India is a land of myths and mystics, and when it comes to travelling, the country has something to offer to every traveller. From exotic locations to strange, uncanny places, India has myriads of different locations that could amaze you. If you want to experience the mysterious land that India is, visit these 9 strange destinations.
Malana, Himachal Pradesh
Not many know about this mountainous town, located in the hills of Himachal Pradesh. Malana is considered to be the oldest civilisation in the country, and the native people do not associate themselves with Indian governance. The inhabitants believe themselves to be descendants of Alexander and his soldiers, and they consider themselves as the most superior Asian race. The Malana cream is believed to be one of the best and smoothest hash varieties in the world.
Temple Of Rats – Karni Mata Temple, Rajasthan
Located about 30 kilometres away from Bikaner, is the quaint town of Deshnok, which is visited by many devotees around the year to witness an intriguing sight at the Karni Mata Temple. Yes, the temple is home to over 20,000 rats. It is believed that the rats are reincarnated family members of Karni Mata. The white mice are worshipped and revered even more because the devotees consider them to be Karni Mata and her sons. Food nibbled by the rats is considered exceptionally holy and if a rat is killed, it’s replaced by a rat statue made of gold.
Mass Bird Suicide at Jatinga, Assam
The quaint town of Jatinga is nestled amongst the Borail Hills of Assam. Every monsoon, this village witnesses the most unusual phenomenon. Around September and October, especially on dark and foggy nights, hundreds of migratory birds fly towards buildings and crash themselves to death. This remains to be one of the world’s unsolved mysteries.
Magnetic Hill, Ladakh
Imagine getting pulled uphill even when the ignition of your car is off! Yes, at an altitude of 11,000 feet above sea level, is the Magnetic Hill in Ladakh, which pulls a car towards itself even when you are not driving. It is a thrilling experience for the visitors, and is one of the must-see things on the way to Leh. Scientists believe that it happens due to an optical illusion caused by the Gravity Hills.
Floating Islands of Loktak, Manipur
The Loktak Lake in Manipur, also known as the only Floating Lake in the world, is one of the most unusual sights in India. The lake has large masses of vegetation, perfectly circular in shape, floating on the surface. Known as Phumdis, the floating matter are clusters of vegetation, soil and other organic substances. A few of these floating islands are so huge that resorts have been built on them.
Lake of Skeletons – Roopkund Lake, Chamoli, Uttarakhand
Roopkund Lake lies in the middle of an inhabitable part of Himalayas, at a height of 16,500 feet. The lake is covered in snow and surrounded by rock-strewn glaciers. The uncanny thing about this lake is that about 600 odd human skeletons were discovered here. Dated back to the 9th CE, the skeletons were clearly visible at the bottom of the shallow lake after the snow melted.
Levitating Stone – Shivapur, Maharashtra
Hazrat Qamar Ali Darvesh, located in Pune, has a magical story to tell. It is believed that about 800 years ago, the current shrine was a gymnasium, and a Sufi saint called Qamar Ali was taunted by the wrestlers there. Disappointed by this, the saint cast a spell on the rocks that were used for body-building. Even today, the rock that weighs about 70 kg, is lifted by 11 finger tips touching the rock, and calling the saint’s name loudly. Many devotees visit the shrine to witness this magical sight.
Neelakurinji Bloom, Munnar, Kerala
The God’s own country, Kerala, is the land of many natural spectacles and one of them is Neelakurinji bloom that happens once in twelve years. The flower ‘Neelakurinji’, also called as ‘Strobilanthes Kunthianum’ by botanists, blossoms only after a period of twelve years, on the fabled hills of Munnar. This usually starts from August and lasts until October. Standing amidst the sprawling blooms of Neelakurinji is an ethereal experience, and many visitors throng Munnar during this time to witness this magical sight.
Village without Doors – Shani Shingnapur, Maharashtra
Located 35 kilometres away from Ahmednagar, Maharashtra, is Shani Shingnapur Village, known for its popular Shani temple. No crime has ever happened in the village, which people believe is because of the blessings of Shani Dev. The villagers have so much faith in their God that they have completely entrusted their safety into his hands. The homes and even the commercial buildings in this village have no doors. Owing to the zero crime rate, even UCO Bank has opened a ‘lock-less’ branch in this village, the first of its kind in India.
Visit these destinations to have a thrilling experience. Book your travel tickets to these places at the cheapest prices, on Paytm.
