Gravity-defying rocks and a 'Bullet Baba'

temple: 15 peculiar and mysterious

places in India every adventurous
traveller should visit
If you're bored of vacationing at the same old conventional tourist spots in India, this is for you. Are
you an adventurous traveller planning to travel along the length and breadth of the country? Take a
break and set off on an exciting journey to explore the land of peculiar stories and mysteries. Did you
know about the Great Wall of India in Rajasthan? It's the second largest wall after the Great Wall of
China!
You may have heard of the Magnetic Hill in Leh and Ladakh, but did you know of a gravity defying
palace in Lucknow? The majestic temples dedicated to the many gods worshipped in India may
have been visited a lot of times, but have you heard of the 'Bullet Baba' temple that sees visitors
paying respect to the iconic motorcycle Bullet? If you haven't you need to visit these unusual places
in India.

Roopkund Lake: Roopkund Lake, better known as Skeleton Lake, is one of those dreadful secluded places,
located in the most inhospitable regions of the Himalayan Mountains. This extremely frightening area of
Himalayan Mountains is known for the hundreds of corpses, between 300-600 skeletons, which date back to
the 15th century AD. What would have killed these people and why were so many of them on such a gruelling
journey in the middle of nowhere? Did they die in ritualistic suicide or in an epidemic? According to the local
folklore, the entourage earned the fury of the local deity, Latu. They were caught in a dreadful hailstorm and
were thrown into the Roopkund Lake.
Courtesy: Imgur

The Magnetic Hill: Can you imagine a vehicle moving up a steep hill with the ignition off? Sounds astonishing,
right? The Magnetic Hill located near Leh in beautiful Ladakh, stands at a height of 11,000 feet above sea level
and is known to possess strong magnetic properties which have the strength to pull cars up-hill. In reality, it is
just the optical illusion effect and there is no magnetic disturbance at all. This self-profound magnetic hill is
one of the popular stops for domestic tourists to experience natures mysterious ways.
Courtesy: Imgur

Gravity Defying Palace: A man made wonder, the Gravity Defying Palace in Lucknow, capital of the eastern
region of Uttar Pradesh, is known for its mystifying palace complex. This marvellous creation of 18th-century
by the monarch Nawab Asaf-ud-Daula, is a blend of European and Arabic architecture. Bara Imambaras
superlative central arched hall is almost 50 meters long and about three stories high without any pillars or
beams. The main hall was constructed exclusively with interlocking brick-work and is famous for its
mysterious architecture of Bhulbhulaiya- a dense maze. This labyrinth is made of more than 1,000 narrow
staircase passages meant to prevent any possible intruders. One can roam around the clandestine maze;
preferably with an official guide. Alongside one can also explore the adjacent mosque and stunning gardens.
Courtesy: Imgur

The Phuktal Monastery: This is a massive cave monastery located high-up in the steep mountains. It is this
demeanour which makes this monastery unique amongst all others in the Zanskar Valley. The foundation of
this monastery is primarily made of twigs and mud. It was found way back in the 12th century and is home to
around 70 monks. The frescoes and ceiling decorations of the monastery connects to the same era of Alchi
Monastery and Tabo Monastery one of the oldest monasteries. The most attractive aspect is the hollow in
the rock in the cave over the monastery. The level of the water in this hollow never spills regardless of any
amount of water being drawn from it and is believed to have healing powers!
Courtesy: Imgur

Shani Shignapur: Shani Shignapur is a village located about 35 km from Ahmednagar of Maharashtra. This
village is known for its popular temple of Shani, the epitome of Hindu god of the planet Saturn who is
worshipped with supreme reverence and devotion. The uniqueness of this small village is that none of the
houses in this village has doors or even a door frame, including the commercial buildings, schools etc for
safety. The people here believe that it is the blessing of the god that no crime ever happens in this village. The
first of its kind in the country, the United Commercial (UCO) Bank opened a lockless branch in the village
taking note of the near-zero crime rate in the region in January 2011.
Courtesy: Imgur

Bhangarh: One of the Indias spookiest places, Bhangarh in Alwar district, Rajasthan, is home to the creepiest
stories. The town of Bhangarh whose haunted status is attracting scores of tourists these days, lies beneath
the Sariska forest in Rajasthan. The lost city is open only during the hours of daylight and is strictly prohibited
after sunset. The Archeological Survey of India doesnt have an official office here though government
regulations state that every historical site must have an office of the ASI. The myth has it that due to the curse
of Guru Bala Nath, the whole town was vacated over night. The Guru Bala Nath forbidden blight devastated
the whole town. The tomb of Guru Bala Nath is still found amongst the ruins. This is definitely not for the faint
hearted and is one of the scariest places in India.
Courtesy: Imgur

The balancing rock of Mahabalipuram: Krishnas Butterball is a curious tourist attraction in Mahabalipuram, a
town about 60 km south of Chennai famous for its stone carvings. The butterball is a giant balancing rock, 5
meters in diameter, perched on a smooth slope, seemingly defying all laws of physics. Its a common sight to
see visitors placing hands under the stone posing for pictures, which looks as though they are holding it up.
The rock provides welcome shade if you dare to sit underneath it, and local kids have discovered that the
slippery nearby hillside also makes a great natural slide.
Courtesy: Imgur

