6 Off Beat Travel Destinations of India

Gurudongmar Lake North Sikkim

The idea of traveling in India draws up many images, lush greenery, deserts, snow-capped peaks, beaches… the country definitely has it all and for a lack of a better word, the Indian landscape is diverse. Practically you find something or the other to do in some destination across the country… and yet, traveler after traveler haunts the beaten path.

If you are looking for something that is different from a prescribed list… you might as well check out the new list of off-beaten travel destinations.

1- The Little Rann of Kutch, Gujarat

The Little Rann, located close to the Great Rann is a definite must-visit for those who are looking to experience the color and raw plethora of desert colour and culture. While it lacks the tourism appeal that Jaisalmer in Rajasthan has, Little Rann, has this raw flair that is completely charming and disarming at the same time. A quaint salt marsh desert, the Little Rann is famous as the world’s last refuge of the Khur or the Indian Wild Ass.  A stark landscape with rich biodiversity, the Little Rann is an ecologically important zone and is home to several water birds like pelicans, flamingos, and ducks and other birds like the Indian Bustard, Sandgrouse, and francolins. The perfect destination for nature lovers.

Little Rann of Kutch
Little Rann of Kutch

The region is pretty popular for it’s surreal natural beauty that it has been featured in multiple movies in India such as Magadheera, refugee, Goriyon ki Raasleela, Sarainodu, and many other superhit movies. This wonderful holiday destination in Gujarat has also been mentioned in numerous books like Midnight Children written by Salman Rushdie. If you are also looking for a holiday destination for this winter vacation then check out different Gujarat holiday packages and plan accordingly.

2- Gurudongmar Lake – Sikkim

Gurudongmar Lake, North Sikkim

There is something about high-altitude lakes… nestled amongst high mountain peaks that inevitably bring in a sense of complete peace and serenity.  While the Pangong Tso shot to reluctant fame with the famous 3 Idiots scene, there is another beautiful high altitude hidden at a height of 17100 feet in the Eastern Himalayas. Emerald Waters, set deep in the backdrop of majestic snow-clad peaks, the Gurudongmar Lake is Sikkim’s well-kept secret.

3- Bandhavgarh National Park – Madhya Pradesh

While the Jim Corbett National Park is a popular destination for all those who want to get a glimpse of the elusive predator, there is another destination where you can get a peek at this royal cat – the Bandhavgarh National Park. While the Jim Corbett National Park is known for its dense jungles and the different variety of flora and fauna; catching a glimpse of the tiger with several safaris can be quite a task.

Bandhavgarh National Park
Bandhavgarh National Park

In Bandhavgarh, however, the chances of sighting this regal striped cat are quite high. Smaller in size when compared with the Jim Corbett National Park, it is much easier to navigate along Bandhavgarh, and rest assured, this National Park too is filled with a plethora of flora and fauna.

4- Syalsaur, Uttarakhand

Syalsaur, Uttarakhand
Syalsaur, Uttarakhand

The Himalayas are filled with several wonders, which are simply understated and hidden from the prying tourist eye. One such destination that lies hidden along the bend of the mighty mountains is Syalsaur. With the Mandakini gurgling alongside the perfect contrast of lush green trees cloaking majestic peaks, Syalsaur in Uttarakhand is the perfect destination to experience the quiet and majestic splendor of the Himalayas.

5- Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh

Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh
Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh

The last major site before hitting the China Border, Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh, is probably North-East’s best-kept secret. Possibly because of its political and geographical location, Tawang is rarely flocked by dozen tourists. Nevertheless, Tawang is worth each and every bureaucratic effort, tucked in the high mountains, the region boasts over 109 high-altitude lakes! If lake hopping at over 12000 is your thing, then Tawang is a definite must-visit!

6- Humayun’s Tomb in Delhi

If the Indian history, particularly the Mughal Era, has enthralled you and the idea of reliving that magnificent time through the exquisite Persian architecture has excited you – then apart from a visit to the ever-famous Taj Mahal, a peep at the Humayun’s tomb is a must.

