India is a land of wondres and has some of the most interesting places in the world. The places mentioned in this list are only some of the interesting places in India that one should definitely visit. We have tried to cover all the four directions of the compass and listed 20 of the most unique and uncanny.
Also read: 15 Incredible Natural Wonders In India
1. Asia’s cleanest village: Mawlynnong
This small village perched in the East Khasi Hills in Meghalaya is also referred to as “God’s own Garden” and it has been titled as Asia’s cleanest village. It was a community based initiative to clean the village and what a job they have done!
2. Village with no locks: Shani Shignapur
Shani Shignapur is located in Maharashtra in the district of Ahmednagar, the village is known for the temple of Shani, the Hindu god associated with the planet Saturn. The houses in the village have no locks and the locals believe that the village is looked after by Shani Devta.
3. Sanskrit Village: Mattur
Mattur is a quaint village in the Shimoga district near the city of Shivamogga in the state of Karnataka. This village is known for the use of Sanskrit for day-to-day communication. It is the only village in the world where people still use Sanskrit on a daily basis
4. Airport by the sea: Agatti Airport
Agatti Airport is the only air strip in the Union territory of Lakshadweep. It is a patch of land that houses a single runway which is 1.2 km long. The airport can handle 50 people at peak hours making it one the smallest airports in the world.
5. Secluded Tribals in India’s Mainland: Malkangiri in Odisha
The Bondas, one of the primitive tribes of Orissa, live in the high hills of Khairput block of Malkangiri. The lifestyle of Bondas in the hills, continues to be primitive. The women cover their bodies with colourful beads and their private parts with small pieces of cloth which they stitch with threads. The Bondas speak Remo, an Austro-Asiatic language belonging to Mundari group.
6. Temple which houses a Muslim diety: Jhulasan
Jhulasan, a small village 40 km north of Ahmedabad, has a Hindu temple where a Muslim deity – Dola Mata is worshipped. The shrine attracts devotees from all faiths, especially those who wish to go abroad. ‘Dola Mata’, who was born in a Muslim family, is worshipped as a Goddess by Hindus
7. The ‘Jai Shri Ram’ Hanuman Temple: Connaught Place
The Hanuman Temple in Connaught Place, New Delhi, is an ancient Hindu temple and is claimed to be one of the five temples since the time of Mahabharata. An important feature of this temple is the 24–hour chanting of the mantra “Sri Ram, Jai Ram, Jai Jai Ram”, since August 1, 1964. It is claimed that this continuous chanting has been recorded in the Guinness Book of World Records.
8. Second coldest inhabited place in the world & coldest place in India: Drass
The village of Drass in the Kargil district near the Line of Control is the second coldest place inhabited by human beings; it is also called the Gateway to Ladakh. The winters are so cold that the average temperature settles around −20 °C (−4 °F)
9. Wettest Place on the planet: Mawsynram
Mawsynram, a village in the Khasi hills of Meghalaya is the wettest place on Earth; this village receives an average annual rainfall of 11,873 millimeters which is the highest level of precipitation recorded in the world. It has also found a spot in the Guinness book of World Records for the same
10. Oldest Rock Art in The World: Bhimbetka
The Bhimbetka Rock Shelters are a World Heritage Site and, according to the Archaeological Society of India, it features signs of the earliest human habitation. They also feature rock art which shows the evolution in painting as a form of expression.
11. A universal township for human unity: Auroville
Auroville in Pudducherry is a place which defies all the norms of a structured society, the place is a township with no possession and money “where men and women of all countries are able to live in peace and progressive harmony, above all creeds, all politics and all nationalities. The purpose of Auroville is to realize human unity” (Mirra Alfassa).
12. Highest Motorable road in the World: Mana Pass
Situated at a staggering height of 18,399 feet, Mana Pass between India and Tibet now hosts the highest motorable road in the world. Beating Khardung La Pass which was the higest motorable road until December 2015, Mana Pass is located near the border between Tibet and India in the state of Uttrakhand.
13. Bridges Made From Living Roots: Cherrapunji
Living root bridges are a form of tree shaping common in the southern part of the Northeast Indian state of Meghalaya. They are handmade from the aerial roots of Rubber Trees by the people of the mountainous terrain along the West Jaintia Hills district and East Khasi Hills district.
14. Southern most point of India’s territory: Indira Point
Indira Point or Pygmalion Point is the southernmost point of India. Located in the Nicobar district of Andaman and Nicobar Islands the point is named to commemorate the former Prime Minister of India Indira Gandhi.
15. The place in India which receives the first rays of the sun – Dong village in Arunachal Pradesh
The easternmost village in India, Dong Village in Arunachal Pradesh is the place which receives the first rays of the sun. Situated in the Lohit district Dong is the place where India, China and Myanmar meet. Dong lies at the junction of the Lohit River and the Sati (or Sai Ti) stream at an elevation of 1,240 metres
16. India’s highest lake: Tso Lhamo lake in Sikkim
Tso Lhamo Lake is one of the highest lakes in the world, it is the highest lake in the country perched at an overwhelming height of 17,490 ft. Situated in the northern part of Sikkim, Tso Lhamo is a glacial lake and is the source of the state’s most important river, river Teesta
17. India’s highest waterfall – Nohkalikai Falls
Nohkalikai Falls is the highest plunge waterfall in India. With an astounding height is 1115 feet, it is the highest waterfall in India located in the state of Meghalaya near Cherrapunji. It is also one of the most picturesque water falls in the country
18. The Submerged City – Dwarka
Recent explorations have confirmed the existence of the mythical city of Dwarka under the sea off the coast of modern day Dwarka in Gujarat. The submerged Dwarka is said to be the capital of Lord Krishna’s kingdom. The city was apparently submerged by Krishna at the end of Dwarpar Yug marking the beginning of Kal Yug.
19.The haunted fort – Bhangarh
Bhangarh is a 17th Century fort built by Man Singh I for his younger brother Madho Singh I. Situated at the border of Sariska Wildlife in the Aravalli Hills of Rajasthan. This place boasts a sign board put up by the Archeological Survery of India outside its premises, which reads that people should not stay in the vicinity of the fort after sunset.
20. The bridge built over a sea – Pamban Bridge
Pamban Brigde which connects the island of Rameshwaram, is a railway bridge built over the stretch of sea that separates Rameshwaram from mainland India and it was opened on 24th February 1914. The railway bridge has a double leaf bascule section which can be raised to let ships pass through.
