1/. Osian, Rajasthan: Rightly known as “ the Khajuraho of Rajasthan”, Osian is a home to the temples dating back to the 8th to 11th Century. A visual delight for the architecture lovers, it is yet to be explored by innumerable visitors.
2/. Sandakphu, West Bengal: What Haridwar, Rishikesh maybe to the pilgrims, Sandakphu is to the trekkers and adventure lovers. Located at an altitude of about 3,636 m above sea level, it has an adventurous landscape for trekking. A trek to the highest point will give you an opportunity to see the Himalayan range like never before. One can trek all the way from Maneybhanjan or opt for a jeep ride. As mentioned above the rugged topography gives the right amount of thrill needed for an adventurous journey.
3/. Gavi, Kerala: A well renowned place for ecotourism, Gavi yet remains unknown to the masses. It is a home to many endangered species including Nilgari Tahr and Lion-Tailed Macaque. Situated at the ‘God’s own Country’ Kerala, Gave is a nature lover’s paradise.
4/. Tabo Monastery, Himachal Pradesh: An age old Buddhist Monastery founded in 996 CE is indeed one of the oldest yet continuously operating Buddhist enclave in India. From afar, what might appear as a cluster of huge mud huts, the monastery conserves the age old Buddhist legacy.
5/. Kalavantin Durg, Maharashtra: Kalavantin Durg is just another word for trekkers delight. Located at an elevation of 2300 ft and said to be made for Queen Kalavanti, is the only known fact about this hilltop with steep slopes. However it is not advisable to trek during the monsoon as the steps gets slippery and one slide may result in falling 2000 ft below.
6/. Roopkund, Uttarakhand: In the early 1942, the discovery of a large number of skulls in the Roopkund lake stunned everyone. Many scientific as well as spiritual theories were derived behind the existance of those skulls. Though the legend has a fascinating story behind it (some believing it to be a suicidal ritual), the scientists concluded saying that the skeletons belonged to the 9th century Indian tribe who died due to the hailstorms.
Source: Panoramio
7/. Kolli Hills, Tamil Nadu: Other than serving as an unrivalled destination for trekkers, nature lovers or people looking for peace, Kolli Hills has been one of the most preferred destination for adventure seeking bikers. 70 hairpin bends on the way to Kolli Hills is a bliss for the bikers as they ride upwards feeling the chills of the cold breeze.
8/. Loktak Lake, Manipur: Located at a couple of kilometres away from the state capital Imphal, is the largest fresh water Lake in the North East region. Also known as a floating lake due to the various decomposing organic matters at the lake’s surface, Loktal also serves various fishermen with fishing as their main source of livelihood.
9/. Yana village, Karnataka: Far away from the hustle bustle of the city life, Yana is a small hill which is a splendid weekend getaway. Known for its two black crystalline limestone formations named as Bhairaveshwara peak and Mohini peak, it bewitches the nature lovers.
Source: Photo.net (Lakshman Rawat)
10/. Chitkul Village, Himachal Pradesh: If you are one among those travellers, who is a not so big fan of commercialization; Chitkul is just the right destination for you. The last inhabited village near the Indo-China border with a countable few houses, Chitkul is a true nature lover’s delight. River Baspa accompanying you all the way to Chitkul from Sangla just adds up to its picturesque charm.
11/. Dhanushkodi, Tamil Nadu: A ghost town, on the Pamban Island of Tamil Nadu, is in ruins ravaged by the devastating cyclones and storms in the past. The cyclone in 1964 is said to have washed away a train with approximately 100 passengers. One may still see the ruins of the railway line. This place is also known for its religious importance of Ram Setu or ‘Rama’s bridge’ built by Lord Rama with limestone shoals.
12/. Nohkalikai Falls, Meghalaya: Nohkalikai Falls is the tallest waterfall in India. As bewitching the view maybe, the legend behind the name of the falls is yet more melancholic. It is said that a women named KaLikai resided in a village near the falls who committed suicide by jumping off the falls after discovering the murder of her daughter by her second husband; ergo the name “Nohkalikai” which means “Jump of KaLikai”.
13/. Neil Island, Andaman & Nicobar: While Andaman houses an innumerable number of islands to steal the show, a small serine, picturesque inland with crystal clear water remains unnoticed. Though the beaches in Neil Island may not provide a luxurious environment, its a perfect destination to laze around without much disturbance, away from the bustling crowd.
Source: trekearth.com
14/. Tukla Valley, Sikkim: Tukla valley is a place where you can indulge yourself in admiring the Tibetan Highlands at an altitude of approximately 12,500 feet above sea level. It offers a spectacular view of the Himalayas range and also houses a war memorial to commemorate the death of the British soldiers who lost their life during the battle of Tukla.
15/. Bhedaghat, Madhya Pradesh: A small town with Dhuandhar waterfalls where the holy river Narmada descends to form a milky white mist. This falls is also better known as the ‘Smoke Cascade’. Located in the central state of Madhya Pradesh, Bhedaghat is famous for the waterfalls, which is guided by bleached marble rocks wich glows under the moonlight offering a spectacular view.
India is a land of diverse topography with so many places yet to be explored. Naming just a few is indeed a difficult task. So if you think we missed out a few of other important places, please share your view in the comments below.