Humayun's Tomb, New Delhi
Humayun’s Tomb, New Delhi

Commissioned by Humayun’s first wife Bega Begum, the tomb of Humayun or popularly known as Humayun ka makbara, was designed by the Persian architect Mirza Ghiyas.  The tomb is believed to be the first garden-tomb of the Indian subcontinent. The tomb is also the very first structure to use red sandstone on such a large scale.

A UNESCO World Heritage site, Humayun ka Makbara is tucked deep in the winding ‘Galis’ of the Nizamuddin area of Delhi. Known for its brilliant symmetry, this imposing structure has delicate touches of marble and other precious stones at the end of several gateways. Adding to these lush gardens that surround the area makes it a beautiful spot to rewind time.


You may like to read 8 Must-visit Offbeat destinations in Rajasthan for unique experiences

10 best churches to visit in France

eiffel tower

Are you planning on visiting France for a peaceful and serene vacation? After you tour the whole city, there are many ancient churches in France for you to visit. Every city has at least one traditional church that symbolises the authenticity of the place. So, here is an ultimate list of the 10 best churches to visit on your vacation in France. 


10 Best churches to visit in France on your vacation

  1. Mont Saint Michel Abbey
  2. Notre Dame de la Garde
  3. Sacre-Coeur
  4. Rouen Cathedral
  5. Monolithic Church of Saint-Jean
  6. Chartres Cathedral
  7. Notre Dame de Paris
  8. Strasbourg Cathedral
  9. Bourges Cathedral
  10. Reims Cathedral

12 Best Places to Visit Leh Ladakh

snow light city road

Ladakh, a newly created Union and territory in India happens to be one of the most favorite holiday destinations for adventure seekers and nature lovers. The beauty of this freezing-cold destination can’t be expressed in words as the landscape here changes drastically. Bedecked with gorgeous mountains,  Ladakh is home to numerous high-altitude passes like Chang La, Khardung La, and Marsimik La.

Leh Palace

Built by the Buddhist kings of Ladakh, the palace has lost much of its original grandeur but still offers some magnificent views from the top. Find your way down the winding passages and hidden stairways to emerge at the rooftop and enjoy great views of the city.

Namgyal Tsemo Gompa

Built-in 1430, this Buddhist temple has a rich collection of Buddhist art, ancient manuscripts, scrolls, wall paintings, and the gilded image of Buddha, almost 3-stories high.

Hemis Monastery

Situated 45 km from Leh, Hemis is the largest monastery in Ladakh. Its walls are adorned with beautiful frescoes and the largest Thangka painting in the world. Built by the Red Hat sect of Buddhists, the monastery houses a statue of the Sakyamuni Buddha made of precious stones. Over 100 lamas reside here at any given time.

Shanti Stupa

Built by a Japanese Buddhist organization to commemorate 2500 years of Buddhism, the Shanti Stupa is a pristine white structure and a change from the other Stupas of the region.

Stok Palace

The official residence of the royal family, the Stok Palace stands four stories tall and has 77 rooms. One wing has been made open to the public as a museum and displays collections of Buddhist art, weapons, jewelry, artifacts, and thangkas. There are great views from here, overlooking barley terraces on the mountains.

Shey Monastery

Earlier the summer palace of the Ladakhi kings, the Shey Gompa is situated on a hillock. It houses a 12m tall gold-plated copper statue of Sakyamuni Buddha. Shey is a beautiful green area, dotted with ponds.

Magnetic Hill

It defies all the laws of nature and is something you have to experience for yourself. As your vehicle rolls up the steep hill, turn off the ignition. No, you won’t roll backward and crash down the mountainside. Instead, the car will continue to move upwards at a decent speed of 20km/hr, even with the ignition off! The magnetic properties of this hill, located around 30km from Leh, ensure that you’re always moving up.

Thiksey Monastery

This monastery is located a little away from the Shey Monastery and has several Buddha statues, a pillar inscribed with Buddhist teachings, a 15m high seated Maitreya Buddha statue, and a vast collection of Buddhist art.

