Travel India 2016: Top Secret Destinations In India You Must Plan To Visit In 2016
1. Unwandered Himalayas - Khajjiar, Himachal Pradesh
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source: wikimedia
HolidayIQ Traveller Paramveer Nath shares, "Its the best travel place in Himachal pradesh unknown by many of our local travellers. This place is a huge green grounds with lots of Teaks and cattle. Its greenery and atmosphere doesn't let anybody already been there forget this awesome place. This place is a must visit if you ever visit Himachal pradesh."
2. West Bengal's Tallest Mountain - Sandakphu, West Bengal
![]()
source: Wikimedia
HolidayIQ Traveller Neha Thakur shares, "It is the highest peak of West Bengal. It had a wonderful scenic beauty. There is a small village on the top of the peak and the people there, are very friendly and cooperative " Aniruddha Sahoo adds, "Its's a basic trek for amateur climber and it is a wonderful place for explore. The view of sleeping Buddha (mount Kanchenjunga) is marvellous from here."
3. Untouched By Commercialisation - Kanatal, Uttarakhand
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source: mybikemyworld.com
HolidayIQ Traveller Ankit Bhatia shares, "Kanatal: place for peace, harmony and nature lovers. Kanatal is a small hill station situated amidst the mountains of Uttarakhand. One of the few weekend getaways from Delhi which offers peace away from the hustle and noise of the metro cities. We can reach kanatal via 2 routes; via Dehradun Mussoorie route and other via Haridwar Rishikesh Chamba. Unlike popular hill stations, Kanatal has been untouched from commercialization. One can choose between resorts and campsites as well to enjoy the nature. The weather remains pleasurable throughout the year with snowfall around Dec and Jan. The locals are quite friendly and hospitable."
4. The Rat Temple of Karni Mata In Bikaner, Rajasthan
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source: vanamaliashram.org
The Karni Mata Temple is known for its rats. The interiors of the temple are always filled with countless rats. These rats are considered to be the spirits of the clan, which Karni Mata belonged to, and if you spot a white one, you're lucky!
5. The Village Without Doors - Shani Shingnapur, Maharashtra
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source: sobify.com
HolidayIQ Traveller Channabasveshwarayya Kalmath shares, "It's a temple of shani god near Ahmednagar, Maharashtra. The small town where there no place is locked nor doors. The temple is open all time, the god's idol is worshipped by flowers, black cloth and oil. Many devotees visit this place all around the year."
6. Floating Islands - Loktak Lake, Manipur
![]()
source: Wikimedia
HolidayIQ Traveller A Majumdar shares, "Loktak lake is a very large lake and important resource for hydroelectricity as well as vegetables. The beauty of the lake is its vastness and floating gardens. We loved to stay here in Sendra Park & Resort. The nearby Keibul Lamjao National Park is an important spot. Here the rare Sangai Deer is available. One can enjoy boating in the lake."
7. Where Goddess Sita Bathed - Lake Devikulam, Kerala
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source: smartkeralaholidays.com
Legend has it that Goddess Sita of Ramayana fame bathed in the lake waters of Devikulam; thus, the word Devikulam.
HolidayIQ Traveller Arun Peethambaran shares, "Devikulam is about 8 km from Munnar, its located at a 300m higher altitude than Munnar. The weather is even better there. Try to stay in tourism dept owned yatrinivas. Excellent rooms and decent rates. Dont miss to see the old devikulam lake inside the forest."
8. Architectural Wonder - Orchha, Madhya Pradesh
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source: excitingindia.in
HolidayIQ Traveller Mahesh Akhade shares, "Orchha is best place for winter Holiday. And also very religious place the only palace I had seen that have fort, archeological monuments, religious temple, wonderful river you can swim in it. Also have Royal affordable hotel of madhya pradesh tourism. This place is accessible from Jhansi city for more transport options."
9. Butterfly Beach, Goa
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source: thegoavilla.com
Located nearby Agonda, Butterfly Beach lies to the north of Palolem Beach. It is named after Butterfly Island, which is situated at a distance of around 200 m. The stretch is famous for sighting dolphins and watching the sun set. Along with dolphins, sea urchins, sea cucumbers and scarce grouper can be easily spotted too.
10. Greenery By The Sea - Araku Valley, Andhra Pradesh
![]()
source: visakhatourism.com
HolidayIQ Traveller K K Sahu shares, "Do you want to spend some quality time in peace from the hustle-bustle of a city and don't want to visit a overcrowded hill station. You have a place called Araku Valley. Looking for activities then you rather give it a miss. For a person like me it's WOW, for its serenity, peace, greenery and other every thing a person needs to spend in quality time in peace. Do visit in the early morning the local market place. It's really magnificent. Don't expect any extraordinary things there but vegetable, fruits and daily chores being sold. It is really relaxing from the sophisticated malls and super markets. There is also an tribal museum, which is must visit. Also on the way you can see the coffee plantations."
