You have revelled with the crowds on the beaches of Goa, learnt the Golden Triangle route like the back of your hand, photographed the terrain of Leh, experienced royalty in Rajasthan, sailed the backwaters of Kerala, and played with snow in Manali. In the coming year, get off the tourist trail and discover a different side of India.
Spiti, Himachal Pradesh
Climb the mountains on the roof of our world in Spiti, Ladakh’s lesser-known cousin, where people are as sparse as the vegetation on its bare brown peaks. Unlike the hill stations we typically visit, Spiti’s breath-taking landscapes, gushing rivers, starry skies, deep gorges, blue streams, and curious summits offer a rare experience of discovering life in the Himalayas.
As you spot elusive mountain wildlife, follow Buddhist trails, savour Tibetan delicacies, and hitchhike to remote Himalayan villages, the legends and folklores of the valley will engulf you. It’s hard to fathom life in the harsh winter climate in this cold mountain desert, but the warmth and conviction of its people will leave you humbled.
Hodka, Gujarat
The white salt desert of the Great Rann of Kutch is nowhere as famous as the sandy desert of Rajasthan, but it’s equally, if not more, majestic. A flat expanse of land covered with a solid snow-like layer of salt, the Rann has nothing around as far as your eyes can see. Sunrise and sunset lend golden hues to the white desert, creating a magical aura. The village of Hodka offers a charming way to discover the Great Rann of Kutch; you live in traditional mud bhungas, watch the colours of Gujarat come to life in its folk music and dances, sample typical Gujarati food, marvel at the many forms of Kutchi crafts, and feel overwhelmed by the affection of its people. You leave the village craving for the simplicity and richness of a slow life.
Lakshadweep Islands
Lakshadweep is an oasis of blue in our own backyard. When the waves beckon, take a cruise along the Arabian Sea, to the powdery white beaches and the cobalt blue waters of Kalpeni, Bangaram and Minicoy islands. While Indian beaches are typically associated with heavy crowds and adulterated sands, this cluster of islands is a rare exception, thanks to efforts to preserve its clear blue seas and white sands by limiting tourists. 400 km off mainland, it becomes your own mini paradise as you snorkel or scuba-dive through its deep blue lagoons, exotic marine life, and colourful corals, while the evening sun paints its seas with the colours of the rainbow.
Pranpur, Madhya Pradesh
Madhya Pradesh might rarely be found on a travel itinerary, and that’s a pity, for it homes some of India’s oldest history and culture. The little village of Pranpur welcomes you with the soft clickety-clack of its looms, as its men and women intricately weave magic in the form of Chanderi silk saris. You recall your history textbook and feel proud of India’s claim as the producer of the finest silks. It might be one of India’s poorest regions, but that won’t stop the village folk from inviting you to their huts for a lavish Bundelkhandi meal. Inspired by the village of Hodka, Pranpur’s own village tourism committee has opened its doors to visitors in the form of a rustic guest house set amid a mango orchard.
Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve, Uttarakhand
In gorgeous alpine meadows, along the banks of pristine glacial lakes, and under the soft light of the stars, you’ll discover a beautiful way to explore the unique Trans-Himalayan culture of Uttarakhand. Home to the Bhotiya people, the high-altitude villages of the Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve opened their doors to community-based tourism in an attempt to preserve the rich heritage of the region. As you follow the shepherds of Nitti Valley and their flocks into grazing pastures, you’ll discover that the region is an oasis for Himalayan flora and fauna, and spot exotic mountain wildlife and songbirds. Its remarkable scenic beauty will find a place in your heart (and your camera), and you’ll dream of an abode in the majesty of the Himalayas.
Rural Punjab
Punjab is known for the hospitality of its people and the richness of its food, but in the cities of Amritsar and Chandigarh we barely scratch its surface. Experience the real warmth of Punjab on its countryside, where its people will welcome you with warmth that’s a notch higher than any other part of India, its food will treat your taste buds, and its traditional folk music will rejuvenate your spirit. In true Punjabi style, home- and farm-owners in the pinds of Punjab welcome visitors to experience a slice of Punjabi country hospitality amid beautiful forestlands and fruit farms. You’ll rarely leave Punjab without the feeling of leaving a home away from home.
Dzongu, Sikkim
A secret paradise near Gangtok, Dzongu is home to dense jungles, hidden waterfalls, and beautifully virgin valleys. Surrounded by rugged Himalayan peaks on all sides, Dzongu’s picturesque villages are home to the Lepchas people, who welcome visitors to stay with them in their humble homes and shower them with traditional mountain hospitality and food.
Despite its setting in the Himalayas, Dzongu is different from its northern counterparts in the tranquillity of its setting and the peaceful vibes of its scanty population. A taste of life in the North-east of India makes you realize what a truly diverse country we live in.
Andaman Islands
The pristine white beaches and the royal blue seas of the Andaman Islands are reasons enough to visit them, but they also house what might be the most fascinating culture in all of India; that of aboriginal tribes which have never had contact with the outside world! While the Indian government strictly patrols the privacy of the forest areas inhabited by these tribes, you’ll find yourself intrigued by just being in their vicinity.
Surrounded by Eurasia’s last isolated tribe on one side, and the most beautiful stretch of the Bay of Bengal on the other, the Andaman Islands offer an escape that is as beautiful as it is remote.
Pohra, Rajasthan
Not all Rajasthanis traditionally lived royal lives in palaces; many grew up as sons and daughters of the desert and its earthy way of life. The legends, music, culture and history of Rajasthan take on lives of their own as you venture further into the desert from Jaisalmer. Pohra is one such small settlement where you can watch Rajput men and women bring Rajasthani folklore to life around a desert fire under incredibly starry skies. You can trace footprints of wild animals on the sand, ride a camel into the heart of the Thar desert, meet traditional artisans from nearby villages, spot wild birds at night, and revel in the hues of the evening sky. You’ll soon realise that this is royalty only a few get to experience.
This article was originally posted on TheHindu and for the rest of the post, go here.
Shivya Nath is an Indian girl who fell in love with traveling, writing and social media. The first is the most thrilling, because being from a protective Indian family means every travel plan comes with a small battle. She says, “I’m not complaining. At my age, few from my hometown have traveled as much and as independently as me.”
She juggles work, travel and blogging, until she finds the perfect blend of the three. Join her on her journeys around the world, as she seeks the most untouched, undiscovered of places that few have been to, and even fewer have written out.
