The idea of an Indian Vacation is often limited to the beaches of Goa, the dunes and palaces of Rajasthan or the backwaters of Kerala. Although these places have been tourist favorites for years, India has so much more to offer. From Monasteries to River Islands; from salt deserts to exotic wildlife; here are five of India’s unexplored holiday destinations.
Great Rann of Kutch, Gujarat
Known for its expansive white salt desert and the Rann Utsav Festival, Kutch is the western-most district of Gujarat bordering Pakistan. The Rann of Kutch offers breathtaking views under the moonlight and comes alive during the Rann Utsav Festival, which takes place between December and March. This place should be avoided during summers due to very high temperatures.
Spiti Valley, Himachal Pradesh
This is one of the most unexplored places in India. Spiti valley is located at a very high altitude in the eastern parts of Himachal Pradesh. This desert mountain valley is known for its beautiful monasteries and natural beauty. The Key Gompa Monastery is a Tibetan Buddhist monastery located on top of a hill at an altitude of 4,166 meters above seal level. It is the biggest monastery in the region and serves as a training center for Lamas. Best time to visit Spiti valley is during the months of May to October.
Sundarbans, West Bengal
Offering one of the most surreal wildlife forests in India, Sundarbans is located in the southern delta part of West Bengal. It is known to be the biggest mangrove forest in the world and Sundarbans literally translates to ‘beautiful forest’ in Bengali. Popular for its population of Royal Bengal Tigers, crocodiles and various bird species, Sundarbans is an ideal destination for nature lovers.
Pangong Lake, Ladakh
At 4,350 m, the Pangong Lake is one of the highest lakes in India. Located 50 km from Leh, the capital city of Ladakh, this lake is gigantic and shares boundaries with China (Tibet) in the east. The interesting thing about the lake is that color of water appears different at different times in the day. It’s paradise for photographers and stargazers at night. Pangong Lake along with other parts of Leh should be visited during the summers.
Majauli, Assam
One of the most surreal places in India, Majauli is also the world’s largest river island. This exotic location, is yet unknown to most tourists in India and around the world. The best time to visit Majauli is between October and March.
The next time you’re planning an Indian holiday, try out something different, something surreal and share your experience with us.
- Rann Utsav Festival Pangong Lake Indian Vacation Spiti Valley Ladakh beaches of Goa Key Gompa Monastery highest lakes in India palaces of Rajasthan Best time to visit Spiti valley capital city of Ladakh backwaters of Kerala Sundarbans the world’s largest river island five of India’s unexplored holiday destinations wildlife forests in India Rann of Kutch the biggest mangrove forest in the world white salt desert Royal Bengal Tigers
