Top 10 Least Popular Places in India That You Don't Want to Visit

Laelia Yang May 14, 2022 | 23:00

India is incredible in so many ways. Read on to learn about 10 of the least visited places in India and how they can quench your wanderlust.

We all know India is full of history as well as natural attractions that have made it a tourist hotspot of the world. But did you know that it is also home to some of the world’s unique and bizarre attractions?

India is not merely the name of a country, but it showcases a boiling pot of culture, traditions, history and hospitality to name a few, and many more to the list. One of the oldest civilizations across the globe, India has always been the center of attraction for the rest of the world. In the earlier days, it was one of the hotspots for the trading of spices and merchandising. What was once seen as the land of snake charmers and yogis, has now evolved into one of the fastest-growing economies in the world.

Being a country with a rich past, India is a land that showcases a melting pot of culture, people, traditions, and religions. However, a rich past also means that one can never truly hope to explain or understand each and every secret that the land beholds. When booking India tour packages, a number of people tend to search for these mysterious gems that hide amidst the most well-known tourist destinations in the country.

Whether it is the thirst for adventure or the sheer curiosity that makes you look for the most mysterious places in India, you will not be disappointed. From haunted places to destinations that defy logic and science, India is full of marvels that will leave you mesmerized.

We bring to you 10 least visited places across the country which would force you to put on Sherlock's hat and search for more.

Tips You Should Know Before Traveling To India

1. Don’t Try to Cover Too Much Ground

One of the most important tips I can give you for traveling in India is to only include a few stops on your itinerary and spend more time in each one – rather than trying to cover too much on your trip.

Sometimes just walking around in a busy Indian city can be an onslaught to the senses, so you need to budget time in your itinerary for resting and recovering. If you are trying to do too much in too little time, you will suffer from burnout and fatigue.

Instead, take your time and explore fewer destinations in more depth – you’ll have a more enjoyable trip. Also, you’ll have more opportunities to connect with the local people and have interesting experiences.

2. Prepare Yourself for Culture Shock

When you first arrive in India, it is essentially guaranteed that you will experience cultural shock. There is no use trying to fight it. Instead, prepare yourself and accept that things will not be the same as you are used to back home. Try to open your mind and leave your expectations at home.

3. Bring Traveler’s Diarrhea Tablets

Unfortunately, one of the common experiences that many travelers to India encounter is the dreaded “Delhi Belly.” No matter how careful you may be, your body will not be used to the array of different bacteria that is in the water and food in India. This is why it is good to have traveler’s diarrhea medication with you – before you need it.

If you wait until you are already feeling ill, you will not want to be far away from a toilet and searching the streets for a pharmacy. A good medication to take is called Loperamide, as it will slow down the movement of your gut therefore reducing your symptoms. If you continue to have stomach issues for more than three or four days, see a doctor as you may need an antibiotic.

4. Go Beyond the Cities

Although India’s big cities like Delhi and Mumbai can be exciting, it is also worthwhile to go outside of the cities and visit some of India’s smaller villages. The pace of life will be slower, the air will be cleaner and you’ll get a different insight into Indian culture.

5. Cover Yourself and Dress Conservatively

Although the temperature may be warm in India, walking around in a mini skirt or a low cut top is not acceptable. It is a conservative destination and you will draw a lot of unwanted attention to yourself when you dress in a revealing way. Also, if you are visiting a religious site such as a temple, it is disrespectful to dress in this way. Bring along lightweight long pants, shirts that cover your shoulders and a shawl or sarong to cover your cleavage.

6. Take Off Your Shoes Before Entering a Temple

Many temples will ask you to take off your footwear before entering. So, it is a good idea to wear shoes that you can easily slip on and off, like sandals. If you are worried about your shoes getting stolen from the front of the temple while you are inside, you can keep them in your backpack or give the temple attendant a few rupees to keep an eye on them.

Top 10 Least Popular Places in India That You Don't Want to Visit

1. Roopkund, Uttarakhand

2. Loktak Lake Manipur

3. The Land of Snakes, Maharashtra

4. Living Root Bridge Meghalaya

5. Dudhsagar Falls, Goa

6. Magnetic Hill Ladakh

7. Zanskar Valley, Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir

8. Nubra Valley, Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir

9. Pangong Tso Lake, Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir

10. Karni Mata Mandir, Rajasthan

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1. Roopkund, Uttarakhand

Photo: wanderwisdom

Roopkund is a glacial lake that sits 5,029m (16,500ft) above sea level in the Indian Himalayas, circled by snowy mountains and rocky glaciers. Cool, but the real attraction here is what lies beneath the surface – around 600 to 800 human skeletons. Legend has it these are the remains of a Kannauj king and his entourage who perished in the 9th century. Now, when the lake melts, you can see their bones. To get there, trek from the Lohajang Pass, through several villages, glacial valleys and mountain passes – it’s one of the most challenging treks in India.

