The Bermuda Triangle, the Crooked Forest of Poland, and the Eternal Flame Falls in the US are some of the most mysterious places in the world. Did you know that there are many such mysterious places in India too? Places that have spooked the locals and baffled the researchers for decades.
Some of them occur by natural phenomenon, some by unseen climatic conditions while some are plain miracles whose answers lie in India’s mythological tales. These mysterious places puzzle you and make you question what’s true and what’s simply an illusion. If you want to have your mind blown off, here are the most mysterious places to visit in India.
11 Most Mysterious Places To Visit In India
- Suicidal Birds of Jatinga, Assam
- Abandoned Village Of Kuldhara, Rajasthan
- Houses Without Doors in Shani Shingnapur, Maharashtra
- Mountain Pass Famous For UFO Sightings, Ladakh
- Lake Full Of Skeletons in Chamoli, Uttarakhand
- Bullet Baba Shrine In Bandai, Rajasthan
- Village Of Twins, Kodinhi, Kerala
- Magnetic Hill, Ladakh
- Enchanted Forest Of Vrindavan, Uttar Pradesh
- Floating Pillar At Lepakshi, Andhra Pradesh
- Floating Stones Of Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu
1.Suicidal Birds of Jatinga, Assam
Jatinga is a village on a ridge that’s inhabited by the Khasi-pnar tribal people and a few Dimasa people. Every year, many tourists visit Jatinga for its natural beauty and its bird watching centers. A major reason why Jatinga is well known is because of the ‘bird suicide’ phenomenon. Every year during the months of August and November, many birds drop down from the sky on pitch dark foggy nights.
Jatinga is frequented by bird watchers and ornithologists to study this phenomenon. Ornithologists have deciphered that it could be due to disorientation at high altitudes and high-speed winds. It’s observed that birds who die are often juveniles and local migrants. It was also studied that these birds, flying frantically, got hit by poles erected by villagers to protect themselves as they believed that the suiciding birds were evil spirits.
Thankfully, conservation groups are making efforts to educate people and prevent such beliefs. If you’re interested, you can read the book ‘Birds of Assam’ by Anwaruddin Choudhury to understand more about this phenomenon.
2.Abandoned Village Of Kuldhara, Rajasthan
Kuldhara is an abandoned village situated 18 km southwest of Jaisalmer in Rajasthan. The village was once home to Paliwal Brahmins and was quite prosperous in its day. But in the early 18th century, all inhabitants of the village left overnight. The reasons for this hurried exit of the villagers is unknown; it could be an earthquake or a dwindling water supply. The most popular reason is (if you believe folklore) that the residents left to escape the atrocities of its minister.
It was believed that the minister was in love with a girl from the village and sent his guards to capture her. The villagers asked the guards to return her the next morning and then abandoned the village overnight. People say that no one saw the villagers leave nor does anyone know where they migrated to.
If you look at the other side of the story, the main occupation of Kuldhara was agriculture and most wells started drying around 1815. The minister wouldn’t budge from the heavy taxes imposed upon the villagers leaving them with no option but to leave. Whatever story you believe in, it gets spookier when you know that the Paliwal Brahmins cursed the village while leaving, and thus those who tried to settle in the village experienced paranormal activities.
3. Houses Without Doors in Shani Shingnapur, Maharashtra
We keep on checking if we locked our door before stepping out, but not the residents of this village. Shani Shingnapur is a village in Maharashtra famous for the temple of Lord Shanidev. Interesting bit? The houses in this village have no doors and locks, they don’t even have door frames! Why so? The people believe that Lord Shani guards their homes against any thefts or mishaps.
You can see people leaving their homes for days without fearing theft. That’s because people believe anyone who steals their belongings will face illness or seven years of bad luck. It’s crazier when you know that the police stations, post offices, and even a bank have no doors in this village. Locals say that once a resident of the village installed a door before he left his house and ended up meeting with an accident. This belief has made Shani Shingnapur a famous pilgrimage spot with people pouring in to see the village and worship the deity. Let us leave you with a warning here: Don’t leave your house unlocked!
4.Mountain Pass Famous For UFO Sightings, Ladakh
If you love exploring offbeat places in Himachal or places near India’s border, the Kongka La Pass is sure to amaze you. It’s at an elevation of 16,970 feet and is difficult to reach since it’s a disputed territory between India and China. Let’s skip to the interesting part already! Locals around this pass have reported sighting UFOs, weirdly shaped bright lights, and extraterrestrial beings in this pass. Pilots often avoid flying over the pass because they’ve experienced their equipment glitching out as they fly over it.
