Unique Places in India You Must Visit from Australia
India is a beautiful country that is known for the Taj Mahal, spices, cricket, and an extensive network of trains. However, most people give locations like Karnataka, Uttarakhand a miss due to lack of proper knowledge. So, if you’re planning on paying a visit to India this year, you should not give these places a miss.
However, before you do that, we would recommend that you apply for an electronic tourist visa to India from our website.
Offbeat Destinations in North India
You might know North India as the gateway and home to the Himalayas. However, do you know about Arunachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Fagu Valley in Himachal Pradesh?
These places are often given a miss due to their remoteness. But they are no less in beauty than their more famous peers.
Fagu Valley, Himachal Pradesh
Enjoy the vibe of Shimla without the crowd, only at Fagu Valley at 2500 metres/8200 feet above sea level. You can hire a cab or a taxi from Shimla to reach this beautiful destination.
Interestingly, this place is believed to have been named as ‘Fagu’ since it remains foggy for nine months in a year.
We would recommend going for a hike through the valley, and visiting the Charabra village. Once you reach the village, you should check out the Sunrise Point there and take in the vista of the sunset, before you return to Fagu village.
You can also sample the apples from the orchards there, and pay a visit to the Bhantia Devta temple. It is well-known locally for its wooden carvings.
Some dishes you should try when you visit this place are Besan Barfi (chickpea flour sweet) and Sidku (lentil-stuffed bread).
Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh
Tawang is one of Arunachal Pradesh’s best kept secrets. This place is located at a distance of about 320 kilometres from Tezpur’s Salonibari Airport.
After leaving the airport, you have to book a cab from there and experience a journey of10 to 12 hours. However, you should not forget to purchase and carry an Inner Line Permit to visit the area.
That’s because Arunachal Pradesh is a sensitive zone, due to its proximity to the border.
You will have to show a physical copy of your Indian visa for Australian citizens to obtain this Inner Line Permit.
If you’re:
- Traveling solo, visit the Ministry of Home Affairs in Delhi.
- Traveling in a group of four or more, visit the Foreigners Regional Registration Offices in Mumbai, Calcutta, Chennai, Mumbai and Delhi. You can also pay a visit to the Commissioner's Home in Itanagar.
Once you reach there, we would recommend visiting Madhuri Lake, Nuranang Falls, Tawang Monastery and Sela Pass. Nature lovers can also explore Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary. If you’re spiritually inclined, then don’t forget to visit the Urgelling Gompa and Taktsang Gompa.
Some dishes that you should sample there include Zan (millet flour pudding), and Gyapa Khazi (Monpa tribe’s Biryani).
Chopta, Uttarakhand
We would recommend visiting Chopta if you’re inclined towards trekking. This place is a small village, just 97 kms from Dehradun.
However, it’s quite a remote place so you will have to book a tempo, bus, or cab from Jolly Grant International Airport at Dehradun to reach it.
Once you reach this location, you can visit the Tungnath temple and the charming village of Deoria Tal. You can also go for a trek to Chandrashila if you have enough time. It is quite a popular trek, and will take you to an elevation of 2680 metres or 8792 feet above sea level.
Do remember to carry a physical copy of your electronic tourist visa to India if you book the trek offline.
If you’re an animal lover, you can visit the Kanchula Korak Musk Deer Sanctuary. As its name suggests, it houses the Musk Deer.
Some dishes you should not miss out there are Chainsoo (roast black gram lentil curry), and Phaanu (lentil-based dish).
Hidden Gems in South India
You might be familiar with South India due its cinematic masterpieces, the gopurams or temples at Hampi, and dishes like Idli Sambhar. But South India offers so much more than that.
For example, do you know about a place called Chettinad in Tamil Nadu or the beautiful Araku Valley in Andhra Pradesh? Both of these locations are quite gorgeous, but do not receive many tourists. Including these locations into your itinerary will be going off the beaten path, but the experiences are totally worth it.
However, this does not have to be the case with you. You can include these places in your itinerary after you learn about them below.
Chettinad, Tamil Nadu
This place in the Sivaganga district is known in Tamil Nadu for its spicy cuisines, palatial mansions, and temples.
The region of Chettinad derived its name from the Sanskrit word ‘Chetti’, which stands for wealth. That’s because this place used to house rich traders who built the mansions and temples it is known for today.
You can take a cab from Madurai International Airport or Tiruchirapalli Airport to reach this place. Once you do, you can explore places like Vairavanpatti, Chettinadu Mansion and the Chettinad Palace.
Vairavanpatti is a Shiva temple dating back to the 8th century that was built out of mud. It has many decorative statues and is maintained by the family of the Nagarathar Chettiars.
The Chettinadu Mansion is a century-old resort that is a heritage property. It is open to tourists, who can stay in one of the twelve rooms there. You will be served Chettinad Cuisine during your stay there.
You will require your Indian visa for Australian citizens to book a room there.
Another reason that this place is popular is its Chettinad-style architecture, and the fact that it has been a site for many films.
Some dishes that you should try there are Ukkarai (jaggery and moong daal sweet), Karupatti (palm jaggery sweet), and Paniyaram (crisp rice lentil droppings).
Gokarna, Karnataka
If you want to experience the vibe of Goa, without experiencing the crowds, then this place is perfect for you. It is located three and a half hours away from Goa International Airport in Dabolim. So you can book a cab from the airport to get here.
Once you do, we would recommend visiting places like the Mahabaleshwara Temple, Kudle Beach, Yana Caves and Mirjan Fort. The Mahabaleshwara Temple is known for its Shiva linga that is known as the Atmalinga.
Do not forget to visit the Kudle Beach. It is a secluded beach which doesn’t receive too many visitors, so you can enjoy your privacy while enjoying the view.
On the other hand, you can visit the Yana Caves to indulge your inner adventurer, which are located at a distance of 50 kilometres away from Gokarna. These caves are natural limestone formations that were formed millions of years ago.
We would recommend visiting the Mirjan Fort for a touch of history. It was a site for battles between the 1500s and 1600s and has an impressive area of 4.6 hectares. This used to be the armory for the British colonials.
Some dishes you can try there are Uttapam (rice lentil pancakes), Kadubu (rice flour and sweet lentil dumplings), and Squid Sukka (squid cooked in coconut and masala).
Araku Valley, Andhra Pradesh
Nestled among the verdant hills, Araku Valley is a nature lover’s paradise. It is about 120 kilometres away from Visakhapatnam. So you can either book a cab from Visakhapatnam, or take the train to reach this place.
After you reach there, we would recommend visiting the Borra Caves, Tadimada Waterfalls, Bheemili Beach and Matsyagundam.
The Borra Caves are ancient limestone caves with stalagmites and stalactites that were formed over a million years ago. You can visit these caves to experience the beauty of nature at its best.
We would recommend visiting Bheemili Beach to look at the remains of Dutch and British homes built during the 1600s. You can visit Matsyagundam for its variety of fishes while Tadimada Waterfalls is known for its beauty.
Some dishes that you can try there include Bongulo chicken, Bongulo Pulao and Uppu Curry.
Travel Tips for Australians Visiting India
While each location has its own time, you can visit between December and March for optimum weather. We would recommend packing the appropriate clothes as per the season. Apart from that, don’t forget to carry medicines and digestive tablets.
That’s because Indian food can be spicy for those unaccustomed to it. Finally, do carry your Indian visa for Australian citizens and other documents as applicable. We wish you a great journey!
Ensure you have checked your eligibility for Indian e-Visa.