11 Indian Destinations to make You Go WOW!
They are not regular travel locations. Each place mentioned below packs an exciting punch! And, you know India is full of them.
And, these spots will surprise and fascinate you. Let’s see if you can resist the temptation to book flight tickets to India, right away!
1. Nek Chand Saini’s Rock Garden, Chandigarh
India’s greenest and cleanest city, Chandigarh is home to a garden constructed entirely with the industrial waste and discarded items.
Interestingly, Nek Chand Saini started creating the masterpiece secretly in the year 1957. He found a gorge near the humanmade lake and started building, illegally, though.
He was able to hide it from the government for 18 years. A person was building mini dragon sculptors, animals, dancing girls, and all sorts of creative pieces of art from screws, bottle caps he collected! On top of that, hide it from the world for almost two decades!
By the time the government found out about the creative gorge, the sculptors had spread over an area of 12 acres! Presently is covers 400 acres.
The public forced the authorities to convert it into a public space.
The government even provided a workforce and the title of Sub-Divisional Engineer to create the amazing Rock Garden!
2. Chandipur Beach, Odisha
Have you ever seen a sea disappear only to reappear after some time right in front of your eyeballs? If not, then Odisha’s Chandipur does that exactly! It plays hide and seek.
It is an extremely rare natural phenomenon. The sea recedes rapidly by as much as 3 miles during the ebb and then comes splashing back during the high tide.
Imagine racing against the high tide in a jeep or a quad bike!
Wait, there’s more! As the water recedes, you can walk over the sea bed, which has enough water to cover your feet. It gives the appearance of walking on water! Hence, Keep your cameras cocked!
3. Lucky Restaurant, Ahmedabad
It doesn’t matter how many killer restaurants have you been too. Nothing comes close, or rather closer than the Lucky Restaurant in Ahmedabad.
Have you ever dined next to a dead person? It sounds absurd, but this Indian restaurant has made it possible.
The place where the restaurant is set up was a graveyard. The owner of the hotel didn’t want to disturb the bodies and the coffins. Hence, Lucky Restaurant came to life.
Furthermore, the restaurant utilizes the space between the graves for seating. The workers at the restaurant replace flowers on the graves every day.
Also, one of the most celebrated Indian Painter M.F. Hussain was a patron of the restaurant.
4. Key Monastery, Spiti Valley
Key Monastery, also known as Kye Gompa, is a Tibetan Buddhist monastery that is beautifully placed 4166 m above sea level. When the snow blankets the mountains and surrounding terrain, your brain will blow out in awe.
Also, the Key Monastery is the biggest Monastery of the Valley. Moreover, it is also a center for religious training for Lamas.
Fascinatingly, you can spend a night in the lama quarters for a negligent amount. It is going to be an unbelievable experience.
5. Khajuraho Temples
The temple is also amongst the best-preserved in the nation. The temples date back to 950-1050 CE. However, the intricacy and the art that dominates the complex are astounding.
Another wow-thing about the temple is its genius architecture. The temple is divided into three parts.
The UNESCO world heritage site, Khajuraho temples are especially famous for its scriptures and sculpture, some of the sensual.
A common myth is that it is a shrine primarily dedicated to erotic sculptors. In fact, apart from 10% of artworks, others depict aspects of life. Also, the images inside the temple are different manifestations of Lord Shiva and Shakti.
6. Kerala Backwaters, Kerala
The whole stretch of Kerala backwaters, including lakes, lagoons, and canals is serene. However, the highlight is the Houseboat. If you catch flights to Kerala, do not miss the ‘kettuvallam’ or the houseboat experience.
Moreover, the backwaters also host boat races. These boats are over 100 feet in length and are called ‘chundan kullams,’ or the snake boats. The vibrant and cheerful atmosphere makes it look like just another Indian festival.
You can visit the resorts around the lakes in ferries for cheap. Some of the key tourist spots are Munroe Island, Kollam, Kasargod, Kuttanad, Kozhikode, and Thiruvallam. Each more exciting than the other! Explore them all!
7. Rishikesh, Uttarakhand
How about adventure sporting by the sacred river of Ganges? Rishikesh, the Yoga Capital of the World, is your answer. It is where spirituality and adventure coexist.
To name a few exciting activities, body surfing, trekking, waterfall trekking, river rafting, mountain biking, bungee jumping, rappelling and rock climbing, camping, and bonfire, cliff jumping, flying fox, kayaking, ayurvedic massages and therapies, parasailing, paragliding, hot air Ballooning, and more!
And wait! Don’t skip a visit to the Beatles ashram, especially rock-lovers.
8. Rann of Kutch, Gujarat
The captivating Kutch is divided into two parts, The Great Rann of Kutch and The Little Rann of Kutch. The former is the world’s largest salt marsh encompassing 7505.22 sq km.
The best way to explore the place and its culture is during the three months long festival of Kutch Utsav. It takes place from December to January. Different amazing traditional and cultural events take place each day. Delicious local food is ample.
Besides, you can stay in the tented accommodation. Another lodging option is mud houses a few miles away from the white desert!
Getting around the vast expanse is especially exciting in a personal vehicle, preferably a jeep!
9. Leh, Ladakh
The most impressive thing about Leh Ladakh is the natural and rugged beauty. From the snow-capped mountains, frozen lakes, rivers to valleys and everything in between.
Moreover, its terrain serves as a hiker or trekker’s paradise. For some of the best sights, visit the Zanskar Valley. You can also choose to rejuvenate at the Tso Moriri or the Pangong Tso Lake.
For adventure sports, experience rafting in the Zanskar river, or embark on the thrilling Chadar Trek. Or, if you like driving, you can navigate Khardung La Pass, the highest civilian motorable road.
10. Taj Mahal, Agra
The default tourist destination of India, the testimonial of love, the beautiful Taj Mahal is as stunning as other locations in the list.
Further, the well-defined marble carvings, the exquisite marble detail only begin to define the beauty of the landmark. The calligraphy over the wallas is primarily taken from the Quran. Similar etchings are found over the tomb of Mumtaz Mahal and Shah Jahan.
For a lover of art, history, and love itself, the Taj Mahal is an exciting place to discover.
11. Karni Mata Temple, Rajasthan
There is no better entry than Karni Mata Temple to end this astonishing list. The temple is also known as the temple of rats, and that is not figurative. About twenty-five thousand black rats live and function within the temple.
However, these rats are not shooed away. Instead, they are revered as holy and are called Kabbas. People from far and wide travel to Rajasthan to witness this incredible place.
The devotees sometimes drink the same milk as the rats. To date, no complain of any disease or contamination has come up!
These were 11 of the countless Indian destinations to make you go WOW! India is perhaps the most colorful nation. Every day is a thrill. You are never out of unique sights and great sites.