1. Unwandered Himalayas - Khajjiar, Himachal Pradesh
source: wikimedia
HolidayIQ Traveller Paramveer Nath shares, "Its the best travel place in Himachal pradesh unknown by many of our local travellers. This place is a huge green grounds with lots of Teaks and cattle. Its greenery and atmosphere doesn't let anybody already been there forget this awesome place. This place is a must visit if you ever visit Himachal pradesh."
2. West Bengal's Tallest Mountain - Sandakphu, West Bengal
source: Wikimedia
HolidayIQ Traveller Neha Thakur shares, "It is the highest peak of West Bengal. It had a wonderful scenic beauty. There is a small village on the top of the peak and the people there, are very friendly and cooperative " Aniruddha Sahoo adds, "Its's a basic trek for amateur climber and it is a wonderful place for explore. The view of sleeping Buddha (mount Kanchenjunga) is marvellous from here."
3. Untouched By Commercialisation - Kanatal, Uttarakhand
source: mybikemyworld.com
HolidayIQ Traveller Ankit Bhatia shares, "Kanatal: place for peace, harmony and nature lovers. Kanatal is a small hill station situated amidst the mountains of Uttarakhand. One of the few weekend getaways from Delhi which offers peace away from the hustle and noise of the metro cities. We can reach kanatal via 2 routes; via Dehradun Mussoorie route and other via Haridwar Rishikesh Chamba. Unlike popular hill stations, Kanatal has been untouched from commercialization. One can choose between resorts and campsites as well to enjoy the nature. The weather remains pleasurable throughout the year with snowfall around Dec and Jan. The locals are quite friendly and hospitable."
4. The Rat Temple of Karni Mata In Bikaner, Rajasthan
source: vanamaliashram.org
The Karni Mata Temple is known for its rats. The interiors of the temple are always filled with countless rats. These rats are considered to be the spirits of the clan, which Karni Mata belonged to, and if you spot a white one, you're lucky!
5. The Village Without Doors - Shani Shingnapur, Maharashtra
source: sobify.com
HolidayIQ Traveller Channabasveshwarayya Kalmath shares, "It's a temple of shani god near Ahmednagar, Maharashtra. The small town where there no place is locked nor doors. The temple is open all time, the god's idol is worshipped by flowers, black cloth and oil. Many devotees visit this place all around the year."
6. Floating Islands - Loktak Lake, Manipur
source: Wikimedia
HolidayIQ Traveller A Majumdar shares, "Loktak lake is a very large lake and important resource for hydroelectricity as well as vegetables. The beauty of the lake is its vastness and floating gardens. We loved to stay here in Sendra Park & Resort. The nearby Keibul Lamjao National Park is an important spot. Here the rare Sangai Deer is available. One can enjoy boating in the lake."
7. Where Goddess Sita Bathed - Lake Devikulam, Kerala
source: smartkeralaholidays.com
Legend has it that Goddess Sita of Ramayana fame bathed in the lake waters of Devikulam; thus, the word Devikulam.
HolidayIQ Traveller Arun Peethambaran shares, "Devikulam is about 8 km from Munnar, its located at a 300m higher altitude than Munnar. The weather is even better there. Try to stay in tourism dept owned yatrinivas. Excellent rooms and decent rates. Dont miss to see the old devikulam lake inside the forest."
8. Architectural Wonder - Orchha, Madhya Pradesh
source: excitingindia.in
HolidayIQ Traveller Mahesh Akhade shares, "Orchha is best place for winter Holiday. And also very religious place the only palace I had seen that have fort, archeological monuments, religious temple, wonderful river you can swim in it. Also have Royal affordable hotel of madhya pradesh tourism. This place is accessible from Jhansi city for more transport options."
9. Butterfly Beach, Goa
source: thegoavilla.com
Located nearby Agonda, Butterfly Beach lies to the north of Palolem Beach. It is named after Butterfly Island, which is situated at a distance of around 200 m. The stretch is famous for sighting dolphins and watching the sun set. Along with dolphins, sea urchins, sea cucumbers and scarce grouper can be easily spotted too.
10. Greenery By The Sea - Araku Valley, Andhra Pradesh
source: visakhatourism.com
HolidayIQ Traveller K K Sahu shares, "Do you want to spend some quality time in peace from the hustle-bustle of a city and don't want to visit a overcrowded hill station. You have a place called Araku Valley. Looking for activities then you rather give it a miss. For a person like me it's WOW, for its serenity, peace, greenery and other every thing a person needs to spend in quality time in peace. Do visit in the early morning the local market place. It's really magnificent. Don't expect any extraordinary things there but vegetable, fruits and daily chores being sold. It is really relaxing from the sophisticated malls and super markets. There is also an tribal museum, which is must visit. Also on the way you can see the coffee plantations."