Mawlynnong, Meghalaya. One of the most rarely
travelled travel destinations in India:
What makes Mawlynnong a remote village in Meghalaya a traveler’s
destination? Well one reason is that this beautiful village is the cleanest
village in the whole Asia. Yes you heard it right. Mawlynnong was recognized as
the cleanest village in Asia by Discover India. The living root bridges that
are made out of aerial roots of trees is another attraction to tourists. A
traveler can rarely see these kinds of root bridges anywhere else in the world.
The UNESCO has recognized the root bridges as a world heritage spot. You can
see both India and Bangladesh from Sky view at Mawlynnong. Sky view is an 85
feet high tower made completely from bamboo. Since the village is located at Indo
Bangladesh border one can see both Indian and Bangladesh landscapes from this
85 feet high tower.
Ziro,
ArunachalPradesh
One of the scenic pleasures is awaiting you at Ziro
Arunachal Pradesh. Home to Apa tribes originally called as Apatani Tribes keeps
this place as old as it was decades back, this is the place for those who love
nature at its original form. If you are looking for a vacation to get out of
the usual chaotic life then it’s time to pack your bags and plan for a trip to
Ziro. One of the India’s most prestigious outdoor music festival called as Ziro
Festival of Music , happens here. It’s guaranteed to feel like in heaven if you
are lucky enough to attend one. There are many options in Ziro for travelers
who love adventure sports. Some of the must visit spots are Dolo Mando,Ziro
Puto, Tarin Fish Farm, Talley ValleyWildlife Sanctuary ,Kile Pakho and Meghna
Cave Temple Medey. This is one of the very few places in India where the age
old traditions and rituals are being followed with utmost sanity.
Mainpat - Chhattisgarh
Never have we imagined Chhattisgarh to be our romantic
or honeymoon destination, but there is this hidden undiscovered valley of Love.
Mianpat is also known as the ‘’The Shimla’’ of Chhattisgarh
due to its unrivalled beauty. This is one of the most remote hill stations in
the country with Tibetan settlements. There are many attractions like Tiger
Point, Fish Point etc. Since this has been a Tibetan Refugee camp since 1963 we
can see beautiful Tibetan Buddhist Monasteries here. Mianpat is a home of
different culture and habitat. A few Kilometres away Mianpat, there is
inimitable designation’ Bisar Pani’ , where the water flows upstream to about
30ft (no scientific reasons being found yet).
Majuli – Assam
This is a very
beautiful river island set in the banks of Brahmaputra River. Majuli is the
largest River Island in the world. Apart from the gigantic river base the rich
cultural heritage is one of the fortes of Majuli, as the majority of population
is tribes. Majuli is the cultural hub of Assam. Raas is the most celebrated
festivals in Majuli which is a stage of cultural outbreak.
Siju Cave –
Meghalaya
Meghalaya is famous for its nerve-racking monsoon
season but few know about the adventurous place called Siju Cave. Siju’s cave
is the ultimate for a caving experience. This is one of the longest caves in
India which is yet to be explored fully (as no one has reported to reach the
end of the cave yet). The cave is situated on the banks of Simsang River near
Naphak Lake in Meghalaya .The cave mesmerizes the visitors with its limestone
structure and the stalagmites and stalactites formations. For the locals this
is also called as the Siju Dobbakol caves as there are numerous Bats living
within the cave. The aesthetic beauty of the place is a breath taking
experience for all. Since the human intervention to this cave is very less the
basic necessary items needs to be carried along with the expedition. There is a
river flowing parallel to this cave and a bird sanctuary located opposite to Simsang
River which is often referred to as Siju Bird Sanctuary.
Patan –Gujarat
The glory of Patan has been marked ever since 8th
century as ‘’Anahilapataka’’. This is a favorite spot for those who love to get
dwelled in the history and awestruck with ancient architecture. This ancient
city has served as the capital for 650 years which itself make the place one of
the most important cities of those times. One of the striking architecture of
Patan is The Rani Ki Vav, which is an inverted temple with seven layers stairs
build in complex Maru-Gurjara architectural style. This is one of India’s
latest addition to UNESCO World Heritages .Rani Ki Vav has also took the award
for “Cleanest Iconic Place’’ in India at the Indian Sanitation Conference 2016.
Who doesn’t love shopping, that too from such a place where art, culture ,and
tradition is at its best. Patan is world famous for its Patola sarees and its handmade
textiles.
Tawang –
Arunachal Pradesh
If you think of experiencing a touch of spirituality along
with the eye pleasing scenic beauty Tawang is the destination. It’s famous for
the birth place of Sixth Dalai Lama. The sacred Buddhist monasteries will
enrich the spirituality within one’s self. One of the famous monasteries is the
Tawang Monastery which is considered to be a very sacred place for Buddhist
followers. Being in Tawang one cannot afford to miss visiting Taktsang Gompa,
this place is beyond the words to explain. You will get flabbergasted seeing
the Gompa on top of around 12500 to 13000 feet high cliff. This is the best
place for eternal bliss with hypnotizing natural beauty and would literally
hear nothing but only the wind and your heartbeat. Apart from these there are
many more attractions here which trigger the adventure side of yours. Once done
with the spiritual fulfillment you can try out the trekking or mountain
climbing at Gorichen Peak , which is the highest peak in Arunachal Pradesh. The
other must visit list in Tawang Include Sela Pass,Bumla Pass,the ethereal
Shonga – tser Lake,Nuranang Waterfalls and Pankang Teng Tso Lake.
Spiti – Himachal Pradesh
For those who get thrilled with the higher altitude
destinations here is your dreamland. Spiti is situated at an altitude of 14931
ft, which make the knee tremble but the experience will be one for a lifetime. This
is one of the cold desert valleys in Himalayas with very less human interventions;
hence one of India’s scantily populated places. This is the best place for a
hideout from the city chaos and monotonous life. This place got adventure on
its own and over to it there are trekking, camping, mountain biking and may
more to increase your quest for adventure. Tobo Monastery is a must visit
places in Spiti Valley, this is one of the oldest monastries which was founded
in 996 CE in the Tibetan year of fire Ape. This place guarantee to bring priceless
experience with its rich murals on the walls, breathtaking collections of
thankas, manuscripts and preserves statues. Ki, Kibber , Kaza etc are other
small villages where you can visit to engulf your taste buds with their traditional
cuisine and strong traditions.
Velas , Maharashtra
For the animal lover especially if it’s for turtles
you must make a trip to Velas. This picturesque village is known for its
beautiful beaches, also for the exquisite local cuisine which will bring you
tummy full of happiness. It’s the unique mission of the villagers to protect the
common and extinct species of turtles in its own habitat. Velas would be the
only one of its kind where we get to see the turtle life unleashing in front of
our eyes. Another eye catcher of this small eco-friendly village is the Vela’s
turtle festival conducted by the local people over here. famous for the Olive Ridley turtle population
which was considered almost extinct ,and hence two NGO‘s is protecting the eggs
of these turtles and celebrate the hatching of thousands of tiny tots step into
the deep blue sea, which is an mesmerizing sight for all the nature lovers.
Rosary Church - Karnataka
Now, last but not the least gear up for one of the magic
lands in India, yes you have heard it right! The Rosary Church is in Karnataka around
2 kilometers away from Shettihalli is built by French missionaries way back in
1860s which rests in the banks of Hemavathi River .It’s an interesting piece of
architecture for those who like old heritage buildings and architectures. The
church is a splendid structure of Gothic architecture. Not always you can see
this Gothic building as this gets submerged during the rains and then emerges
by its own once the water drains away.