Travel plans for 2020 may have gone kaput, but all hope is not lost. With 2021 approximately 130 days away, it’s a great time to start prepping your travels for the upcoming year and let optimism take centre-stage. We’ve rounded up top 10 offbeat destinations in India for your 2021 travels. By Bayar Jain
1. Keibul Lamjao National Park, Manipur
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Breakaway from the four walls of your home and surround yourself with nature galore at Keibul Lamjao National Park, the world’s only floating park. Located on the Loktak Lake—a serene tourist spot in its own right—this lesser-explored destination not only serves as a soothing pill from the months-long lockdown but also allows you to explore without the fear of large crowds. Your only company here will be brow-antlered deer, wild boars, sambar, Asian golden cat and more. When here, keep an eye out for the many migratory birds that flock to the park to seek refuge.
2. Churu, Rajasthan
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Known as the gateway to the Thar Desert, Churu is often sidelined among the many gems of Rajasthan, making it a great destination for your rebound travels. Founded in 1620 AD by the Nirban clan of Rajputs, this desert-town was a part of the pre-independence Bikaner district. Naturally, then, spurts of colourful history and glorious cultural markers paint the entire space. Some of the prominent spots of this ancient town include Tal Chhappar Sanctuary, home to the rare blackbuck; Churu fort, where the royals once lived; Sethani Ka Johara, literally translating to a reservoir of the wealthy lady; and Kothari and Surana Havelis, a former guest house juxtaposing Italian and Shekhawati architectural designs.
3. Kamshet, Maharashtra
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Channel your inner, unfortunately currently dormant, adventure-lover and head straight to Maharashtra’s Kamshet. A beautiful hill station located in the Western Ghats of the state, this place is famous for its paragliding offerings. After all, a long bout of lockdown deserves to be followed up with the feeling of freedom! When here, you’ll find yourself surrounded by sunflower fields, laced with quaint villages untouched by tourists. If paragliding isn’t your cup of tea, then Kamshet has other notable spots too like Dhak Bahiri Caves, Bedse Caves, Pawna Lake and Shinde Wadi hills.
4. Lambasingi, Andhra Pradesh
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Known as the Kashmir of The East, Lambasingi is a small village in the Eastern Ghats. Often touted as the only region in southern India to receive snowfall, this hill station is often shrouded in white mists with whiffs of coffee and pepper plantations swirling in the air. Once you manage to avert your gaze from the vast greens here, head to the Kothapalli Waterfalls or Thajangi Reservoir just a short drive away.
5. Varkala, Kerala
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A tiny hamlet on the outskirts of Thiruvananthapuram, Varkala is ideal for beach bums looking to unwind under the summer sun. A place where beaches meet the famous backwaters of the state, this backpacker destination is fringed by palm-covered coastlines and red-laterite cliffs. If you’re looking for some detox, then this place is your calling. On one end, the waters of the Papanasam beach are considered to have holy, sin-cleansing properties, on the other, various wellness spas and Ayurvedic centres help cleanse what the beach may have missed.
6. Ziro Valley, Arunachal Pradesh
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Home to the Apa Tani Tribe amid pine hills and rice fields, Ziro has largely gained popularity for its Ziro Music Festival. However, this quaint town has a lot to offer apart from its annual outdoor event as well. Layered rice fields aside, the old-fashioned, wooden stilt houses here are surrounded by serene bamboo groves. While the ideal way to spend your vacation at Ziro is by unwinding and gazing at the natural beauty of the region, the restless lot can hop from one tourist spot to another, such as Talley Valley Wildlife Sanctuary, Meghna Cave Temple, Orchid Research Centre, Tarin Fish Farm and more.
7. Mandu, Madhya Pradesh
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Dating back to 6th Century BCE, Mandu (or Mandavgad) is located on the outskirts of Indore. Overlooked by the regal Mandu Fort—Asia’s largest fortified fort—like a towering mother, this fortress town is renowned for its architecture. While there are many marvels located here, some of the notable ones are Roopmati’s Pavilion, Hindola Mahal, Darya Khan’s Tomb complex, Jami Masjid mosque and Jahaz Mahal.
8. Long Island, Andaman and Nicobar
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Although capital island Havelock tends to steal all the limelight, Long Island deserves its credit as well, particularly if you’re looking for a less crowded vacation. Interlaced with tropical mangroves and exotic marine life, the virgin beaches of this island can be considered a gateway to many other hidden gems like the Lalaji Bay Beach, The Guitar island and the Merk Bay Beach.
9. Chaukori, Uttarakhand
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Picture aromatic tea estates with towering deodar trees, interspersed with fruit orchards and alpine forests, and you’ve got Chaukori. Backdropped by the Himalayas, with Tibet to its North and Terai in the South, this idyllic village is ideal to sit back and relax any time of the year.
10. Patan, Gujarat
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Famous for the intricate Rani ki Vav, Patan is a melting pot of different beliefs and ideologies. This major spiritual destination was once a capital of the state in medieval times. Today, it houses countless Hindu and Jain temples, along with mosques and dargahs. Spirituality aside, many forts and lakes also dot the landscape here, with the patola weaves synonymous to the region blanketing it all together.
Related: 10 Best Road Trips In India You Can Start Planning Already, And These Are Also Offbeat!
Bayar Jain
Senior Content Manager
Equipped with a degree in Sociology (Honours) from the University of Delhi, and a post graduate diploma in English Journalism and Mass Communication from Xavier Institute of Communications, Mumbai, Bayar enjoys sharing stories of people, places, and different cultures. When not typing her travel tales, you can catch the hobbyist photographer capturing the next frame, dabbling in arts and crafts, or gushing over puppers and kittens.
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