Obviously, the pass caught the attention of conspiracy theorists who believe that the place is a secret alien base. Satellite images prove such beliefs as you can see caves, flying saucers, and shady activities in the area. Keeping all the theories aside, the Kongka La Pass is breathtakingly beautiful and is a dream destination for photographers and filmmakers. Sadly, the pass lies on the Line of Control between the two nations and is a No Man’s Land that’s accessible only by foot and is quite dangerous to visit.
5.Lake Full Of Skeletons in Chamoli, Uttarakhand
Roopkund is a glacial lake in Uttarakhand situated at an insane altitude of 16469 ft. You must already know of this lake if you’ve been on the Roopkund Trek, which was a popular trek in Himachal Pradesh. The lake is frozen all year round and only melts for one month, and that’s when the mystery unfurls itself! At the edge of the lake and at its bed, you can see skeletal remains that date back to the 9th century. Back when these skeletons were discovered in 1942, other remains like wooden artifacts, rings, iron spearheads, and leather slippers too emerged.
In 2003, a team from the National Geographic retrieved skeletons with flesh still attached to them (creepy how the ice preserves the horror). If legend is to be believed, it’s said the remains belong to an Indian king and queen and their attendants who were on a pilgrimage to the Nanda Devi shrine and perished near the lake when a huge storm hit them. Fast forward to now, it’s banned to camp in the meadows of Uttarakhand, which makes the Roopkund Trek impossible. But you can still marvel at the lake’s pictures on the internet!
6.Bullet Baba Shrine In Bandai, Rajasthan
Temples, idols, and religious sites of all kinds can be seen in India, how about a Royal Enfield for a change? This time, it’s no folklore, legend, or mythology, it’s a real incident that happened in 1991! In December of that year, Om Banna, a local youth, was riding his Bullet through Bandai village and hit a tree only to fall to his death in a ditch. Local policemen retrieved the motorcycle and parked it in the police station.
The real mystery begins when you know that the Bullet returned to the accident site day after day. Efforts by the police like emptying its fuel tank and chaining the Bullet went in vain and the bike still made its way to the site. Villagers believed this to be the work of Om Banna’s spirit and thus made a shrine in his name and began worshipping his Bullet. Today, incense, sweets, and even alcohol are offered at the shrine. It’s said that those who pass the shrine without bowing in front of it meet with an accident. You can see tourists and bikers visiting nearby places of Rajasthan worshipping at the Bullet Baba Temple before beginning their journeys.
7.Village Of Twins, Kodinhi, Kerala
As you pass this village, you’ll see the board ‘God’s Own Twin Village’. Enter this village and you’ll notice many sets of twins, more than you can imagine! There are 400 sets of twins in this village today and this has been going on for three generations. Globally, 9 twin births can be seen every 1,000 deliveries. But in Kodinhi, the number exceeds 45 twin births every 1,000 deliveries! More so, the number is constantly increasing every passing year.
In 2016, researchers collected hair and saliva samples to study the DNA of the villagers but didn’t reach a conclusion. Doctors and researchers assume that it must be the diet or the water consumed by the locals that cause this to happen. It’s more puzzling when you know that many girls who got married in other villages also gave birth to twins! The village has established the Twins And Kin Association (TAKA) which supports the families of twins because it’s demanding and expensive to educate and raise twins. Thoughtful, we say!
8.Magnetic Hill, Ladakh
Park your car or turn off the ignition and you’ll find it being pulled uphill! You’ll see tourists passing this hill stopping and testing the magnetic attraction of this hill. The instances of vehicles being pulled uphill earned this place the name ‘Magnetic Hill’. If you want to try this out, park your car in the white box painted on the road and watch your car speed off at 20 km/h with no power! Locals say that this road leads one to heaven and thus the unnatural force.
While you might think that this is the only place on earth that defies Newton’s Law, there’s actually an explanation! The hill is actually an optical illusion which makes you think that the road is going uphill but is actually a downhill slope. This slope is exactly the reason why vehicles experience gravitational force. Whatever it is, this place is still one of the popular tourist attractions near Ladakh!
9.Enchanted Forest Of Vrindavan, Uttar Pradesh
By now you’ve seen mysterious mountains, abandoned villages, and possessed two-wheelers. Let’s now come to an enchanted forest that comes alive at night. Nidhivan is a sacred forest in the Mathura District of Uttar Pradesh. The forest is full of sacred Tulsi trees which are entwined in each other. The land of the forest is completely dry and the trunks of these trees are hollow, raising the question of how exactly do these trees survive without water?