Khardung La Pass and Nubra Valley

The Khardung La (Pass), at more than 17,000 feet, is the highest motorable road in the world. The scenery here is worth your time, always crusted in white, and with excellent views of Ladakh and the Karakoram ranges on either side. Beyond the pass is the wide, flat Nubra Valley, crisscrossed by the winding Shyok and Nubra Rivers. Bactrian Camels (double hump camels) are one of the main attractions of the region. The valley is dotted with ancient gompas, ruined palaces, and quaint villages, providing many a photo-op. The Diskit Gompa, built in the 17th century, is worth a visit while you’re here.

Pangong Tso

Take a day trip to the pristine Pangong Tso, a lake situated at a height of approximately 14000 ft. Set amidst the vast Himalayas, the stark brown mountains contrast sharply with the clear blue of the lake, providing a most panoramic setting. The Pangong is considered to be the longest lake in Ladakh and is a saltwater lake formed by the remnants of ice from the ice age. The international border between India and Tibet runs through the lake.

Tso Moriri Lake

This is a saltwater lake located about 14,000 feet above sea level. Bounded by mountains, this lake has Ladakh to the north, Tibet to the east, and Zanskar to the west. Migratory birds, marmots, and Tibetan wolves are abundant in this region.

Zanskar Valley

If you’re looking for a real getaway, cut off from all civilization, head to Zanskar for complete isolation. The valley is closed for a major part of the year, from November to May, due to snow. Padum is the headquarters of this region and is located on the side of a hillock with ruins of the palace and fort. Ancient rock carvings can also be seen on the bank of the river Suru. Karsha is the largest monastery here, housing ancient pieces of Buddhist art. Stongdey Monastery is home to the Gon Khang or the temple of guardian deities. Many challenging treks are possible in this region, and rafting on the Zanskar River is a thrilling experience for the adventure loving.

If you are also looking for a vacation in Ladakh then check out some of the most customized travel packages to Ladakh and select the one that suits your travel desire and falls under your budget.


You may like to read 10 Adventure Destinations in Ladakh

10 Best Places of Interest in Spain

spain flag in pole

Spain is an important place to visit once in your lifetime. Spain has everything, from seashores to mountains to notable landmarks to chapels and royal residences. Guests from everywhere in the world come here to partake in these sights to explore. Let’s explore some places.

List of 10 best places of interest in Spain

  • Salamanca
  • Granada
  • Barcelona
  • Mallorca
  • Madrid
  • Seville
  • Valencia
  • San Sebastian
  • Cordoba
  • Segovia
  1. Salamanca
Image Credits: Unsplash

Salamanca is a notable place. It is worth building treasures and absolute landmarks that date back hundreds of years.

Life in the city spins around the occupied and clamouring Plaza Mayor, nearby bistros, bars and cafés. The far-reaching and rich square looks especially supernatural around evening time when its structures are reverted.

  1. Granada
Image Credits: Unsplash

Granada offers an ideal mix of attractions, conventional societies and an enlivened nightlife. However, most of it is the home of the Alhambra, an apex of Moorish craftsmanship that epitomizes Andalusian history and is one of the incredible compositional sights of Europe.

Validating the city’s exciting history are its most prominent milestones, the sixteenth-century Granada Cathedral with its heavenly domed roof, and the well-known Alhambra, a Moorish castle with nurseries and Arab showers. Granada’s comparing areas, Sacromonte and Albaicin, are the substance of the city’s way of life.

  1. Barcelona:
Image Credits: Unsplash

Barcelona is one of the nation’s top travel objections since it offers all that sightseers search for in a European city. It is designed for energetic shopping, dynamic culture and humming nightlife.

Ciutat Vella, the Old City, is Barcelona’s primary fascination. Here, sightseers will track down the Gothic Quarter with its excellent, old places of worship, Roman demolishes and cobblestone roads fixed with open-air bistros and cafés.

The well-known exercises in Barcelona incorporate walking around La Rambla, a tree-lined person on foot road, and sunbathing on Barceloneta, one of the city’s most mainstream seashores.

One of a kind to Barcelona is the engineering wonders of Spain’s popular draftsman, Antoni Gaudi, which incorporate the Sagrada Familia and the Casa Batllo. Both of these phenomenal constructions highlight mixes of plans, shapes and shadings.

