Sruthi Nair
India is a land for everyone, but lately it has literally become the land for EVERYONE! This becomes annoying when you like travelling alone. Most cities and towns in India are too crowded and congested. But don’t worry, we have got you covered! In India too, there are unexplored, uncongested and uncrowded places! Yes! Believe it or not, there are pristine, untouched places that make you love India wholeheartedly. So here are a list of 9 offbeat places in India for anyone, especially solo travelers!
1. Nubra Valley, Jammu and Kashmir
Located 140 kilometers from Leh, Nubra valley is one of the less travelled to destinations in the heavily touristy state of Jammu and Kashmir. The place there will astound you in its unreal beauty as the wisps of air which come out of your mouth will seem like clouds floating in the sky. And I promise you, when you stand there below the mountains waiting for your chance to breathe because you will be that blown away from the beauty of the great Nubra valley.
Best time to visit: June to October
2. Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh
Kurnool is a quite secluded location for solo travelers to stay and unravel. Peta Anjanyeswami temple, the Venugopalaswami temple, the new Shirdi Sai Baba Temple are some of the religious places which you can spend the day at. If you’re not much of a religious buff, Elum caves, Birla mandir, Oravakallu Rock Garden, Rollapadu Wildlife Sanctuary and the Tomb of Abdul Wahab are some the other tourist attractions.
Best time to visit: November- February, keep in mind that the summers are extremely hot and the monsoon is very chip-chip.
3. Varkala Beach, Kerala
Who said that beaches are most fun when they are with people you love? I feel that watching the waves go up and down repeatedly all by yourself is an enriching experience and varkala beach in Kerala is perfect for that. Or if you are not of my opinion, you can come to Varkala Beach and have a quiet time with your family. Either way, we have established that this beach unlike various beaches in India is a clean beach and a calm one too.
Image Credit : Flick User – Sreejith Bharathan
Best time to visit: September to April
4. Bhimbetka, Madhya Pradesh
History? Yes, sir. Beauty? Yes, sir. Crowd? No, sir. What else would you want in a place when you are a history buff? The place where cave paintings are prevalent which showcase the earliest known paintings of the Indian Subcontinent. Be vary when you step into the dimly lit cave for you might be discovering some of the most groundbreaking sight which might help solve the mystery regarding the caves. It is also a UNESCO world heritage site, so that’s added to the list of amazing things this place is.
Best time to visit: October to April is the best time to visit Bhimbetka
5. Tadoba National Park, Maharashtra
The only place in Maharashtra which hosts Tigers, you will be thrilled to spot a few here and there in Tadoba. Famous for its wildcats population and national park, you will find peace in the rich flora and fauna of the place. Located in the Chandrapur district of the state, you can also do town shopping in the place! Be vary of the animals which might be there in front of you for one of them might be a wildcat.
Best time to visit: October to March
6. Mawsynram, Meghalaya
Many eyes must have lit up when they read the name Mawsynram, for this name is familiar in all books which taught us about the wettest place in India. But Mawsynram is much more than all of that. The green pastures with friendly cows grazing here and there will make you go “WOW” in real life. The rains, abundant in nature are a regular feature of this place so be sure to stay safe from thunder storms.
Best time to visit: September to November.
7. Gokarna, Karnataka
We have mentioned this in a previous article, but Gokarna is seriously the spot for you if you are into beaches and all the fun that comes with beaches. Untouched beaches are a must see feature of this town and it is also a pilgrimage sight as it considered to be the place of Lord Mahabaleshwara. The night life here is Gokarna is offbeat and calm, yet surprisingly exciting as well.
Best time to visit: November to May.
8. Shekhawati, Rajasthan
People often complain that when they travel to Rajasthan, they have trouble finding the Rajasthan from the pictures! This is because like most cities and towns in India, places in Rajasthan have also got an urban boost. But this complain of yours will disappear when you visit Shekhawati for the posh havelis, splendid forts, and arid landscape will all be right there. It is often called Open Gallery of Rajasthan.
Best time to visit: November to March. The summers can get painstakingly hot, so avoid that time for a visit.
9. Kasol, Himachal Pradesh
Himachal Pradesh is a very beautiful state but the crowd has gotten to it as well! From more popular sites like Shimla, Kasol stands alone with thin crowds and hospitable people. With snow caped mountains and green valleys, Kasol is a dream destination for all you bikers and travelers. Trekking and backpacking are some of the main activities that tourists (which are very few) here do.
Best time to visit: October to May is the best time to visit this splendid hill station.
