Ziro Valley, Arunachal Pradesh
Nestled in the sub-Himalayan hills, this is a stunning, pine-clad plateau that feels like a world of its own. It is home to the Apatani tribe, and walking through their lush paddy fields and seeing their unique, sustainable way of living was an incredibly grounding experience for me. If you love music and raw nature, their outdoor music festival held amidst the misty hills is pure magic.
Gavi, Kerala
Everyone knows about the backwaters of Alleppey, but hardly anyone talks about Gavi. Located deep inside the Periyar Tiger Reserve, this pristine eco-tourism village is an absolute paradise for wildlife lovers. When I rowed a canoe across its emerald-green lake surrounded by dense rainforests and wild elephants, I felt like I had stepped right into a National Geographic documentary.
Majuli, Assam
Majuli is the world’s largest river island, sitting right in the middle of the mighty Brahmaputra River. It is the epicenter of Assamese Neo-Vaishnavite culture, famous for its ancient monasteries (Satras) and traditional mask-making. Renting a bicycle to explore the peaceful missing-tribal villages and watching the sunset over the water here remains one of my favorite travel memories.
Mandu, Madhya Pradesh
If you love history but hate crowded monuments, Mandu is your sanctuary. It is an ancient, ruined fortress city perched on a cliff, celebrating the tragic love story of Prince Baz Bahadur and Rani Roopmati. Walking through the massive Afghan architectural marvels and floating palaces during the monsoon season feels incredibly poetic, almost like walking through a living ghost town.
Lonar Crater Lake, Maharashtra
This is easily one of the most surreal places I have ever stood. Around 52,000 years ago, a meteor slammed into the earth and created this massive, basaltic rock crater lake. It is the only hyper-velocity impact crater in basalt rock on Earth. The water is both alkaline and saline, surrounded by lush jungle and ancient temples, making it look like a sci-fi movie set right in rural Maharashtra.