When talking about amazing yet underrated places, there’s no dearth of places in a country as vast and diverse as India. It’s a country that takes a lifetime to explore and yet manages to throw surprises at you. So here’s a list of 15 destinations that haven’t faced a heavy influx of people yet but definitely deserve more attention.
Tinchuley, West Bengal
The word Tinchuley stands for three chullas (chulla means oven), and this is represented by three prominent hill tops that resembels the three chullas. Tinchuley is a remote hamlet located close to Darjeeling which can be reached through a drive of 32 kilometers. It is at a distance of 80 kilometers from Siliguri, 35 kilometers from Kalimpong and 88 kilometers from Gangtok. Even though its neighbours, Siliguri and Darjeeling have been thronged by tourists, the small village of Tinchuley has escaped the rush.
Perfect for quiet strolls and family outings, this village gets its name from the three main peaks surrounding it that resemble three chimneys. The view points on these peaks, from which you can see Darjeeling, Gangtok, Kalimpong and even Mount Kanchenjungha, are a major draw for the few visitors this place receives.
The inhabitants of this quiet settlement took an initiative for establishing their locality as a model organic village. With the help of organizations such as the WWF, the village has developed Village Home Stays. The villagers also showed keen interest in modern farming and with the help of WWF they developed floriculture, vermiculture, organic projects.
Mainpat, Chhattisgarh
You’ve heard of the Tibetan settlements in Himachal Pradesh and Karnataka but did you know there’s another one in Chhattisgarh? In the 1960s, a group of Tibetan refugees who were working as road construction workers in nearby Sitapur, settled in Mainpat. The Thakpo Shedupling Monastery is one of the main attractions here, apart from the awesome food and warm Tibetan hospitality, of course. In fact, Mainpat is also known as ‘Mini Tibet’ because of the settlements.
Mainpat famously known as the shimla of Chhattisgarh, It is a hill station located at a height of 1099 mtr from the sea level with dense forest. Mainpat consists of 24 villages with population of 25000 aprx. Mainpat is truly a hidden gen, with lots of adventure awaiting tourist in its green slopes, beautiful valleys, gently flowing brooks, unexplored waterfalls, and virgin forests. You can enjoy dishes like thupka, momos, and bamboo rice etc. specialty of Tibetan food.
Nighoj, Maharashtra
Situated 90 kms away from Pune, this village in the Ahmednagar district of Maharashtra is famous for the unusual but naturally created potholes on the Kukadi riverbed. Geologists say that sometime in the past, the Kukadi river must have flowed out of the highlands and hit the rocks with such force that it resulted in these potholes and even a gorge that runs along the riverbed.
Some of the potholes were big enough for an adult to fit in. We saw the whirlpool-like motion of the river water trapped in some of these potholes. Jumping from one rock to the other, going deeper down this rock bed, it is a fun-filled adventure, full of discovery.
A temple of the local deity Malganga is next to these potholes. The locals believe these potholes to be a blessing of Malganga.
Daringbadi, Odisha
Considering summers are pretty hot in Odisha, with temperatures going well above 50°C in many places, it is quite surprising that the state also has a place like Daringbadi, which is known to receive snowfall in winter. Daringbadi known as Kashmir of Odisha situated at a height of 915 m in Kandhmal district, the place is gifted with natural bounties including pine jungles, coffee gardens and beautiful valleys. Daringibadi is set in a beautiful spot surrounded by thick rain forests with wild animals, and is an ideal summer resort. The place is gifted with natural beauties such as pine jungles, coffee, black pepper, turmeric gardens, beautiful valleys and plateaus. It is the only place in Odisha where freezing of dew occurs during winters. The journey from the plains to the hills of Daringbadi is an experience in itself. Visiting places at Daringbadi are Hill View Point, Coffee plantation, Doluri River, Putudi Waterfalls.
Kaas Plateau, Maharashtra
Kaas Plateau lies on the Sahyadri Range of the Western Ghats, 22 km from Satara City, Maharashtra and it became a part of a UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site in 2012. The 1000 hectare plateau is layered with wild flowers and if you were to visit the place in August or September, there’s a chance you might think you’ve ended up in a Yash Chopra film or a scenic HD wallpaper – it’s just that beautiful.
Locally called as ‘Kas Pathar’ or ‘Plateau of Flowers’. The major portion of the plateau is Reserve Forest. Kas plateau is listed under the Protection Working Circle. Kas lake (built 100 years ago) is a perennial source of Water supply for western part of Satara city by gravity.It is a glory of Satara forest division.