The Great Wall of India: The wall that surrounds the ancient fort of Kumbhalgarh is one of the best-kept secrets in India,
and perhaps the world. Protecting a massive fort that contains over 300 ancient temples, the wall was constructed half a
millennium ago in tandem with Kumbhalgarh Fort itself. Often referred to as Kumbhalgarh Wall or simply as
Kumbhalgarh Fort as a whole, the wall is perhaps best known by its most sensational and fitting name: The Great
Wall of India. This is appropriate, as the wall extends over 36 kilometres around the perimeter of the fort, making it the
second-longest continuous wall on the planet after the far more well-known Great Wall of China.
ourtesy: Imgur

The Bullet Baba temple: Om Banna is a shrine located in Pali district near Jodhpur, India, devoted to a deity in
the form of a motorcycle. It is located 20 kilometres from Pali and 50 kilometres away from Jodphur on the
Pali-Jodhpur highway, near Chotila village. The motorcycle is a 350cc Royal Enfield Bullet. In 1988, Om Banna
(formerly known as Om Singh Rathore) was travelling from the town known as Bangdi near Sanderao of Pali
to Chotila when he lost control of his motorcycle and struck a tree: Om Banna was killed instantly, his
motorcycle falling into a nearby ditch. The morning after the accident, local police took the motorcycle to a
nearby police station. The next day it was reported to have disappeared from the station and was found back
at the site of the accident. Police, once again, took the motorcycle, this time emptying its fuel tank and putting
it under lock and chain to prevent its removal. Despite their efforts, the next morning it again disappeared and
was found at the accident site. Legend states that the motorcycle kept returning to the same ditch. It thwarted
every attempt by police to keep it at the local police station; the motorcycle was always returned to the same
spot before dawn. This came to be seen as a miracle by local population, and they began to worship the
Bullet Bike. News of the miracle motorcycle spread to nearby villages, and later they built a temple to
worship it. This temple is known as Bullet Babas Temple." It is believed that Om Bannas spirit helps
distressed travellers. The temple includes a tree ornamented with offerings of bangles, scarves and rope. The
temple beside the Enfield motorbike has a large picture of Singh. For the past twenty years, Poonam Giri has
maintained the temple and acted as priest.
Courtesy: Imgur

Kuldhara: For over 500 years, the village of Kuldhara was populated by about 1,500 residents. One night, they
all disappeared. They didnt die or get abducted or anythingthey just left. The reason for their sudden
evacuation is lost in time. Some say they fled the taxation of an oppressive ruler, while others weave a tale of
young lovers and the girls angry father who was a big shot at the village. Whatever the actual cause of
desertion, one thing is generally agreed uponwhen the villagers left, they cursed the area so that no one
may live there ever again. Of course, some people tried to take over the cosy, abandoned village. According
to legend, all who tried died a brutal death. Some of the people who have died in there are said to still haunt
the village, according to paranormal investigators who have experienced some very strange events in the
place. Whether all of this is true or not, the village has certainly gained a frightening reputation. It remains
deserted to this very day, and no one has even considered repopulating it for a long time.
Courtesy: Imgur

Lonar Crater: The 1.83 km diameter Crater Lake was formed by the impact of a 2 million ton meteorite that hit
the earth 50,000 years ago. The lake was first mentioned in ancient scriptures such as the Skanda Purana, the
Padma Puran and the Aaina-i-Akbari. Lonar Lake has a mean diameter of 1.2 kilometres (3,900 ft) and is about
137 metres (449 ft) below the crater rim. The meteor crater rim is about 1.8 kilometres (5,900 ft) in diameter.
The circular depression bears a saline water lake in its central portion.
Courtesy: Quora

Great Banyan Tree in Howrah: This 250-year-old tree occupies an area of 4 acres and has a circumference of
1 km. You could easily confuse this tree for a forest. It became diseased after it was struck by lightning, so in
1925 the middle of the tree was excised to keep the remainder healthy; this has left it as a clonal colony, rather
than a single tree. A 330 metre long road was built around its circumference, but the tree continues to spread
beyond it.
Courtesy: Quora

The Rama Setu bridge: Geological evidence suggests that this bridge is a former land connection between
India and Sri Lanka. The 18 mile long bridge separates the Gulf of Mannar (southwest) from the Palk Strait
(northeast). Some of the sandbanks are dry and the sea in the area is very shallow, being only 3 ft to 30 ft (1 m
to 10 m) deep in places, which hinders navigation. It was reportedly passable on foot up to the 15th century
until storms deepened the channel: temple records seem to say that Ramas Bridge was completely above
sea level until it broke in a cyclone in AD 1480.
Courtesy: Quora

Balancing Rock of Jabalpur: The Balancing Rock is the example of the eroded volcanic rock formations. The
rock balances on the huge base rock by just touching it slightly. Yet it is amazingly that the Balancing Rock
survived even in earthquake of magnitude 6.5. It is said that it's impossible to disturb the balance of this rock.
Courtesy: Quora

Hide and seek beach of Odisha: It is truly a magical experience when something just disappears right in front
of you. This is what happens in Orissa. The hide and seek beach of Orissa appears and disappears with every
high and low tide. With every low tide, the sea water recedes to approximately 5 km and hits the surf of the
shore back during high tides is the captivating sight at the Chandipur Beach at Odisha.
Courtesy: Quora