Located on one of the highest mountains in Uttarakhand, Roopkund is better known as the skeleton lake because of the grisly remains it encompasses. Strewn about the shores and even inside the lake, visible when it is not frozen, are the skeletons and bones of numerous people, some with the flesh still attached and preserved. Reckoned to be a truly mysterious place to visit in India, the remains found at the lake have been tested for years, providing results that just don’t seem to make sense. Some people believe these are the remains of an Indian king, his wife, and their attendants from 870 years ago when they perished in a blizzard, except for the fact that some of the bones seem to date back even further. Others say that these are Indian soldiers who were unsuccessful in besieging Tibet, while others still say that this is a mass grave for people who died in some epidemic. While its origin may not be known, this is one of the mysterious places in India that you simply cannot miss.

2. Loktak Lake Manipur

Photo: lostwithpurpose

Nestled in the magical lands of Manipur in the northeast, Loktak Lake is nature’s architecture at its best. Known as the ‘world’s floating lake’, it is the largest freshwater lake in the northeast and one of the naturally existing mysterious places in India. The lake spreads over 300 sq meters and an ecologically diverse hotspot for organic matter, vegetation, and soil and serves as a source of livelihood for the local inhabitants. It is also awarded the ‘wetland of International importance. The north zone of the lake has 5 streams. The central zone comprises islands and is also good for fishing. The southern zone is the Keibul Lamjao National Park, which is the world’s only floating national park and home to almost 424 animal species and around 100 species of birds!

Come to Loktak Lake in the Bishnupur district of Manipur and you’d be forgiven for thinking it’s covered in tiny islands. But these masses are actually floating phumdis, a cluster of organic matter, vegetation and soil, only found on this body of water. They provide a habitat for the local wildlife, which includes sangai Manipuri deer, jungle cat and several snakes.

3. The Land of Snakes, Maharashtra

Photo: mongabay

Shetpal also known as the land of snakes is located in the Sholapur district of Maharashtra. Every house in this village has a resting place for cobras, and the snakes here appear to be very friendly. An interesting fact is that there has been no reported case of a snake bite until this day. The cobras here move about freely and are worshipped and taken care of by the villagers in honor of Lord Shiva.

4. Living Root Bridge Meghalaya

Photo: researchmatters

If you want to witness something naturally bizarre, this is it. Nestled in the Khasi and Jaintia hills of Cherrapunji Meghalaya, you can find this bridge formed of living plant roots! The bridges have formed naturally by tree shaping and connecting the forest. Also known as the Umshiang Double Decker Living Root Bridge, this magnificent bridge is made of India Rubber Tree. The bridge is located at an elevation of 2400 feet and almost 3km in length and is a remarkable mix of nature’s engineering and artistic skills. This living roots bridge is indeed one of the mysterious places in India.

5. Dudhsagar Falls, Goa

Photo: world-of-waterfalls

The majestic Dudhsagar falls is one of most popular and scenic attraction in Goa. It is located in the Sangeum region of Goa, almost 60 km away from the capital city of Panaji. Dudhsagar falls is a series of four different vertical falls. Originated from the high peaks of Western Ghats, Dudhsagar falls have a total height of 310 meters.

The Konkani name ‘Dudhsagar’ means ‘Ocean of milk’ in English. You will also feel like streams of milk flowing down the mountain when you see this spectacular waterfalls. Luckily, the South Central rail routes pass just in front of this gorgeous Dudhsagar falls. From the Kulem railway station (near Mollem National Park) you can take a pleasure train journey to Dudhsagar falls. The view of Dudhsagar, when the train crosses the arch bridge just in front of the falls is just breathtaking.

The monsoon season (from June to September) is the best time to visit the Dudhsagar falls. Because the water is in full flow during the monsoon season. You can also hike to the waterfalls along the railway track. While hiking you can enjoy the beauty of surrounding dense forest and old architecture of the rail tunnel built by the British.

