Offbeat Destinations and Activities in India
Trek on the Frozen River in Ladakh
If you love trekking and at the same time you are an ardent adventurer at your heart, then the Chadar frozen river trek in Ladakh is just for you. This trek is considered to be one of the most unique, tough and adventurous treks in the world. The trekking can be done only during winter months when the mercury falls several degrees below the freezing point and the Zanskar lake is transformed into a thick sheet of ice. That is also the reason why the trek has been given the name as 'Chadar Trek' (Chadar means a sheet or a blanket). Stays inside the caves along the route during nights, walks on the narrow margins of ice along the canyon walls on one side with deep rushing water on the other combined with a chilling temperature is what makes this trek one of the toughest treks even for passionate trekkers around the world. Pristine beauty of the frozen river, sight of frozen waterfalls and undiluted mountain ranges keep you motivated and get going. The chadar trek is one of the most memorable experiences you can have in India.
Drive to the Pangong Lake in Ladakh
One of the most wonderful experiences that you can have in India is the drive to the serene Pangong Lake in Ladakh. This tranquil lake is truely a tourist's paradise. A 5 hours drive from Leh to Pangong Lake takes you through beautiful Ladakh countryside, a rough and dramatically scenic mountain road, beautiful monasteries and calm villages. Bright blue waters, rocky lakeshore, backdrop of snowy peaks of various hues and colors, ever changing colors of the lake and a sight of rare migratory birds flying over makes this place a photographer's delight. View of the lake with deepest blue hues in the middle when the sun is directly above it; is a sight that cannot be described in words. Camping options are also available if you also want to see the sunset and sunrise.
Make a Visit to the Key Monastery in Spiti Valley
Located in the Lahaul Spiti district of Himachal Pradesh, the 1000 years old Key Monastery is famous for the image of Gautam Buddha in dhyana (meditation) position. A backdrop of snow capped mountains and the beautiful Spiti River makes the monastery even more enchanting and beautiful. Breathtaking views of the snow capped mountains along the rough and rustic terrain from Kaza to Key Monastery make your drive interesting and fun.
Take a Walk Upto the Living Root Bridges in Meghalaya
Have you ever heard of bridges that are grown and not built? Yes ! there are live man made bridges in Eastern parts of India where they are grown over the years using roots of rubber trees. These bridges are unique in the world. The secondary roots of rubber trees are intermingled and are directed using supports of hollowed beetel nut trunks underneath so that they reach other side of the river or a stream. In contrast to the bridges built with concrete and steel, these are much stronger and gain strength with each passing year as the root system of the trees mature with time. Most of the bridges take 10 to 15 years to be fully functional. Once they grow in full mature bridges they can carry load of dozens of people at a time. People belonging to Khasi tribe in Meghalaya region are trained enough to grow the living root bridges. The double decker bridge in Cheerapunjee is one such bridge and trekkers from all around the world come to this place just to get a glimpse of it.
Visit the Floating Loktak Lake in Manipur
The Loktak Lake in Manipur is the only floating lake in the world and is called so because of the freely floating phumdis (small masses of vegetation, soil and organic matters; both original and man made) on its surface . You can even see the huts (phumshongs) of fishermen built on these phumdis. The largest stretch of phumdi covers an area of around 40 sq. kms. and it is on this phumdi where you can find the world's only floating National Park, the "Keibul Lam Jao National Park" that is home to Manipur's Eld Deer also known as Brow-antlered Deer or Sangai. Lots of tourists visit the lake to enjoy its pristine beauty. Also, its a paradise for bird lovers and ornithologists.
See the Rock Cut Carvings at the Unakoti Hills in Tripura
Surrounded by deep forests, Unakoti Hills are a must visit in India. The hills are known for their huge rock cut figures and are a treasure house of ‘Bas Relief’ sculptures created between 9th and 10th century. As tourism here is not so rigourously promoted, the place is not known to many. If you are a history buff and are interested in seeing exemplary work of art and culture of ancient times then this place is a must visit for you. Huge rock cut sculptures of Lord Shiva and Ganesha are the most prominent pieces of art work at the Unakoti Hills.
Visit the World's Largest Open Air Art Gallery in Shekhawati, Rajasthan
The Shekhawati region in Rajasthan is a must viist for ardent art lovers. The walls and ceilings of havelis and old mansions here are adorned with intricate painted frescoes. Nawalgarh and Mandwa are two towns in the region where you can find hundreds of vibrant and colorful havelis that were built by rich merchants during 18th and 19th centuries. The walls of these havelis are decorated with magnificent frescoes depicting scenes from mythology, festivals and daily life. You can see a strong influence of Persian, Mughal and English art forms in the paintings.
Pay a Holy Visit to the Karni Mata Temple in Bikaner, Rajasthan
Also known as the Rat Temple, Karni Mata Temple is another offbeat destination in India. If you make a plan to visit Rajasthan then do pay a visit to this temple where along with Goddess Karni Mata, rats are also considered to be holy. As you enter the temple, you will find rats all around. Devotees feed the rats with milk and grains. It is said that there are almost 20000 rats in the temple and when these rats across the feet of devotees it is considered to be lucky for them. What is most lucky is the sight of white rats which are only around 4 to 5 in number. Worhsippers here put in extensive efforts to get a sight of these white rats by offering candy like prasad to the rats. It is said that if someone steps on any of the rats, he/she has to buy a silver or a gold rat and place it in the temple.
Experience a Rural yet Incredible Stay at Hodka Village in Gujarat
If you want to soak yourself in true spirit of Gujarat, then do plan a trip to the enchanting Hodka Village situated in the Rann of Kutch, Gujarat. The village is considered to be one of the finest rural tourist destinations in India. You will definitely cherish a stay in the traditional hodkas or the cylindrical shaped huts with conical roofs made of mud and dried grass. The interiors of these huts are decorated with elegant mirror work on the walls; carved wooden windows and delicate lattice work make these huts an apt accomodation for foreign tourists who want to experience a traditional rural stay with all comforts like delicious Kutch food, folk music performances and bonfire nights. Visitors can also try out overnight camel safaris which is again a memorable experience.
Like it on Facebook, Tweet it or share this article on other bookmarking websites.