Escaping to the Offbeat Destinations in India!!

Encapsulating varied landscapes, beaches, wildlife, deserts, mountains and forests, the Indian sub-continent mesmerizes travelers across the world with its pristine glory and grandeur. Besides being flocked by tourist for the invigorating charm that the country offers, India also has an immense potential for travelers who want to avoid the conventional escapades for their vacations.

The not so popular places in India are recently gaining momentum as the favorite hubs for vacationers. Some of the offbeat destinations where people are making headway are listed below:

MATHERAN, MAHARASHTRA: Located on a sidetracked plateau of the Western Ghats that overhang the Konkan, and situated at 2400 feet above sea level, Matheran (in Marathi- the “Woodlands Overhead”), was discovered by a Britisher, Huge Mallet, the then Collector of Thane, in 1850, now claims itself to be the ‘World’s smallest eco sensitive hill station’.

Matheran strictly prohibits any vehicle within the town limit other than a toy train fondly named “Phul Rani”. Constructed in 1907, Matheran Railway, the small line of 2 ft. gauge mode of transport, rewarded a World Heritage by UNESCO, is a fascinating way to reach the plateau top from Neral. Hand pulled rickshaws and horses are the other modes of transportation in Matheran, besides trekking about 2 kms from Dasturi Naka -the spot till vehicles are allowed. This quaint picturesque place takes you back time, the unpolluted air, charming shady walks and magnificent panoramic views from above makes a stay in Matheran a unique and rejuvenated experience.

“One Kiss Tunnel”- the only tunnel on the Neral-Matheran Rail route is interestingly named, expressing the obvious !

BHANGARH, RAJASTHAN: “Entry is prohibited in the fort city after sunset and before sunrise.” – this is one of the most striking notice one is greeted with while entering Bhangarh – considered to be one of the eeriest places in India. Located in Alwar district of Rajasthan, Bhangarh attracts the adventure tourists from all across for its haunted ruins. The Archeological Survey of India doesn’t have an office here though government regulations state that every historical site must have an office of the ASI. Even, the Government of India failed in their attempt to convince any military personnel to set a military centre to patrol the place to solve the unsolved mystery.

THE ROAD TO THE HAUNTED CITY – BHANGARH

Legend claims that the city of Bhangarh has been destroyed by Guru Balu Nath, who cursed the establishment of the town by saying, “The moment the shadows of your palaces touch me, the city shall be no more!” When a descendant raised the palace to a height that cast a shadow on Balu Nath’s forbidden retreat, he cursed the town as prophesied. The tomb of Guru Bala Nath is still found amongst the ruins. Another myth claims that there was a tantric named Singhia who was in love with the Princess of Bhangarh, Ratnavati. On her 18th birthday when she started getting proposals for marriage, Singhia realized that their match was impossible. Hence out of jealousy he decided to use black magic on her by which the princess would fall in love with him. He infused his black magic on some oil which the princess’s maid had come to purchase from the market.  The oil if used by the princess would lure her towards the tantrik. The princess realizing some foul play poured the oil in the ground and it turned into a boulder, which crushed Singhia. When he was about to die, the magician cursed the palace with the death of all who dwelt in it. The next year there was a battle between Bhangarh and Ajabgarh in which no one survived, not even the Princess Ratnavati. While the nearby villagers tell varying versions of the tale, passed down from generations, but consistently they say Bhangarh is a ghost town. It is believed that whenever a house has been built there, its roof has collapsed and true to its claim, most houses are without roofs and few having are made of straw but not bricks.

HOUSE WITHOUT ROOF IN BHANGARH!!

BIR- BILLING, HIMACHAL PRADESH:Tucked amongst the foothills of the Indian Himalayas, and encompassed by tea gardens, Bir situated in the Baijnath Tehsil in the Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh is a quaint little village with a Tibetan Colony and monasteries. This place however becomes the boot camp for paragliders during the flying season from September to November who seek out for an adventurous vacation. Some 14 kms from Bir is a little meadow called Billing, at 8500 feet on the Dhauladhar ranges which is the take- off destination for the paragliding activities. The Bir-Billing area has become a favourite eco-tourism and adventure travel destination which now boasts of hosting many international paragliding and mountain sport events.

BIR- BILLING – one of the best gliding sites in the world!

RANEH, MADHYA PRADESH: A lesser known place in Madhya Pradesh, the 30m-high and stretching about 5 km, RANEH waterfalls was formed due to volcanic eruptions hundreds of years back, on river Ken running over one of the oldest rocks on earth, the Vindhya basalt. Situated about 18 kms from Khajuraho, and easily accessible by car, Raneh tumbles as a churning mass over black and red rocks as the road leading into dense woods open out to the vast expanse of the Ken river makes this a perfect off beat spot and for the bird – watchers there is enough opportunity to study water fowl in their natural beside the gigantic sandstone boulders along the river.

RANEH – INCREDIBLE INDIA’S ANSWER TO THE GRAND CANYON!

DAMAN: When heading towards Ormuz in 1523, Portuguese traveller Diogo-de-Melo was caught in a violent storm and by chance arrived at the coast of Damão and soon it was settled as a Portuguese colony. Daman was liberated by Indian Army’s Maratha Light Infantry division in 1961 after a heroic fight, thus ending the 400 years old Portuguese regime. Daman became part of India with Goa and Diu in 1961.

The Victory Monument at Moti Daman

The Daman Ganga river divides Daman into two parts – Nanidaman (Nani meaning “small”) and Motidaman (Moti meaning “big”), but interestingly Nanidaman is bigger of the two. The Portuguese settlement Moti Daman which witnessed flourishing trade between Europe and India is now another sleepy fishing port on the Arabian Sea. The quiet and serene Devka and Jampore beach in the vicinity makes Daman a perfect destination for those who loves quiet yet historically relevant place.

JATINGA, ASSAM: Known as the valley of death, the valley of Jatinga, nestled in the Halflong ridge inAssam in North-east India, is a haven for tourists and graveyard for its winged inhabitants. Every year, between August and November, thousands of birds descend this valley and, as if carrying out a ritual and in a trance, commit mass suicide. The theories are aplenty but the real reasons are not known. The phenomenon was first officially recorded in 1905, and in-depth study by experts over the years has yielded no valid explanation for this rather weird phenomenon. While some researchers noted that the mass suicides occur due to unusual weather conditions, the Government of India, following a study it conducted, concluded that the periodic death could also be the result of poaching by tribes. The government took action on the study and imposed Section 144 in the area, but that too did not change the behavioural pattern of the birds.

Zemi Nagas, from different parts of north-eastern India, first inhabited this mystic land in 1885. It is also believed that they were the first ones to witness this queer incident. As the story goes, one day the tribals observed that thousands of birds got attracted to their bonfire – meant to chase away wild animals – and got killed in the process. Assuming that the birds were evil spirits, the tribals deserted the settlement, never to return.

The Jaintias and Khasis, who moved into the valley in 1905 under Lakhanbang Suchiang, too, were amazed to see the birds getting attracted to their lighted torches and getting killed. They, however, regarded them as a divine boon. Some villagers thought it to be an act of ‘benevolent witchcraft’.

Another interesting story about the self-destructive birds that has been passed over generations goes like this… It is said that centuries ago, a sage chose this valley for meditation. But each time he tried to concentrate, the birds, which were the inhabitants of this valley, ate up all the food that he stored. This is said to have annoyed the sage and he cursed the birds to be eaten up by the inhabitants of the valley.

The unbound theories and unsolved mysteries hovering around it, makes this an ideal offbeat destination for tourists.

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