" Travel only with thy equals or thy betters; if there are none, travel alone." - The Dhammapada
Some of us like to travel by ourselves, alone without depending on anyone to give us company. Sometimes these solo journeys give a new meaning to our life. When you travel alone you are free to go to any extreme and discover places without waiting for anyone.
Some of these places are not known to many until they come across a person who has taken the route to explore the unexplored. India is a land of many mysteries and charm; every corner of the country has at least one or two unexplored destinations.
Most of the popular tourist destinations continue to get numerous tourists. In India, there are countless destinations which aren't very popular and kept hidden away from the hawk-eyed tourists.
These hidden destinations are as precious as hidden gems. They will give you an experience of your lifetime which will help you to rejuvenate and surrender yourself to nature's ever open hands.
Here we bring you 15 such hidden gems which would help you rejuvenate and also help you to get a new definition of life.
1. Daringbadi, Odisha
Odisha is known for its summers being pretty hot, with the temperatures crossing 50 degrees. Amidst this boiling pot is Daringbadi which receives snowfalls in winter. The place is a small hill station which is surrounded by thick rainforests and wild animals.
Also Read : Places To Visit In Odisha
A hill station which is aptly called the Kashmir of Odisha, as the temperature here drops to 0 degrees in winter. It is blessed with immense natural beauty and diverse flora and fauna.
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2. Orchha, Madhya Pradesh
Orchha in Madhya Pradesh is slowly emerging to be a hub of tourists. It is known for its fantastic architecture which dates back to the 15th century. The population in this town is estimated to be less than 10,000.
Also Read : Orchha - A Royal Creation!
It is a perfect place for one to just walk through the monuments and spend enough time to observe their beauty without any interference. One can also opt to go for river rafting in the Betwa river to satisfy the adventure junkie in oneself.
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3. Tinchuley, West Bengal
The small village of Tinchuley has escaped from the rush of its neighbours, Siliguri and Darjeeling. An ideal destination for a quiet stroll through the forest pathways and perfect just to tune yourself out from the rest of the world.
Also Read : 10 Attractions Of West-Bengal!
The village gets its name from the three main peaks which surround it and it resembles three chimneys. There are viewpoints set up on these peaks from where one can see Darjeeling, Gangtok, Kalimpong and Mount Kanchenjungha.
4. Pushkar, Rajasthan
Often described as the hippie capital of west India, Pushkar is a place which needs to be seen to be believed. This city lies on the banks of the Pushkar lake. It is a religious place and is one of the five sacred places of worship (dhams) for hindus. The place has a considerable amount of self-proclaimed godmen and ascetics along the various ghats here.
Also Read : Weekend-Getaways From Pushkar
Pushkar is also the only place in the world which has a Brahma Temple. The town has 52 bathing ghats and 400 temples.
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5. Mainpat, Chhattisgarh
You would have heard about or visited the Tibetan settlements in Himachal Pradesh and Karnataka. Mainpat is another one of these Tibetan settlements in Chhattisgarh. In the 1960s a group of Tibetan refugees who were road construction workers at Sitapur settled in Mainpat.
Also Read : A Royal Odyssey In The Desert
The Thakpo Shedupling Monastery is the main attraction here along with the food and warm hospitality of the Tibetans.
6. Ziro, Arunachal Pradesh
This beautiful valley in Arunachal Pradesh is a hub of economic activities as well as counter-culture. The place is famous for its brilliant annual music festival known as the Ziro Valley Carnival.
Also Read : The Beautiful Places Around Ziro
The area is famous for its paddy fields where there is a unique system of polyculture and water management which is practised here by the locals. The place is home to the Apatani Tribe.
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7. Arambol Beach, Goa
Arambol, also known as Harmal in the northern part of Goa is considered as the ideal beach for the many long-staying and tight-budgeted travellers. Hippie foreigners, mainly Russians who come to this place end up staying here for years at a stretch.
