Although I am a person who finds myself loving every place I visit, there are 7 places that I would consider as total hidden gems of India. We all go gaga about the alpine lakes, the mesmerizing Himalayas , the Rann of Kutch , the Sundarbans, the house boats of Kerala or the beaches of Goa, however, all these places are so popular, and the internet is full of information about these lovely destinations and that makes it easy to explore.
Here are 7 Hidden Gems of India that I feel will grab your attention and make you want to pack your bags and get there!
1. Majuli, Assam
This river island, situated amidst the mighty Brahmaputra, is not only famous for being the biggest river island in the world, but it is home to Hindu Monasteries called Satras. The Satras consist of a large prayer hall facing a simple shrine, surrounded by dormitories and bathing tanks for monks. The Satras also offer guest accommodation where devotees and visitors not only take part in worship of Vishnu and Krishna, but also watch traditional bhaona(expressive) performances.
One of the famous Satra is the Samaguri Satra, where the actual art of mask making is taught and mini performances are also organized to entice any one who visits.
It would be a sin to miss the lovely sunrises and sunsets this place has to offer. The misty mornings diffuse sunlight and make layers of gorgeousness float above the paddy fields. The sunset specifically must be witnessed at the banks of the mighty Brahmaputra. The gradient of oranges above the horizon will have u smitten.
2. Nongriat, Meghalaya
Tucked amongst the hills of Meghalaya, lies this tiny hamlet named Nongriat. The only way you can reach this village is by foot. The last village after which you cannot take your vehicle is called Tyrna, from here you hike up and down for around 90 minutes to reach Nongriat. Nongriat has pools of pristine blue water, waterfalls, and iconic living root bridges across, including the double decker one. These roots are living and grow year on year. They are so solid that, locals have places flat stones on it for tourist to walk with much ease.
There are handful of homestays here, and you stay peacefully at a very nominal cost of say Rs.500/ bed and have yummy food served all three times a day. You can hike to nearby waterfalls and enjoy a batch and take plenty pictures.
We visited this place in December and it was awesome.
3. Ukhimath, Uttarakhand
Ukhimath is a small town and a Hindu pilgrimage site in Rudraprayag district, Uttarakhand in India. It has 2 very interesting hiking destinations.
- Tungnath temple hike: This is the highest Shiva temple in the world, and is a very easy hike of about 3 hours up and 2 hours down. You can finish this in a day.
- Deoria tal: This lake hike is again another 90 minutes up and 40 minutes down one. You can witness a love lake which gets the best reflections of the Chaukhamba and the associated range of mountains on a clear sky day.
4. Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh
Are you looking for an escape into the hilly abode of Arunachal Pradesh? If yes, then Tawang is a perfect pick for you. Although it is one long journey to get here, if you are a biker, and love the adventure journey, this is a good destination.
-Popularly known as Golden Namgyal Lhatse, Tawang Monastery is one of the key places to visit in Arunachal Pradesh. Being the second largest monastery in the world, it houses around 300 monks.
-Besides this, I visited my first nunnery . One of the oldest Ani Gompas is the Brahma-dung-chung Ani Gompa (also known as Thukje Chueling), located on a mountain about 10 km from Tawang town
This river island, situated amidst the mighty Brahmaputra, is not only famous for being the biggest river island in the world, but it is home to Hindu Monasteries called Satras. The Satras consist of a large prayer hall facing a simple shrine, surrounded by dormitories and bathing tanks for monks. The Satras also offer guest accommodation where devotees and visitors not only take part in worship of Vishnu and Krishna, but also watch traditional bhaona(expressive) performances.
-If you are a fan of war stories, you will definitely want to visit the Tawang War Memorial which is a stupa (Buddhist shrine) built to commemorate the Indian martyrs who sacrificed their lives in the 1962 Indo-China war.
-The Sangestar Tso, formerly called Shonga-tser Lake and popularly known as the Madhuri Lake ( since famous Bollywood actress Madhuri Dixit danced here in the movie Koyla), is located on the way from Tawang to Bum La Pass in Tawang district of Arunachal Pradesh, near Indo-China.
-Last but not the least , the Indo China border at the BUM LA pass. You need permits , but its worth it. Have some chai there with the soldiers and listen to their stories. They are very warm and love enthusiasts like us who come and share a giggle .
5. Kalpeshwar, Uttarakhand
This is one of the Panchkedar dham, and is situated close to Joshimath in the Urgam valley of the Garhwal region of Uttarakhand.
Kalpeshwar is the only Panch Kedar temple accessible throughout the year. At this small stone temple, approached through a cave passage, the matted tress (jata) of Lord Shiva is worshipped.
Its a quaint place with waterfalls and stream along side. You can easily live here in one of the home stays and spend 2 days in these picturesque valley
6. Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh
Every one know MP for its Khajuraho temples or the Indori poha, however, Jabalpur, although a small smart city, has its interesting attractions:
- Gwari ghat- Narmada Arti. This is similar to the artis you must have witnessed at Varanasi or Rishikesh, but in a much smaller set up. Its very interactive.
- Bheda Ghat- It is a mesmerising experience to witness the marble rocks adjoining the graceful Narmada River in Bhedaghat.These soaring white rocks, are known to magically change shapes as you sail along the river. Treat yourself with a boat ride on a moonlit night or at sunrise at the marble rocks when it shines like silver.
- Dhuandhaar falls: The river Narmada flows through the famous marble-like falls, narrows down and plunges into a waterfall so forcefully that it creates a bouncing mass of mist, which looks like smoke. There fore the name.
7. Imphal, Manipur
Due to the numerous waterfalls and the crystal clear water of Meghalaya, we all are very fond of going there, but very few actually head to the lovely town of Imphal, which is the capital of Manipur.
It has a very unique culture and amazing history that makes it worth staying at a home stay or better still, with a Manipuri family.
Top 5 things to do in Manipur would be:
- Go during Holi, and witness cultural dances and food.
- Ima market- run by only women
- Visit the Loktak lake
- Eat the salad and the try the local wine
- Go to the INA headquarters and the museum in Moirang
Hope this article has got you all excited about these hidden gems in our loving country. The whole year awaits , so get set go!