It is a biodiversity hotspot known for various types of seasonal wild flowers bloom and numerous species of endemic butterflies annually in the months of August and September. The plateau is situated at an altitude of 1200 meters and is approximately 10 square kilometers in area. Kaas has more than 850 different species of flowering plants of which 624 are listed on the IUCN Red List. These include orchids, shrubs such as the Karvy, and carnivorous plants such as Drosera Indica.
Gurudongmar Lake, Sikkim
Located at a height of 17,100 ft, Gurudongmar Lake in Sikkim is one of the highest lakes in the world. It is believed that Guru Nanak Dev Ji, on his way to Tibet, stopped here to quench his thirst. With his stick, he cracked the ice which led to the formation of the lake. It is said that even during the roughest winter, there is always some part of the lake that remains unfrozen. The water of Gurudongmar Lake are said to have curative properties and many tourists carry the water with them on their way back. Close to the lake, there is a ‘Sarva Dharma Sthal’, and as the name suggests, it’s a place of worship for all religions. The view of Mount Siniolchu and Khanchendzonga is breathtaking from that point. The beauty of the lake is awesome and out of the world spectacle. Surrounded by snow clad mountains and crystal clear icy water, it is considered to be a very sacred lake. There is paucity of oxygen at such a height, and thus, staying there for more than an hour is not recommended for most tourists.
Dharchula, Uttarakhand
On the way to Mansarovar Lake, lies Dharchula, a scenic town in the Pithoragarh district of Uttarakhand. It’s a border town between Indian and Nepal and yet people from both sides pass through without any restrictions, as long as they aren’t carrying any cargo. Dharchula is a small and remote place and it is located along an ancient trade route through the Himalayan Mountains. The town is completely surrounded by hills on all sides and the views are breathtaking. The people of the town of Dharchula have any similar characteristics to the people of the town called Darchula in Nepal, which is just across the border. There are a few places of tourist interest that are located in the town, however most tourists who travel here, come to witness the unique culture and diversity of the people. The Rung people living in the area have been native to this place before recorded history. Some of the main attractions in the place are Narayan Ashram, Manosarovar Lake, Chikrila Dam, Kali River and Om Parvat.
Garamur, Assam
Garamur is one of the many satras in Majuli, the world’s largest river island. Majuli has been the cultural centre of the Ahom Kingdom but the tragedy it faces today is that of land erosion, owing to the aggressive flooding in this region. Dance, theatre, mask-making, Vaishnavite culture are all parts of everyday life in Majuli. Garamur, in particular, is one of the key attractions in this region. Tourists often spend an evening in pottery in Majuli. It is said that the local pottery is made from beaten clay that is burnt in ovens, fired with driftwood, which is quite similar to the ancient Harappa Civilisation.
Handloom work done by the local tribes is a must buy. Moreover, Jorhat, located 5kms from the town Garamur has several religious, cultural and historical places, belonging to the Ahom kings. Tourists can also explore the tea plantations, gardens, farms and research centers in this region.
Radhanagar Beach, Andaman & Nicobar Islands
Crowned as “Asia’s best beach” and “7th best beach in the world” by Time Magazine, this place sees a lot of tourists. It truly is an unforgettable curve of white sand with perfectly coloured blue waters, all lined by lush forest and palm trees. It is easy to enjoy this postcard perfect beach – lie down and marvel at the sunset, or go in for a quick swim.
Due to its reputation and popularity one would expect crowds of people rushing to the beach, but the most amazingly the Radhanagar remains mostly empty compared to other popular beaches of the world. It can get bit crowded straight down the entrance but if you walk couple of hundred meters to the left or right you will be alone again.
Pelling, Sikkim
This small town in West Sikkim is slowly waking up to its strategic importance, especially for trekkers and mountaineers. However, most of the land around Pelling is still pretty much untouched by “tourism” making it one of the best places to visit in the state. The holy Khecheopalri Lake and the ancient Pemayangtse Monastery are other potential crowd pullers in the area. Situated at an altitude of 6,800 ft, Pelling offers good view of the entire Kanchenjunga mountain range including Koktang, Kumbhakaran (Jannu), Rathong, Kabru, Kabru Dome, Kanchenjunga, Pandim, Siniolchu and others. This is as close as you can get to the Kanchenjunga range without leaving the material comfort of good hotels.
Named after the guardian deity of Sikkim, Khangchendzonga Festival is held at Pelling every year. It offers a host of fun activities like white-water rafting on the Rangit, kayaking, promotional trekking, mountain biking, sightseeing, traditional sports and bird- watching.
The festival also includes Flower exhibitions, traditional crafts and ethnic food and costume stalls. Cultural folk dances and music add colour and sound to the festivities. The festival is aimed at balancing all diverse aspects of the area to produce a holistic package showcasing its potential for tourism.