  1. Mallorca:
Image Credits: Unsplash

Mallorca is encircled by the shimmering waters of the Mediterranean, with barbed precipices, isolated inlets, and excellent seashores covering its shores. Long a mainstream traveller objective, the island is honoured with a warm and inviting environment and mind-boggling views.

While its hilly inside is home to ridge cloisters and towns, its marvellous coastline is in touch with shoreline towns and resorts. Sunbathing, swimming, and watersports are the most well-known distractions, with delectable nearby food and fish on offer any place you go.

  1. Madrid:
Image Credits: Unsplash

Madrid is generally known for its nightlife scene. Home to various colleges, the city comprises ethnic gatherings, making it one of Europe’s most vivid cosmopolitan urban areas.

Madrid is a lovely city blended in with old and new engineering. The capital consists of areas having remarkable people and attractions going from notable quarters to more seasoned group networks, college regions, multicultural regions and party scenes.

 Puerta del Sol is a square filled with celebrations, significant social affairs, and road entertainers just as a centre for the public transportation organization. Another notable square is Plaza Mayor, known for its numerous keepsake shops, bistros and the exuberant San Miguel Market.

  1. Seville:

Seville is home to lovely and significant noteworthy tourist spots. It is the best place of the year at any time.

The city is additionally home to the Biggest wooden construction on the planet, a monster umbrella-formed design lodging the fundamental market.

  1. Valencia:
Image Credits: Unsplash

Valencia has reestablished structures that incorporate staggering temples, old religious communities, for example, San Miguel de Los Reyes and the site of an antiquated silk exchange focus referred to now as the Silk Exchange Market.

In the wake of diverting the Turia River, the city built its most great fascination, a monstrous social and amusement complex known as the City of Arts and Science. Contained inside this complex are a few structures like a historical centre, planetarium, aquarium, expressions exhibition hall and an IMAX theatre that are each creative wonders all by themselves. Likewise remembered for the old Turia riverbed are delightful nurseries, athletic parks and fake lakes.

  1. San Sebastian:
Image Credits: Unsplash

Image Credits: Unsplash

San Sebastián is the capital of the Gipuzkoa territory, situated in the Basque nation of North Spain off the bank of the Bay of Biscay. This wonderful oceanside city is very much known for its brilliant seashores and exceptional culinary custom.

Even though it is within a few locales, San Sebastian is a comfortable city packed with eateries, pintxo bars, fashion shops and an encased shopping centre.

San Sebastian brags about some of the best seashores in Europe. And it is the most famous of these is Playa de la Concha, which offers sunbathing and water exercises like swimming, kayaking and water skiing. Playa de la Zurriola draws in numerous surfers and gives surfboard and bodyboard rentals.

Cordoba:

mage Credits: Unsplash

Cordoba is the capital of the area of a similar name in the Andalusian district of southern Spain. While Cordoba is portrayed by its modest community enchant, this fair size city offers every one of the noteworthy and social attractions of a clamouring city.

Perhaps the most established town in Europe, the memorable quarter of Cordoba is a labyrinth of minuscule archaic roads, squares, and whitewashed yards all arranged around the star fascination, the Mezquita. Initially, it was a mosque. The Mezquita is currently a radiant church holding the vast majority of its unique engineering. Its woods of segments finished off with Islamic-style, and white striped curves fill in as a token of the wonder and significance Córdoba held in bygone eras. Outside the Mezquita is a lovely orange woods ideal for unwinding.

  1. Segovia:
Image Credits: Unsplash

Segovia is famous for its authentic walls. While this design wonder goes about as the city’s image, other shocking sights, like the perfect Gothic basilica and various holy places, communities and cloisters, can be found nearby.

The other primary fascination is the rich Alcazar of Segovia, set on a rough outcrop sitting above the city. It is said to have enlivened Walt Disney’s Sleeping Beauty, and the palace and castle include heaps of design. It was once one of the most loved and illustrious homes of the Kings of Castile.

That is all we have arrived at the finish of an article. I trust you will become more acquainted with the 10 best places of interest in Spain and plan a trip to Spain. you can even schedule your desire to design your vacation. Get ready to explore Spain.

You may like to read Best Places of Interest in Barcelona