11 Unique Travel Destinations in India
From the sunny beaches of the south to the snow capped mountains in the Himalayas, India is full of unique travel destinations that will take you off the beaten path and give you experiences you’ll remember forever!
India is a huge country with so many places to explore! This post is meant to outline some of the most incredible unique travel destinations in India for an off-beat experience.
No matter where you travel in the country, you’ll find that each place is different from the last. It’s diverse and full of so many different cultures with rich histories. That being said, there’s a lot of worthwhile places to explore that are away from the regular tourist spots.
These unique tourist destinations in India include natural wonders and ancient ruins across the country. Learn about living root bridges, salt deserts, clear water beaches and more!
I moved to India in 2017 and haven’t left! My husband and I love traveling around the country and we tend to enjoy more off-beat experiences than the expected tourist things. As such, I’ve seen so many incredible places to visit in India that I’ve wanted to share with the world!
This post is all about unique travel destinations in India.
Unique Travel Destinations in India
#1 Rann of Kutch, Gujarat
Rann of Kutch is honestly one of the most unique travel destinations in all of India! It’s famous for its beauty and is one of the largest salt deserts in the world. It’s also known for its rich cultural heritage.
You’ll want to travel here during the winter otherwise it will be seriously too hot. I went during the Rann of Kutch Festival which is usually held in November or December. It’s a big celebration with music, dancing, crafts and of course delicious food. If you are traveling to India around this time, I’d highly recommend checking it out!
You can also include a trip to Mandvi which is a nearby coastal town with beautiful beaches, or check out Dholavira which is a bit further but a really impressive archaeological site.
#2 Sari Village and Chopta, Uttarakhand
Chopta is sometimes referred to as the “Mini Switzerland” of India and is located in Uttarakhand towards the north. Right near Chopta is Sari Village, which is probably my favorite of these unique travel destinations in India! You can see both in one trip, but Sari Village is a bit more remote without many travelers passing by so I really enjoyed it there.
They are part of the Kedarnath wildlife sanctuary and offer really beautiful views of mountain peaks and meadows. There’s a ton of options for trekking and a beautiful lake in Sari Village.
From Chopta, you can start a trek to Tungnath which is the highest Shiva temple in the world. It’s a really incredible journey and it’s a paved path which can be done in one day, although it is exhausting! The views are absolutely stunning. It’s one of my favorite treks I’ve done in India.
Overall, this is a beautiful destination in India for nature lovers. I’d recommend staying in Sari Village and then taking a cab to Chopta to hike for the day! You can also include a trip to Rishikesh which is a popular destination in India. It’s a good starting point to get to the villages.
#3 Ziro, Arunachal Pradesh
Ziro is a stunning village in Arunachal Pradesh, in the very northeast part of India. It’s truly beautiful and is famous for its lush landscapes. It’s also home to a tribal community which gained recognition for their sustainable and eco-friendly lifestyle.
The village is surrounded by mountains and is really an ideal escape from city life! Ziro mostly became known because it hosts an annual music festival called Ziro Festival which brings in artists from around the world. This is actually what brought me to Ziro but I absolutely fell in love and would recommend visiting any time.
If you travel to Ziro, you can also visit the capital city, Itanagar. There are a lot of other picturesque towns nearby like Daporijo and Pasighat. Tawang is also an incredible place to visit which has one of the largest monasteries in the world, although it’s a bit difficult to travel to because you need to get a permit.
#4 Majuli, Assam
Majuli is situated in Assam in the northeastern part of India. It’s the world’s largest river island on the Brahmaputra river! It’s an absolutely beautiful place to visit and also has a vibrant culture.
The island has old monasteries called “satras” and you can enjoy beautiful Sattriya dance performances while you’re there. This is the type of destination that’s away from the city and really lets you unwind and enjoy nature.If you’re visiting Majuli, you can also explore the Kaziranga National Park which is famous for its one-horned rhinoceroses, or travel to Sivasagar to see the historic Ahom monuments and temples.
#5 Halebidu, Karnataka
Halebidu is a historic city in Karnataka, south India. It’s known for its incredible temples full of intricate carvings and details. It’s fine to only spend 1-2 days here, but it’s still worth visiting! The most impressive temple to visit is the Hoysaleswara Temple. It was built in the 12th century and is dedicated to Lord Shiva.