It’s also believed that the trees are none other than the Gopis who dance after nightfall. The forest is visited by Lord Krishna and Radha who engage in Rasleela (dance) every night.
There’s also a temple in the premises called Rang Mahal which is believed to be the resting place for Radha-Krishna after their Rasleela. Priests arrange the sandalwood beds, leave a jug of water, sweets and paan for Radha-Krishna; jewelry and bangles too are kept for Radha. The next morning the beds are ruffled as if slept in and the sweets, paan, and water look as if someone had a bite and a sip.
Visit this village and you’ll be advised not to venture near the forest after the evening aarti. Some houses facing the direction of this forest have sealed their windows with bricks and other houses close their windows after the evening bell. It’s said that if you witness the Rasleela, you’ll go blind! It’s better if you leave the gods alone and explore Nidhivan during the day.
10.Floating Pillar At Lepakshi, Andhra Pradesh
Lepakshi is a small historical village in Andhra Pradesh. It was believed to be the place where an important chapter of Ramayana took place. The village is also famous for its shrines and temples dedicated to Lord Shiva, Vishnu, and Veerabhadra. The most prominent of all shrines here is the 16th-century Veerabhadra Temple which is built in the Vijayanagara architectural style. The temple has beautiful stone depictions and carvings of gods, goddesses, musicians, and dancers.
The temple has 70 pillars of which one is hanging an inch above the ground. Surreal! No one knows what supports this pillar or how it floats mid-air. You can see visitors passing scarves, papers, and the ends of their sarees under this pillar. It’s believed that passing something under this pillar brings you prosperity.
The way you’re baffled right now was exactly what happened to a British engineer who tried to move the pillar in a failed attempt to discover the secret of this pillar. But he just dislodged the pillar a bit and nothing else! Let’s simply marvel at the ancient architecture, shall we?
11.Floating Stones Of Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu
The floating stones found in Rameshwaram are linked to the mythological tale of Ramayana. It’s said that the Ram Setu was built from Rameswaram to Sri Lanka so Lord Ram could go and save Sita from the evil King Ravana. This Ram Setu was built with floating rocks, similar to the ones found today in Rameswaram. You can see people worshipping these stones and immersing them in vessels of water to see them float.
This might seem like a mystery and make you question if these stones were really a part of mythological scriptures. But scientists have claimed that these stones float due to their properties. These stones emerged after volcanic eruptions and can be found around Rameswaram’s coastline. They have the same properties as pumice stones which is why they float on water! Nevertheless, it’s interesting to visit Rameswaram to see the Adam’s Bridge and the floating stones!
Pack your bags and go explore these places to feed your curiosity. Call them religious beliefs, natural miracles, or folklore, you’ll see how mystery outwits science and leaves you wondering about the existence of logic! Get ready to be spooked out and experience the thrill in a new way (adventure isn’t limited to sports right?).
FAQs
Which Are The Mysterious Places In India?
Jatinga in Assam, Roopkund in Uttarakhand, Vrindavan in Uttar Pradesh, Shani Shignapur in Maharashtra, and Kuldhara in Rajasthan are some of the best mysterious places to visit in India.
Are There Any Haunted Places In India?
Yes, there are many haunted places in India that are popular and visited by many tourists to experience the paranormal closely. Some of the best haunted places in India include Bhangarh Fort in Rajasthan, Dumas Beach in Gujarat, Agrasen ki Baoli in New Delhi, and Ramoji Film City in Hyderabad.
Which Are The Scariest Treks To Go On In India?
The Kafni Glacier Trek, Goechala Trek, Chadar Trek, Kalindikhal Pass Trek, and Khatling Glacier Trek are some of the most dangerous and scariest treks to go in India. These treks need lots of fitness, guts, and training to embark on which makes them very challenging.
Which Are The Best Temples In India?
Badrinath Temple in Uttarakhand, Sun Temple in Odisha, Somnath Temple in Gujarat, Kedarnath Temple in Uttarakhand, Ramanathaswamy Temple in Tamil Nadu, Vaishno Devi Temple, Jammu and Kashmir, and Meenakshi Temple in Tamil Nadu are some of the best temples to visit in India.
Can I Visit The Mysterious Places In India?
Yes, you can! Mysterious places attract many explorers and researchers who want to solve the unsolved mysteries around the place. You can go visit such places with your friends, a tour guide, or if you’re brave enough, all alone!
Which Is The Coldest Place In India?
Drass, which is located in Jammu & Kashmir is the coldest place in India.
Which Is The Driest Place In India?
With an elevation of 11500 ft, Leh is the driest location in India.
Which City Is Known As “The Blue City”?
Jodhpur is known as “The Blue City.”
