribals to reach the other end of the bridge for their daily activities and livelihood. However, for visitors it is an experience to cross this and look down the river to see a stunning display of colourful fishes hopping up and down in the river. A lot of people also visit this bridge for fishing and angling activities.
10. Bhimshankar Wildlife Reserve
(Picture courtesy - www.india.com)
Nature is filled with never-ending surprises. We hear scientists discovering something new everyday; a myriad of new elements are recognised every year. One such mesmerising factor about nature that has been recognised and might not have been heard of is the existence of bioluminescent forests. In simple terms, glowing forests! You might have heard of bioluminescent seas, organisms that beautifully light up the shores during the night. But there also exist very few bioluminescent forests, one of which is right here in India! The forests of Western Ghats have shown this stunning property-particularly the forest in the Bhimashankar Wildlife Sanctuary. It is found in the Karnataka-Maharashtra-Goa belt of the glorious Western Ghats.
specially during monsoon, the forest, which is completely soaked in rain, lights up. This is caused by a bacteria called Mycena which has a unique property of lighting up when there is a huge amount of moisture in the air. These bacterias settle on rotting leaves, branches and twigs that are found on the forest grounds. Visit the tiny tribal village of Ahupe to see the glow of forests in the Bhimashankar Wildlife Reserve, particularly during monsoon. Apart from these bacterias, many places in the Western Ghats located in Maharashtra are filled with fireflies-another reason for the forests to glow. Go on a night trek to Bhandardara, Rajmachi Fort, etc., to find fireflies putting up the best light show! The pre-monsoon season of May or June is the ideal time to witness fireflies.
No, you don't have to be a millionaire and neither do you have to backpack across Europe to witness mother nature at her best. True beauty is right around the corner, all you have to do is look for it. Solo travel or travel with friends or family and explore the beauty that India has to offer!!