It’s not extremely close to any major attractions, but you could combine it with a trip to Kannur, Mysore or Bangalore! It’s also only a few hours from Coorg which is a really beautiful hill station that’s a great getaway.
#6 Orchha, Madhya Pradesh
Orchha is a beautiful historical town in Madhya Pradesh. It’s a unique travel destination in India but I can’t believe it’s not more popular! The town is situated on the Betwa River and the architecture is stunning.
Orchaa is an old city from the 16th century and many of the buildings still have that ancient look to them. There are a ton of temples, palaces and forts you can explore when you visit. There’s also a Ram Raja Temple which is the only one of its kind in India and there are also cenotaphs which line the river which are really eye-catching.
If you travel to Orchha, you can also visit Khajuraho which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It’s famous for their erotic sculptures and kama sutra temples, a very interesting place to explore!
#7 Bundi, Rajasthan
Bundi is situated in Rajasthan, which is a state full of amazing places to explore! Because there are so many other places to visit nearby, Bundi stands out as a more unique travel destination in India and it’s well worth a visit. It’s not so commercialized for the typical tourist so you can really get a feel for the life there!
Bundi is a really old city which is full of forts and palaces to explore. There are also many stepwells across the city which are beautiful to see, especially Raniji ki Baori which is the biggest one in the town. It’s often an overlooked place but it’s really incredible!
Bundi is sort of in between Jaipur and Udaipur so you could combine it into a bigger trip. For more ideas, check out 11 Incredible Places to Visit in Rajasthan: An Insider’s Guide to the Land of Kings and Queens.
#8 Aurangabad, Maharashtra
Aurangabad is a city in Maharashtra that is near to so many interesting places! While the city itself is cool to visit, what’s more incredible is what you’ll find just outside the city. It’s a great place to base yourself from and explore the surrounding area.
One of the most stunning things to see is Ajanta and Ellora. They are ancient caves that are full of intricate carvings, murals and rock-cut architecture. The caves were home to Buddhist monks and it’s really impressive to see the history of how people lived there. You can spend a few days exploring the caves!
You can also visit Lonar Crater Lake which is a really beautiful lake that was formed by a meteorite. If you’re looking to combine Aurangabad with some other places, I’d recommend seeing Mumbai and you can also visit wineries in Nashik on your way!
#9 Cherrapunji, Meghalaya
Cherrapunji is in the northeast of India in Meghalaya and it’s one of the wettest places on Earth! They really experience a lot of rainfall and the town is surrounded by lush greenery.
One of the most remarkable things about Cherrapunji are the living root bridges. They’re natural bridges formed by the roots of trees which native people helped to create over long periods of time. You can actually hike around and walk across the living root bridges, there are several in the area. You’ll also find plenty of waterfalls too!
Meghalaya is one of my favorite places to travel in India and Cherrapunji is a must see. You can also visit Mawlynnong which was voted Asia’s cleanest city in the past. Dawki is a nearby village along a river that has great camping options, and Shillong is the capital city worth visiting as well.
#10 Lakshadweep
Lakshadweep is the perfect place to travel for beach lovers! It’s a union territory made up of 36 islands in the Arabian Sea. Andaman and Nicobar are quite popular among travelers, but Lakshadweep is a unique travel destination that you’ll fall in love with!
It’s full of clear water beaches and is a great place to relax and get away (plus, it’s really affordable compared to places nearby). There’s a lot of water activities as well like snorkeling and scuba diving.
Since they’re islands, there’s not much you can see close by. But it is a great opportunity to combine it with a trip to Kochi or another part of Kerala so you can experience a bit of south India too!
#11 Khajjiar, Himachal Pradesh
Khajjiar is a stunning village in Himachal Pradesh in northern India. Himachal is actually full of a lot of incredible places to visit and you can spend weeks just traveling through this state.
What makes Khajjiar unique is its lake and that it’s surrounded by forests and pastures. It’s a beautiful hill station where you can just relax in nature. The village itself isn’t very big , but there’s a lot of nice places to visit nearby as well.
If you’re planning a trip to Khajjiar, you can also include stops to towns like Dalhousie and Chamba. It’s also near Dharamshala and McLeodGanj which is where the Dalai Lama lives.
