Places that aren’t yet well known may have some drawbacks, like scarcity of activities after sun down and extravagant accommodation options. However, the much needed peace and tranquillity is guaranteed. So, here are few of the offbeat destinations that tourists haven’t discovered yet:
Pangot, Uttarakhand – A Birdwatcher’s Trove
A charming little hill town located in the Nainital district of Uttaranchal, Pangot is like a paradise for nature lovers and bird watchers. With around 580 bird species been recorded in this area, you are bound to encounter a few fluttering colourful feathers. Even though it’s counted as one of the offbeat places around Delhi, the resorts here are gorgeous and will make your holiday worthwhile.
Things To Do: Camping, Jungle Safari, Trekking
Nearest railway station: Kathgodam
Places to stay: Jungle Lore Birding Lodge, Hotel Aranya Versant
Best time to visit: October to June
Binsar, Uttarakhand– Towering Peaks To Roaring Predators
Binsar is breathtakingly surreal! From the vivid view of the Trisul and Nanda Devi to its lush wildlife sanctuary, Binsar has it all to lure your wanderlust. Perched up at 2400 meters above sea level, it is one of the highest hill stations in Uttarakhand in Kumaon region. It’s still one of the fairly offbeat destinations around Delhi that is not yet commercialised by tourists.
Places To Visit: Zero Point, Khali Estate, Chitai Golu Devta Temple, Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary, Kasar Devi TempleIdeal Duration: 1 Night/2 Days
Things To Do: Trekking, Paragliding, Bird Watching, Wildlife Viewing, Forest Walk
Nearest railway station: Kathgodam
Places to stay: Kasar Himalaya Holiday Home, Woodsvilla Resort
Best time to visit: October to March
Fagu, Himachal Pradesh – A Hamlet Of Stone Houses
Fagu is an enchanting little hill town in the Kufri region of Shimla. You can have a glimpse of the majestic Himalayan summits from here. Dotted by little stone walled houses and lush green plantations, it’s definitely one of the most charming offbeat. Make sure to be a part of the ski fest if you’re here in February.
Ideal Duration: 1 Day
Things To Do: Skiing, Camping, Trekking
Nearest railway station: Shimla railway station
Places to stay: The Tikker, Galleu Hill Resort
Best time to visit: October to April
Darang, Assam– A Whiff Of Freshness And Refreshment
Another Himachali beauty, Darang is located near Mcleodganj on the road to Palampur. Walk through lush tea gardens rolling over the hills and mesmerise to the sound of toads and chirping of birds. It is one of the offbeat holiday destinations near Delhi from where you can view the majestic Dhauladhars standing tall over the delightful hamlet.
Ideal Duration: 1 Day
Things To Do: Stroll around the tea gardens, Birdwatching, Visit Orang National Park
Nearest railway station: Pathankot
Places to stay: Naurang Yatri Niwas, Hotel Anand Palace
Best time to visit: March to June
Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand (460 km) – Where The Gods Dine
Pithoragarh district is located in the Kumaon region of Uttarakhand. The beauty of this place is beyond explanation. Surrounded by towering snow clad peaks, alpine forests and green valley and perennial rivers, it is definitely one of the most gorgeous offbeat that is still unspoilt by commercialism.
Ideal Duration: 1 Night/2 Days
Things To Do: Trekking, Camping, Paragliding, Visit the Pithoragarh Fort
Nearest railway station: Pithoragarh
Places to stay: Pine Resort, Hotel Mall Palace
Kausani, Uttarakhand – Charming Meadows
Another undiscovered Kumaoni beauty, Kausani is the best place to view the majestic massifs of Nanda Devi, Trishul and Panchachuli in their full glory. There are a few 12th century temples in Bajinath that you can visit and the view points from where you can witness the mountains. It is one of the offbeat weekend getaways near Delhi in Uttarakhand that has managed to retain its natural form.
Places To Visit: Gwaldam, Anasakti Ashram, Baijnath Temple, Lakshmi AshramIdeal Duration: 1 Day
Things To Do: Dine at the Garden restaurant, Shop at the Mall Road in Kausani, Visit the famous temples in Kausani
Nearest railway station: Haldwani
Places to stay: The Heritage Resort, Kausani Best Inn
Best time to visit: April to June & September to November
Munsiyari, Uttarakhand – Gear Up For Panchachuli
Munsiyari is a popular destination among mountaineers and trekkers, but it’s still counted as one of thesince it’s not yet frequented regularly by tourists. The best part about this quaint little hamlet in Uttarakhand is that you can have a vivid view of the Panchachuli peaks from here. It is also the starting point for the Milam glacier trek.
Ideal Duration: 1 Night/2 Days
Things To Do: Trekking, Camping, Visit Maheshwari Kund, Shopping in Munsiyari, River rafting
Distance: 572 km
Nearest railway station: Kathgodam
Places to stay: Milam Inn, Hotel Bala Paradise
Best time to visit: March to June & September to October
Naukuchiatal, Uttarakhand (320 km) – The Lake With Nine Corners
Naukuchiatal is a surreal destination in Uttarakhand. Flanked by Bhimtal and Nainital on either sides, this picturesque hill town is best known for its placid and beautiful lake which is the deepest in the region. Another amazing feature of this place is the independent art and music festival, Escape.
Ideal Duration: 1 Night/2 Days
Things To Do: Boating, Paragliding, Explore Bhimtal
Distance: 320 km
Nearest railway station: Kathgodam
Places to stay: Pura Stays, The Allure Hotel
Best time to visit: March to June & September to November
Kanatal, Uttarakhand– For A Little Adventure And Tranquility
Situated between two extremely popular and commercial hill stations Mussoorie and Chamba, Kanatal is so far one of the offbeat places near Delhi that offers absolute tranquillity and peace. There are a few awesome properties by famed hoteliers like Club Mahindra and there are also few adventure camps that offers exciting activities amid the hilly terrains.
Places To Visit: New Tehri ,Chandrabadni Temple, Tehri Lake, Chamba
Ideal Duration: 1 Night/2 Days
Things To Do: Sightseeing, Camping , Trekking , Nature Stay
Nearest railway station: either Dehradun or Rishikesh
Places to stay: The Hermitage Kanatal, The Goat Village Kanatal
Best time to visit: April to September
Dausa, Rajasathan– Stepwells, Palaces And Royalty
Did you know, the bewildering step well that was featured as the ‘Pit’ in “The Dark Knight Rises”, is located in a small village in Rajasthan? That’s Dausa for you, a quaint traditional village located near Jaipur with many other historical marvels like Bhadrawati Palace and Khawaraoji. It’s one of the offbeat destinations near Delhi that you can visit with your family.
Things To Do: Visit Mehandipur Balaji Temple, Visit Gopinath Temple, Visit Bhangarh Fort
Nearest railway station: Dausa
Places to stay: Laxmi Palace Heritage Hotel, Umaid Lake Palace
Best time to visit: October to December
CONCLUSION
In the end I would like to conclude this article by saying that It is good for us to know that traveling can open our minds because when we started to see how other countries and people follow their culture and do their things differently than us we may realize that there are so many ways to live and to do the things that we need to do.