Gandikota, Andhra Pradesh
India’s answer to the Grand Canyon, Gandikota in Andhra Pradesh is a amazing place to visit. The village has a fort, some temples and even a Jamia Masjid. But the best part about this place is the Pennar River, which cuts through the canyon. Still a relatively quiet place, this village has huge potential for tourism.
Besides all its historic sites, Gandikota and its surrounding areas also consist of a scenic site and viewpoints that will blow your mind away. You could either spend the whole day trekking across the fort ruins and go down the gorge towards the river or you could drive around the nearby villages to embrace the local culture. Your eyes will never be more pleased.
Dhanushkodi, Tamil Nadu
If Edgar Allan Poe were to design a town, it would look somewhat like Dhanushkodi. After a cyclone washed out the entire railway line leading to the Pamban Island station in 1964, which also saw 100 passengers in a train get washed away into the sea, this place has become a ghost town. And that’s what makes it supremely creepy and yet beautiful. The ruins of the church and the railway station add to the eerie setting.
According to the Hindu epic Ramayana, Lord Rama built a bridge to connect India and Sri Lanka, in order to carry his troops. Rama marked the spot for the bridge with one end of his bow which later became Dhanushkodi meaning end of the bow.
Ever since then, Tamil Nadu has rebuilt this town to become one of the most unique and unusual beach towns of India.
This small town redefines the term isolated. Cut off from the rest of the world, this town seems untouched by time. While the rest of India is vying to get ahead in the race for prosperity, this town seems frozen in history, reflecting it grandeur and beauty.
Phawngpui, Mizoram
Quite frankly, Mizoram doesn’t get the credit it deserves when it comes to tourism. Once you visit the state, you’ll realize the abundant varieties of flora and fauna that can be found there. Phawngpui is situated near the Myanmar border in Chhimtuipui District in the northeastern state of Mizoram. Phawngpui Peak is the highest one in Mizoram and it offers an amazing view of the Myanmar border and the hills and valleys below.
It harbours wild animals and birds like Goral, Serrow, Barking Deer, Sambar, Leopard, Kaleej Pheasant, Hollock Gibbon, Common Langur, Rhesus Macaque and varieties of birds and orchids, rhododendrons and the beautiful daphnia blossom together with many wild plants and flowers.
The area is protected by the state government but is open for trekkers, picnickers and campers. Herbs and rare species of orchids and rhododendrons are found here, accommodation is available in nearby villages. One has to drive four-wheel drive to reach Phawngpui.
Phuktal Monastery, Jammu & Kashmir
Imagine a monastery built like a honeycomb. Well, you don’t really have to if you’ve seen the Phuktal Monastery in Ladakh. This cliff-side monastery was built in the 12th century and it houses about 70 Buddhist monks. The foundation of the entire thing is merely built with clay and twigs. The monastery is built right under a cave entrance on the cliff. The earliest inhabitants of the cave were the 16 legendary followers of Buddha, whose images can still be found on the cave walls.
The highlights of the monastery include frescoes and ceiling decorations in an old chapel which seems to belong to same era as that of Tabo Monastery and Alchi Monastery. There are also three large and one small prayer room and a library. A huge attraction here is a hollow in the rock in the cave over the monastery. The level of water in this hollow never drops despite any amount of water being drawn from it. Moreover, this water is believed to have curative powers. A stone tablet left behind by Alexander Cosmo de Koros, a Hugaraian who visited Tibet and later stayed in this monastery between the period of 1826-27, is on the must see list of the tourists visiting the monastery.
The monks of the monastery carry out the sacred Cham dance during the Gustor festival which is celebrated during the 18th and 19th day of the Tibetan 12th month.
Tosh, Himachal Pradesh
Tosh is the new Kasol. Imagine Kasol without its shops, plethora of restaurants, hotels and you have Tosh. Still mostly a village with slate roof houses, Tosh is soon turning out to be the new favourite of hippies coming to Himachal for the good stuff. Located 3 kms up from Bharsheni, Tosh is connected to the rest of the world through a wooden bridge. But once you go there, you might feel you’re in a different era altogether. Or it could be other substances. You never know.
Indulge your visual senses as you take on the Tosh valley trek, a trail that will take you across the periphery of the mighty Himalayas. Himalayan trekking in Tosh Valley will take you through gorgeous meadows and streams leaving you breathless. Begin from Barsheni and hike up to make pit stops at Buddhaban and the Tosh Village. What sets this trekking tour apart from any other Himachal trekking tours, is that you can choose to pursue the tracks that lead to the challenging Animal Pass or choose the steady easy climb to the Tosh Glacier. Both views offer exquisite vistas of the picturesque mountains, valleys and landscapes filled with snow.
India is a mystery and the more you dig deep, the more treasures you discover. So, keep wandering.