If you have already hopped across our last collection of offbeat travel destinations in India, here’s some more dope for you; India’s most fascinating yet offbeat travel destinations picked for you. Choose from the magical valley of Bhadarwah (Jammu & Kashmir) and the gregariously green Kinnaur Valley to the cold desert of Spiti and more. Go, travel.
Valley of Bhadarwah, Jammu & Kashmir
Photo Courtesy – Official Website
This little known gem in the state of Jammu & Kashmir is a perfect getaway if adventure sports in on your mind. Rock-climbing, rappelling, abseiling, rafting, paragliding and more await you here. Other than that, Bhadrawah valley has a history that will leave you asking for more.
Dzukou Valley, Manipur/Nagaland
Photo Courtesy – Mongyamba
While the two states of Manipur and Nagaland claim Dzukou Valley as their own, you can steer clear of this tug of war and land at this wonderland. The months of April and May make it a fascinating sight, as rhododendrons of varied shades take over the greens here.
Valiyaparamba Island, Kerala
Photo Courtesy – malayalalokam
Forget Alleppey the next time you think of Kerala backwaters, for Valiyaparamba Island boasts of the same beauty and is yet offbeat. Lesser crowds make it more like a silent foray into the gorgeous spread that are the backwaters of Kerala.
Kinnaur District, Himachal Pradesh
Quite famous with trekkers and backpackers, Kinnaur stays offbeat because of its sheer inaccessibility. One of the world’s most treacherous roads connect it to the rest of Himachal, adding more sheen to the natural beauty that it is endowed with. Major stopovers must include Kalpa, Chitkul and Sangla. Ancient wooden forts and temples are a major highlight of this region.
Spiti Valley, Himachal Pradesh
Photo Courtesy – Wiki Commons
A foray into the Kinnaur Valley would stay incomplete unless you head out to the very fascinating Spiti Valley from there. Centuries old monasteries, brown barren Himalayas, its proximity to Tibet, the lure of treading on the ancient Silk Route and more, it’s a valley for explorers, for wanderers and the seekers of lost lakes and civilisations. Cited offbeat for it stays cut off from much of the India for around eight months of the year, and has a terrain that suits only the rugged travellers.
Shekhawati region, Rajasthan
Photo Courtesy – Peter Garnhum
If you thought that Jaisalmer or Jaipur is the best that you would ever see of Rajasthan, try venturing into the Shekhawati region. Desolated, deserted havelis make for most of the lure here, for most of these are decked in brilliant frescos. A must visit for photographers and history buffs.
Chikkamagaluru district, Karnataka
Photo Courtesy – Wiki Commons
Karnataka, in itself, is a delight for travellers. Yet, Chikkamagaluru district, specially the Kudremukh region is one of the most quaint, offbeat sites in the region. Rolling meadows, verdant greens and gushing waterfalls, it’s a secret that has been nicely tucked away in the many folds of Karnataka.
Landour, Uttarakhand
Photo Courtesy – Rokeby Manor
If the number of times you have visited Mussoorie and did not pay a visit to Landour goes more than one, you should definitely come back. More famous as Mr Ruskin Bond’s home, Landour is the little known, quaint hamlet that is just 15 minutes from Mussoorie yet is entirely different with its Welsh feel, cozy cafes, hippie crowd, short treks and more. A far cry from the din of Mussoorie, and a must visit too.
Junagadh and the Great Rann of Kutch, Gujarat
Photo Courtesy – Wiki Commons
The maqbara in this photograph is just one of the many hidden wonders of Junagadh, Gujarat. With some guts, you can easily try the Girnar trek, meeting fascinating vistas on your way. Take a bus to Bhuj from Junagadh and hop across to world’s largest salt desert, the Great Rann of Kutch. Stay up till moon rise to watch the salt grains sparkling, setting up miles on silver fire. Cherish.
Mandu, Madhya Pradesh
Photo Courtesy – Wiki Commons
Call it Mandu or Mandavgad, this ruined city in Madhya Pradesh is as gorgeous as it is haunting. An entire town covered in one colour, sepia, it’s a must visit for photographers as well as history buffs. Be it the fascinating Ship Palace (Jahaz Mahal), the many darwazas, Hindola Mahal, Jami Masjid or more, Mandu is worth visiting for its master architecture.
Signing off with this of another 10 offbeat travel destinations in India, I’ll be off to scour for more such places for the travellers out here. If you know of any such offbeat, dreamy places in India and wish to include it in the list, do leave a comment below and wait for the next list of such offbeat locations.
Till then, happy travelling.
About the author
Shikha Gautam loves to play with steering wheels, roads, words, flute and guitar among other things. Not necessarily in that order! You can contact her on twitter @ShikhaGautam
