If you’re looking for a truly unique traveling experience, why not try to uncover the hidden gems of India? Here are 5 of them for you to explore.
India is truly a unique and fascinating country. Too often is it overlooked for more ‘exotic’ and ‘tropical’ destinations when it shouldn’t be. There are so many incredible hidden gems of India, that anyone who did enough research would find it hard to resist.
We’re here to open your eyes to some of those incredible hidden gems of India and to help motivate you to get out there and visit the incredible country. The list below has a couple of places which make for truly incredible traveling destinations, but they are far from all of them.
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Hampi is home to some amazing ruins overlooking landscapes which look more akin to images of Mars than of earth. The ruins themselves are the remains of the capital city of the Vijayanagara Empire and are some of the most fascinating in the world. Whilst this may very well be a UNESCO world heritage site, it’s very often forgotten about by visitors to India in favor of other destinations. That makes this one place you should make sure to uncover.
The area has more to offer than just the ruins of the Vijayanagara Empire, too. Head to the Hampi Bazaar to find an incredible market, from which you’ll be able to buy an assortment of things you may or may not need. Alternatively, head over the water and into Virupapur Gaddi for a bit of peace and quiet and this tranquil hangout spot.
Finally, the area is home to several temples, including Virupaksha Temple, Vittala Temple, and Achyutaraya Temple. Spend the day visiting them all, or if you just want the biggest then make sure to stop by at the Virupaksha Temple first. Overall, Hampi is great for anyone looking to find the hidden gems of India.
Orchha is home to a palace which some reckon rivals the Taj Mahal in magnificence. Orchha’s incredible structure is that of the Raj Mahal. This incredible 17th-century palace is the place to visit if you’re looking for a tour of India’s architectural history, or just history outright.
The walls of the palace depict great battles and wars between the deities of Vishnu, Sita, Rama, Krishna, the Buddha, Ganesh, and more. Their artwork is intricate and detailed and an unbelievable look at India’s religious history. Make sure to spend your time exploring the interior of the palace, before then heading to the upper levels to have a great view of the town itself.
Orchha is currently a small farming village, so most of those who visit it tend to just be passing through. Make this a pit stop for your traveling in India experience and you’ll be able to uncover more of the hidden gems of India.
This really is one of the hidden gems of India. Spiti Valley is a rugged landscape of greens, blues, and whites. It’s incredibly beautiful, and because it’s not visited as much as the more well-known Ladakh, it’s up there as one of the best places to catch a sight of something few others have. Of course, remember that getting here can take quite the ability to stomach road sickness. Whilst getting in is possible all year-round, it requires driving down some of India’s (nay, the world’s) most challenging roads.
In the valley, you’ll be met with not only the beauty of nature but also several peaceful villages and monasteries perches along the hillsides. However, the Spiti Valley is known for having a very small population, so don’t expect to see too much whilst you’re there.
India is a huge country with a lot to see and do, and an incredible train network to help you do all that. Yet for those of you who are truly interested in an amazing train journey, take the train from Mumbai to Matheran. The view along the journey is amazing and definitely one of the best you will ever see from a train. You’ll travel through the Sahyadri Hills; greener than a green crayon and more beautiful than you would imagine. Once you arrive, the area is also incredibly peaceful and quiet, with no motorbikes or cars bustling through the streets. It’s a really stark contrast with Mumbai. Also, don’t forget to head up to the top of Matheran Hill to see the some of the country’s best sunrises and sunsets.
The Pichavaram Mangrove Forest is a great place to see mangroves. The place itself isn’t quite as well-known as many other places in India, so it’s also a lot cheaper. The journey here will take around 5 hours from Chennai, but it’s defiantly worth the visit.
Once you arrive, you can take a boat up the river. You’ll pass through incredible forest areas and under deep green canopies which will stand above you like guardian protectors. As various plants come out of the water, thin pathways will be available to you. Make sure to stay inside of them and keep your hands and feet inside the boat at all-time!
This is actually the second-largest mangrove forest in the world, and the best time to visit it is during December, where it’s said that the Mangrove forest is the greenest it is all year round.
There are so many reasons to visit India, and these are only some of the places you should make your next travel destination. The hidden gems of India are so plentiful that no single article could encompass them all. So what are you waiting for? Get out there and explore India like no one’s ever explored it before. You’re guaranteed to find yourself immersed.
Don’t forget, you can have your Indian visa booked before you take off! Making your trip to India even easier than you thought it could be. Then all you need to do is pick one of the locations below and go and enjoy it.
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