A trip to India is guaranteed to be one of the most memorable experiences of your life. Amit from the India focused travel blog Real Bharat selects 10 of the most beautiful villages to visit in this intoxicating country…
Mahatma Gandhi said, “India’s soul lives in its villages.” There are more than 6 lakh villages in India, and each of them has something to say about what India is all about. Every city is associated with a village in India, and those who have tried it will agree that to understand a city properly, to truly get to grips with it, you have to get to its roots, and the roots of every city are found in a nearby village.
Each village has something unique associated with it, howsoever small it may be. Here is a look at 10 villages that truly stand apart from the rest of the lot and truly portray what India is all about and speak loud and clear about the heritage of India:
1. Poovar Kerala
The small village located in the Trivandrum district in the southernmost part of Kerala is a place with an old historical value as well as simple and captivating beauty. Even though being just 30 kms from Trivandrum, it is not usually found in peoples’ itineraries of places to visit in South India, hence making it an untouched and unexplored marvel. During the high tides, Neyyar River passes into the Arabian Sea, and the beauty of the view gives it a serene beauty. The legendary Arumanoor Koyikkavilakom Sree Bhadrakali Devi Temple is located close to the village as well.
2. Kibber, Himachal Pradesh
Located high in the Spiti Valley of the Himalayas, Kibber is the highest village in the world that is connected by roads. The village has merely 80 houses, but they are unique in that all of them are made of stone and not of brick, as is the usual norm in those areas. The vegetation is scarce, but has high medicinal values. There is a monastery there founded in 1992. It is one of the most beautiful villages in India with its scenic mountains and barren splendour.
3. Mawlynnong, Meghalaya
Located 90 km from Shillong along the India-Bangladesh border, Mawlynnong is famous for being the cleanest village of Asia. The phrase “Incredible India” leaps to one’s mind when visiting this village, for its beauty supersedes this distinction by a great margin. One might go on to label it as an ideal village in India, for the main occupation of people there is agriculture, the literacy rate is 100%, there are only around 100 houses, and the natural beauty is spellbinding. A bamboo Sky tower provides mesmerising view of the village and Bangladesh as well.
4. Pragpur, Himachal Pradesh
The first heritage village of India, Pragpur was founded in late 16th century. The fort-like havelis and villas and cobbled stone streets are not only reminiscences of its rich history and heritage, but living embodiments of it. Its unpolluted looks make it a gem of a village in India, attracting many tourists every year. The village truly is a beautiful manifestation of the heritage of India.
5. Zuluk, Sikkim
Located along the scenic Old Silk route, Zuluk is the only place that provides accommodates those travelling on the Old Silk Route. Although the place does not boast of many tourist attractions other than a cave Nag temple, it offers a glimpse into paradise in the form of a majestic sunrise view which makes one feel truly at peace and one with nature.
6. Lamayuru, Ladakh
Housing one of the oldest monasteries in Ladakh, the village can be easily reached from Leh. The odd geological landscape of the place is branded as “moonscape”, for it is believed the soil here is quite similar to that on the moon. Located among the beautiful Ladakh Mountains, the Lamayuru monastery is the main attraction of the village, especially the annual festival or Yuku Kabgyat, where the Lamas perform a masked dance.
7. Kalap, Uttarakhand
Located in the Garhwal Himalayas, the village of Kalap is as picturesque as it gets when one looks at the village pictures in India. Formed by the soothing blend of thick shrubs along stony pathways under clear, blue skies and sparkling brooks, the village is one of the most beautiful and best villages in India. One can trek around the village and find numerous awe-aspiring views of the mountains and the village, witnessing a beauty they though could not exist in reality.
8. Malana, Himachal Pradesh
Located in the Parvati Valley, Malana is considered to be the first democracy of the world. It is cut off from the rest of the world, with the people speaking a dialect only they can understand and following strict customs. The quietude associated with the place is something travellers go there seeking for, along with the charm of the Parvati valley.
9. Muttom, Tamil Nadu
Muttom is a fishing village, with over 99 percent of the population of Christian ethnicity. The village is famous for the Muttom beach, which is quite pristine. The beach is covered by sand on one side and rocks on the other. It is a less crowded beach, making it a spectacular find for tourists. The view of the sunset from the lighthouse is something to look out for as well.
10. Panamik, Ladakh
The village of Panamik is the only one in India with a hot-water spring. However, its uniqueness is not just limited to the hot-water spring, where the water temperature at the source is close to boiling point. The beauty of the village is unparalleled; with the snow clad peaks and lush green trees making giving it a scenic look. Although the water is quite hot, people tend to take a dip in it on the back of the belief that the water has healing powers.
All these villages depict beauty, simplicity, serenity, and hold the promise of captivating all senses of the visitors for the entire duration of their stay. The heritage of India is plainly but magnificently portrayed by villages like these. All it takes is the will to explore.
All words by Amit from Real Bharat.
25 Comments
Traveler Aaron
3 May, 2019 at 10:04 amHi,
This is a Great Article about (10 of the most beautiful villages to visit in India)
Thanks for sharing.