Also Read : The City Of Carnivals
It was first found in the 1960s as a getaway from the other over crowded beaches in town. At present also things haven't changed with budget accommodation in the little huts which cling to the cliffsides. It has an uninterrupted chain of shacks which are cheap and affordable.
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8. Nubra Valley, Leh
The Nubra Valley is one of the most peaceful and stunning places. The valley is formed by the conjoining of two rivers which are Siachen and Shayok. The sights keep becoming more beautiful as the altitude increases.
Also Read : The Orchard Of Ladakh
The valley is located at an altitude of 10,000 ft above sea level. A point to be noted is that until 2014 Indian citizens required a permit to visit this place.
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9. Dzukou Valley, Nagaland
Dzukou means cold water in the local language of Angami, one of the languages of the 16 main Naga tribes. It is one of the most recommended treks to be taken in Nagaland, but information available is very slim and incomplete.
Also Read : Nature At Her Mesmerizing Best
It is a hidden gem in the vast Nagaland, always welcoming its travellers. The valley is also famous for its stunning and beautiful varieties of flowers, which gives it another name as the Valley of Flowers.
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10.Jibhi, Himachal Pradesh
It is a little-known hamlet in the Tirthan Valley and can be easily approached from the Chandigarh-Manali highway in a private transport. It is a place which transports you to a dreamland and would take you some time to realise that this place is truly beautiful.
Also Read : Tour Around Himachal-Pradesh
The small wooden huts, with a river cutting across the rocks, is an ideal place to make your dreams come to life.
11. Majuli, Assam
Majuli is a highly environmental friendly island. It is a lush green, pristine and pollution-free fresh water island in the river Brahmaputra. Spread across an area of 250 sq km, it has found its way to being listed in UNESCO's World Heritage Sites.
Also Read : Majestic Island Of Majuli
Initially, the island was spread across an area of 1250 sq km, but thanks to the major soil erosion happening around here, this island is reducing in size.
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12. Gurudongmar Lake, Sikkim
At a height of 17,100 ft, Gurudongmar Lake is one of the highest lakes in the world. The lake is named after Guru Rinpoche, the founder of Tibetan Buddhism after he visited the lake in the 8th century AD.
Also Read : A Hive Of Blessed Mounts
It is also believed that Guru Nanak stopped here to quench his thirst and with his stick, he cracked open the ice which lead to the formation of the lake. Even today during the roughest winter, there are parts of the lake which remain unfrozen.
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13. Tosh, Himachal Pradesh
It is a village in Himachal Pradesh, at the end of the Parvati valley. It leads to the Pin Parvati Pass and is very beautiful. Tosh is an alternative of Kasol. Imagine Kasol in Himachal Pradesh without its modernity, then you have Tosh. It still is a village with the slate roof houses. It is slowly gaining its popularity amongst the hippy crowd for the good stuff.
Also Read : Best Treks In the North
A wooden bridge is the only connection it has from the rest of the world, but as you cut across the bridge you will tend to slip into a bygone era.
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14. Radhanagar Beach, Andaman And Nicobar Islands
Radhanagar Beach is also known as Beach No.7 in Havelock which is quite unique. In 2004, TIME magazine had voted it as the ' Best Beach in Asia'. The way the beach is maintained gives you the feel of sitting at an isolated or private beach.
Also Read : The Pulse Of Andaman
The beach also has not seen much commercialization as much as its counterparts.
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15. Dharchula, Uttarakhand
Dharchula is a scenic town which lies on the way to Mansarovar lake in Uttarakhand. It is also a border town between India and Nepal and people from both the sides pass through it without any restrictions. It is home to the Rung tribe which has a place in history as well.
Read More : Land Of Gods
The town is completely surrounded by hills on all sides and gives you breathtaking views. The main attractions of this place are the Chikrila Dam, Om Parvat, Kali River, Manosarovar Lake and the Narayan Ashram.
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