While urban tourism remains at top for the cliche, rural tourism has gotten its own charms and excites the adventurous. Although it sounds simple and is actually simple but let’s just once again go through what rural tourism is?
Rural tourism refers to visiting the under-explored rural areas of a country. But at the same time it also focuses on recreations like golfing and volunteering. It brings the spotlight to visiting the village areas and actively participating in their lifestyle. For years it has been popularizing because of the rejuvenation it provides over the city-hopping kind of travel plans.
Now that we have piqued your interest towards the ‘now-trending’ tourism, we are sure you may want to visit some of those as soon as the pandemic is over. But oh, be sure to be fully vaccinated.
Today we bring to you 5 different places in India that are truly underestimated and unexplored. And guess what? We got a whole journey for you in store!
1. Munnar, Kerala
Call it a town or a village; it sure is a place of utter magnificence. India is a land of wonders, and Munnar is one of them. What’s wonderful is that one can experience both waters and mountains here.
It is situated in the mountain range of Western Ghats in the beautiful state of Kerala. A lesser known fact about it says that it used to be a getaway for the elite British in their time of colonising India and you have to know it’s good if it was used as an escape from all chaos during that rough patch of time. While the plush vegetation and greenery is tranquillizing, there is a lot more one can do in Munnar.
It offers everything a person may be looking for a getaway – trekking, waterfalls, echo points, boat-houses, rock-climbing, biking, paragliding, etc. It’s so exciting we can’t contain it and neither will we let you! Let’s get a whole description for each of them to facilitate your visit.
Munnar has an amazing waterfall called Lakkam Waterfall descending from 50ft and situated amidst a dense forest. An adventurer could seek the fun of its rocky terrain and loved ones could take a stroll around it.
Also read: The Impact of Tourism on Indian Culture
Munnar has a few hilly areas to ride mountain bikes with friends while boat-houses could be used for leisure and recreation. Paragliding is always on top of an adventurer’s list. Out of all the days one stays there, at least one shall be filled with adrenaline.
Munnar also offers treks to the Anamudi peak located at an astounding 2695m above the sea level. But even after this all, we have’t even reached the best part of Munnar till now- The Neelkurinji Blossoms. Once every 12 years the spectacularly breathtaking blossoms of the purple-blue flowers of neelkurinji cover the mountains of Munnar.
The best time to visit Munnar will be monsoon, or post monsoon period – October to December and you’ll be lucky if it is one of those 12 years!
2. Kutch, Gujarat
Kutch is the home to 969 villages of Gujarat with each one of them being famous for a unique speciality. Bhujodi, Nirona, Khavda, Hodka, pick one and you’re ready to go! Gujarat, more so Kutch is a place of rich cultures and traditions and it provides a road to find your truer self amidst the richness of heritage.
One can find authentic village settings, artisans with leather work and craft, textiles with unique traditional prints such as tie-die and block printing; and copper bells etc. But what’s most alluring about Kutch is the Rann of Kutch, the huge salty deserts extending for miles and miles. It is believed that centuries ago it was a part of the ocean until a strong earthquake displaced the water and exposed the sea bed.
It is a uniquely beautiful white stretch which may be attractive to photographers keen for scenic beauty and models who want to get shot in nature’s own backdrop.
3. Kibber, Himachal Pradesh
Everyone has heard about the beauty of Spiti valley. Spiti, which is termed so since it is the middle land between India and Tibet, has been an attraction for the tourists due to its deserted look but yet cold mountain range. Even though it is a valley its height from sea level ranges from 2950 – 4100 m giving the thrill of mountains.
Spiti also offers a varied range of treks from 4 days and up to 15 days. The district of Lahaul and Spiti, has a rich Buddhist culture and two of the India’s oldest monasteries. For a ride into this culture, and pahadi feels, it is the perfect place.
What comes as an add-on benefit is the village of kibber also known as kyibar. While the deserted district and monasteries offer a huge relief from livelihood and the chores of day-to-day life, visiting a village would propose human interaction and a soft shift towards the overall vibe. Kibber has a monastery and a wildlife sanctuary.
It is amazing to imagine what animals may be taking refuge in the Kibber Wildlife Sanctuary located at a height of 4270m. A milder summer month is the best time to visit Kibber.
4. Siliguri, West Bengal
Even though it is a city, it should not be forgotten how it became a city in the first place. Rural tourism and its approach is such that it enhances the infrastructure of the place by bringing in employment and money while keeping the rural vibe intact. So yes! Siliguri is in fact clean, serene and remote like any rural area, and yet does not fail to offer so much more than a rural lifestyle.
Its development as a tourist city is phenomenal. One has private sight-seeing options, bike riding options and malls if that’s what it feels like one night. (Among the stillness of the place, we could all use a little urban culture on one of the nights!)
Unlike other rural areas, Siliguri offers routes to some beautiful places through the picturesque landscape. Road trip to Sikkim, visit to Darjeeling, Gangtok day tours, are few among the long list that Siliguri has in store for you.
Apart from nature, Siliguri is famous for its temples, stadiums and amusement parks. Be sure to check out all the places one can visit there to avoid missing out on anything!
5. Bijaipur, Rajasthan
Bijaipur is a remote and peaceful village located in south Rajasthan just near the Rajasthan-Madhya Pradesh border. While tourists visit Ajmer, and Udaipur, this little village gets missed.
Its quiet, unexplored and yet has a lot to offer. Chittorgarh fort, one of the largest in India, and a UNESCO world heritage site, is located at an hour’s drive from Bijaipur. But more interestingly, it can be trekked up to. And so can the Menal temple be.
What are unique about this village are the lakes. Despite being in the desert state of India, there are many immaculate lakes in Bijaipur offering solace to the tourist. Star gazing never gets old and what fun would it be to have it from a village isolated of city noise and light. Clear bright skies and thousands of stars can be seen on a clear midsummer night.
So what are you waiting for? Get jabbed and take a bus to one of these thrilling places!