Karan Sharma
13 April, 2019 at 1:11 pmHi, I am a traveler from India. Mostly exploring Himalayas. I read this article and I must say it is a quite good piece of Information. I was also expecting Chitkul to be a part of this list but it wasn’t there. Chitkul is also a very scenic village situated remotely in the lapse of Himalayas.
Chitkul- The last village of India on the Indo-Tibet Border. This article was quite Informative.
https://wanderworms.com/chitkul/
Lalit Mohan
18 February, 2019 at 7:40 pmUTTARAKHAND – AN UNFORGETTABLE DESTINATION FOR EVERY TRAVELLER
Uttarakhand state of north India has blessed with the spellbound beauty at it’s every corner. It is surrounded by the sky touching the beautiful rock and green mountains, hills, lakes, rivers, flora & fauna, wildlife, nature, and many more amazing pleasant experiences. Uttarakhand is the most popular state of north India, the ancient four pilgrimage places are known as Gangotri, Yamunotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath are situated at the head of Uttarakhand, these four places all together commonly known as “Char Dham”. Because of these four holy places situated in Uttarakhand, Uttarakhand is also referred to as “Land of Gods” (Devbhumi).
Maya Das
20 November, 2017 at 10:14 amFound this article and glorious picks from all over India. You can add more places from India like Almora, Mussoorie, Nainital, Mount Abu, Darjeeling and many more.
Anyways nice post.
Pretty Tigeress
25 July, 2017 at 11:41 amNice Article…..I know everything cant be covered so I am just mentioning Kasol too.
Ademar Arau
14 December, 2016 at 1:25 pmAll the villages are good places to enjoy home stay in India.. Here you feel about the real culture of incredible India.
John
11 May, 2015 at 7:04 amHello everyone,
We are 3 students from ESCP business school and we are currently doing a marketing survey on travel habits for a Consultancy project. If you are From Spain, United Kingdom, Germany or America Latina and you are between 18 to 90 years old, feel free to answer.. It will take you only few minutes.
Pease find the link : https://docs.google.com/forms/d/17Oipf_7SdlF3-ErfcPZrLknoMzNfLsbIoNY6hTQS2T0/viewform
Thank you very much for your help & for you time !
Aude, Camille & John-Alexander
Bilna Sandeep
27 April, 2015 at 11:33 amWow.. The first one caught my eye…could be coz I am a Keralites myself.. I would surely love to visit during my next trip to Trivandrum… Well all these pics are really tempting…
LilyJane
21 April, 2015 at 7:27 pmThe roads going down the mountain at Zuluk, Sikkim are absolutely crazy! would want to trust your brakes whole heartedly before you drive down there, lol !
Sarah Dodd
31 March, 2015 at 10:47 pmI am going to India at the end of the year! I would love to visit some of these places! Incredible and something different than what I am used to! 🙂
Brittany
27 March, 2015 at 2:23 amKalap has extreme terrains.. but the sights are just majestic from there
rebecca
27 March, 2015 at 12:48 amStunning! just stunning! I totally agree with getting to the roots of a city through the small villages. These are places I would just love to go
vistet
26 March, 2015 at 7:47 amI love Ladakh and Soiti , never tire of returning. The pictures makes me long back . Kibbers claim to be the highest village doesn’t work out even in India though : Hanle for example is around 4500.
http://korta.nu/highest
The worlds highest cities would be Purang , headquarter of the Ngari Region in Tibet at 4755 meters and the Peruvian mining town La Rinconnada at 5000+ .
Martin Kjellberg
24 March, 2015 at 7:56 amIt looks beautiful! I added Mawlynnong to my list of places to investigate closer, clean and India is not words you usually see in the same sentence. Thank you!
Dana Carmel @ Time Travel Plans
24 March, 2015 at 4:27 amWow, Mawlynnong looks like it’s right up my alley. I’ve never heard of it before, but it looks beautiful. Muttom looks great too seeing that I’m a self-professed beach bum. 🙂
Pixie
23 March, 2015 at 12:23 pmWould love to visit India one day, starting with Muttom .
Scott
23 March, 2015 at 12:11 pmThese look incredible, would love to visit India one day!
Emma
23 March, 2015 at 12:10 pmLove the look of them all! Beautiful villages!
Rahman @ Iran Small Tours
22 March, 2015 at 8:42 pmThe variety of those villages are incredible, but it seems that most of them are quite difficult to reach. I enjoyed your post as always.
Zuluk seems to be so unique and thrilling!
Corinne
22 March, 2015 at 12:13 pmI have only scratched the surface of India. These photos make me want to go back, pronto!
Rana Gajendra
22 March, 2015 at 12:39 amKalap inutrakhand where and how can reached there
Suze The Luxury Columnist
21 March, 2015 at 12:55 pmMuttom looks charming, I would love to visit India some day
Tiana Travels
20 March, 2015 at 10:19 pmSuch great inspiration and details, I would love to step my foot anywhere in India!
Jess @UsedYorkCity
20 March, 2015 at 1:30 pmThese are all so gorgeous! I have never been anywhere in India, so would happily visit any of them!;-)
Katie Featherstone
20 March, 2015 at 11:36 amZuluk looks absolutely crazy- I would love to see the whole area myself. Visiting a small seaside village like Muttom, must have been relaxing- it’s great to get away from the crowds. Thanks for showing me a new side of India. 🙂