From cold to hot weather, from mountains to vast meadows, from beaches to extensive forests, India is a country that is full of everything. It is the land of adventures, treasures and surprises with no shortage of things to do or places to visit. Tourism over the years has grown substantially and people usually visit the most publicised places. This can be a good and a bad thing, if you are visiting the subcontinent for the first time then visiting the usual spots is recommended. But if you are done with all those places, then this list is just for you, as many places in India are hidden gems that most travellers don’t know about. Here is a list of a few of these hidden gems in India that you should visit before you die.
Ladakh
Ok, so Ladakh isn’t that unknown, but this is among the places that are away from the tourist trail, and not many travellers even think of it when preparing their itinerary. The word Ladakh means “land of high passes”, and it fits so well due to the location of the place. Ladakh is located between the Kunlun and Himalayan mountain ranges. The remote, rugged and beautiful place is one that deserves at least one trip in a lifetime.
Spiti Valley, Himalayas
If you consider yourself an avid traveller and fancy visiting some of the most beautiful and rugged places in the world, Spiti Valley can do the job. It is a desert mountain valley located high up in the Himalayas. This area is the least populated in the state due to its rugged atmosphere, but at the same time is one of the most peaceful places in India.
Meghalaya, Northern India
The northern part of India is the most underrated when it comes to travel, but it is amongst the most beautiful areas of the world. In the corner to the north-east of India, Meghalaya is a state known for the fact that here women own the land. Meghalaya is one of a handful of places in the whole world with a matrilineal system, that means the families here take the mother’s surname and wives own the houses. This cool and wet mountain state has the most area of rainforests in India. Cherrapunji, the place with the most rainfall in the world is also located here. The beauty of this place is one that you should experience with your eyes and should be on everyone’s bucket list.
Maheshwar, Madhya Pradesh
If Varanasi is a bit much crowded for your taste, but you still want to see spiritual heaven, head over to Maheshwar in Madhya Pradesh. It is widely known as the Varanasi of central India. This holy town is located on the bank of Narmada river and is solely dedicated to the deity Lord Shiva. Get a boat ride down the river banks at sunset to take in the spirituality of the place. But this is not the only thing this place has to offer, and there is also the city’s famous textile markets that are a must to explore.
Orchha, Madhya Pradesh
Taj Mahal is one of the biggest attractions in India, but with fame comes crowd also. It is among the most crowded tourist locations. But wait, Have you heard of the Raj Mahal? It is a beautiful fort built during the 17th century in the Orchha city of Madhya Pradesh. While not as beautifully crafted as the Taj Mahal, this palace is still a piece of art and is a hidden gem in the peaceful part of India.
Hampi, Karnataka
If you are visiting Goa and had enough of the Palm-lined beaches, well you are in luck, simply travel inland to Hampi. This is a heavily forested area which is a completely different landscape from the open clam beaches. Here you can explore the amazing ruins amidst the spell-binding landscape of giant red rock boulders. The ancient temple ruins leave you wondering as to how such a place ever existed in those times. After a long day of exploration, you can relax in the huge paddy fields and watch the sunset over the red rock plains.
Pichavaram Mangrove Forest, Tamil Nadu
If you happen to be travelling through Tamil Nadu in south India, be sure to stop by to see the world’s second largest Mangrove forest located in Pichavaram. The forest covers a massive size of over 3000 acres, and it is home to over 200 species of birds and marine life. Rent a paddle boat and go for a ride through the mangrove forest canals, just be aware of the heat and try to take the trip during the cooler hours.
Now that you know about some of these hidden gems, try and build your itinerary around them to get the best what India has to offer. There are many more places like these that are lesser known or less travelled but that doesn’t mean they are not worth visiting, on the contrary, many of these are quite the site to behold.
Karan Gulati
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