6. Magnetic Hill Ladakh

Photo: trahot

The Magnetic Hill is located 11000 ft above sea level in Ladakh, one of the most sought-after bikers’ destinations. If you are planning a trip to Leh-Ladakh, don’t miss a visit to one of the most unique places in India. The hill is believed to have an anti-gravitational effect that will pull your vehicle towards it even if the engine is off. As such it is advised that you place your vehicle in neutral gear on the spot marked in white. Now watch and be amazed by this peculiar attraction as you find your car moving uphill on its own due to gravitational pull!

The Magnetic Hill in Ladakh appears to have magical properties that can pull a car uphill, even when the engine is off. However – spoiler alert – there’s nothing supernatural going on here. Instead, though the road looks like it’s on an incline, it is in fact going downhill. Just an optical illusion, but one of the most surreal experiences in India.

7. Zanskar Valley, Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir

Photo: wikipedia

If you are a traveller who seeking for the experience of remoteness and beauty, then the Zanskar valley is the right destination for you. This breathtakingly beautiful valley is located in the Kargil district of Ladakh. Surrounded by snow-capped Himalayan peaks, Zanskar valley is situated at an altitude of 13154 above sea level. It is also the most remote of all trans-Himalayan valleys.

The Zanskar trek is definitely one of the most amazing treks in the Himalayan range. The ever changing landscape is the most exciting thing you can enjoy while trekking to the Zanskar valley. Throughout the journey you will see amazing places even though the route is so remote.

Another exciting sight you can enjoy on the trip to Zanskar valley is the confluence of the Zanskar River and Indus River. On the meeting point the dirty green waters of Indus River get mixed with the clean blue waters of the Zanskar River. Summer is the best time to visit the Zanskar valley. During winter, the Zanskar river freezes completely and the routes to this valley also get covered with snow during this time.

8. Nubra Valley, Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir

Photo: japjitravel

Located between Tibet and Kashmir and surrounded by snow capped peaks of the Himalayas, the Nubra valley is nothing shorter than a paradise. This picturesque valley is located at an altitude of 10000 feet above sea level. The famous Siachen glacier is located to the North of Nubra valley. It is the second longest glacier outside the polar regions.

To reach the Nubra valley, you have to cross the Khardung La Pass. At an altitude of 5602 meters, it is the highest motorable road in the world. The attractions are endless on the route to Nubra valley. You can enjoy the view of steep mountain sides, sand dunes, mountain river and unique landscape. The famous Shyok river and Siachen river also meet at this amazing valley. Thus the Nubra valley is truly a blessed place by the nature.

9. Pangong Tso Lake, Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir

Photo: tripsavvy

Undoubtedly Pangong lake is the most amazing attraction of Ladakh. This insanely beautiful lake is located 160 km Southeast of Leh city. At an altitude of 4530, Pangong is one of the high altitude lakes in the Himalayan regions of India. This amazing 134 km long lake is extends from India to Tibet. The 60 percentage of the Pangong lake is lies within Tibetan range and remaining 40% lies within the Indian range.

This surreal looking lake is globally renowned for its bright blue waters and the scenic surroundings. Surprisingly, the water of the Pangong lake also displays different shades of blue, green and red at different period of time.

There is no fish or other aquatic life in Pangong lake due to the saltiness of its water. However the lakes receive numerous migratory birds in summer season. Despite of its saline water, the Pangong lake freezes completely in winter. May to September is the best time to visit the Pangong Lake.

Apart from its great natural beauty, Pangong lake is also a calm, pollution free place. The route to Pangong Tso is as beautiful as the lake. You have to pass the Chang La mountain pass of Ladakh. It is third highest motorable road in the world at at an altitude of 17352 feet above sea level. On the way you can see scenic landscape and majestic mountains.

10. Karni Mata Mandir, Rajasthan

Photo: Youtube

Located in Deshnok, some 30 km from Bikaner in Rajasthan, the Karni Mata Temple also known as the Rat Temple, houses as many as 20,000 rats within its premises. The rats here are considered sacred and is believed to be the youngest son of Karni Mata who drowned in water. She prayed to Yama, the Lord of Death, to bring him back to life. Yama could not do so, hence he gave her a boon that all her of kins would reincarnate in the form of rats and ultimately die and be born as humans again. Some say that around 20000 soldiers left a battle out of fear and found shelter in Deshnoke, once Karni Mata heard of this, she spared their lives but turned them into rats. If a rat walks over your feet here, it is considered to be auspicious. In spite of the large population of rats here, the place is entirely plague-free. And if you happen to kill a rat here, you are supposed to replace the dead rat with another one made out of either gold or silver with the exact weight of the dead one.