Many believe in the saying that the true beauty of India lies hidden underneath all the glitz and glams of its cities. Well if we look closely isn’t it actually true. The true beauty, the traditions, and the culture of the residents can be witnessed in the most beautiful villages in India, in a raw and pure form. And the site of it all is honestly mesmerizing and worth cherishing.
There are many enchanting villages in India that are hidden away from the hustle and bustle. They operate in a small bubble of their own where the residents of the village live as a huge family all together, happily. As travelers or tourists, we tend to skip such places because we doubt the kind of facilities we will be able to avail there. City life has made our minds so scared of accepting anything less than what we already have that we just don’t want to move out of our comfort zones. And then we are the ones who end up saying that our lives have turned monotonous, the so-called tyranny of life.
The budding travelers are however taking up new adventures and exploring unexplored roads. They are the ones who are ready to accommodate according to situations and accepting in nature. They’re the ones who gave rise to terms like low-budget travelers, backpackers, and hostel culture, where they were open to the idea of sharing a dormitory with strangers to have a budget trip.
A few of these villages are near the most popular tourist destinations of India then too they are still unknown to many people. Thus, today we bring to you a list of some of the most beautiful villages in India where you must go if you really want to escape your monotonous life.
Here are the names of some of the enchanting villages in India that you should visit if you are planning on moving out of your comfort zone:
- Landour, Mussoorie, Uttarakhand
- Mandawa, Rajasthan
- Nako Lahaul, Spiti
- Ziro Village, Arunachal Pradesh
- Almora, Uttarakhand
- Chitkul Village, Himachal Pradesh
- Diskit Town, Ladakh
1- Landour, Uttarakhand: The Writer of Kids tales Resides here.
The beautiful town of Landour is just a hilly ride away from Mussoorie, a popular tourist destination. Once you are in Dehradun you can visit nearby places like Rishikesh, Mussoorie, Sanji village, Landour, Dhanaulti, Auli and the list is never-ending, it all depends on the time and amount you have to yourself.
Here we will tell you why you should plan a trip to Landour. This tiny town has a vintage charm to it, there is something really calming about this town that can only be experienced by being there. It is where the famous writer Ruskin Bond resides. While you are around you can even meet him if you have some luck by your side.
During your trip to this enchanting village, you can visit Ivy Cottage. A few more places that you should go to while in Landour are Char Dukaan, Sister Bazaar, Landour Bakehouse, vintage churches, and Lal Tibba. This is where one can be at ease, you won’t feel lonely here because the nature and the surroundings will make you feel loved, warm, and welcomed. Landour offers adventure in the form of numerous treks that one can do while visiting the place.
Best time to visit: April to June is the most favorable time to visit Landour.
Where to stay:
- Red Leaf Hotel
- Hotel Cliffe Cottage
Some of the hotels to stay in Mussoorie:
- Jaypee Residency Manor (5- star hotels)
- Royal Orchid Fort Resort
- The Fern Brentwood Resort, Mussoorie (4 star hotels)
- Hotel Mosaic
- Country Inn and Suites by Radisson
- Sun N Snow Mussoorie (3 star hotels)
- Hotel SunGrace
- Hotel City Castle (Budget hotels)
- Hotel Oak Bush
- Yog Wellness By Amritara ( Resorts)
- Sterling Mussoorie
2- Mandawa, Rajasthan: The town of Grand Heritage Havelis
Mandawa is in Rajasthan, a place that has something that you won’t find elsewhere. This place was founded in the 18th century and the Rajasthani merchants resided here. This town comes straight out of a history book and provides the visitors with a glimpse of how people back then used to live their lives. Every nook and cranny of Mandawa is photogenic. Mandawa would be a delight for those who are history buffs, praisers of ancient architecture, and photography lovers.
Once here you must try the local Rajasthani Cuisine as it will awaken your taste buds. Roam around in the grand Havelis and imagine how the people back then lived here. If you are great at sketching and like sketching monuments then the Havelis here will make your hand itch till you end up sketching a few on the paper. Explore the local market if you wish to purchase traditional ornaments, fabrics, and other goods.
Places that you should not miss out on your trip to Mandawa are Gulab Rai Ladia Haveli, Harlalka Well, Hanuman Prasad Goenka Haveli, Murmuria Haveli, Mandawa Fort, Bansidhar Newatia Haveli, Chokhani Double Haveli, Open Air Art Gallery.
The famous tourist destination near Mandawa is Jaipur, so if you are visiting Jaipur and can spare a day then you should visit Mandawa. The distance from Jaipur to Mandawa is just 169 km. So you can book a hotel in either Mandawa or Jaipur. Places to visit in Mandawa can be covered in one day.
Best time to visit: The best time to explore Mandawa would be from October to March.
Where to stay:
Hotels in Mandawa:-
- Hotel Heritage Mandawa
- Castle Mandawa Hotel
- Blusalz Vintage Harlalka Haveli Mandawa
- Mandawa Kothi
Hotels in Jaipur:-
- Radisson Blu Jaipur (5 Star Hotels in Jaipur)
- Hotel Royal Orchid Jaipur
- Renest Jaipur- Souvenir Premier (4 Star Hotels)
- Lemon Tree Premier Jaipur
- Hotel SunCity Plaza (3 Star Hotels)
- Hotel Vrisa
- Hotel Holiday Home (Budget Hotels)
- Hotel Siddharsh Heritage
- Le Meridien Jaipur Resort and Spa (Resorts in Jaipur)
- The Heritage Village Resort
3- Nako, Spiti: The Charmer
If you are a traveler at heart you surely will figure out a way to go to Nako. Do you eat ice cream when stressed? If ice cream is what calms you then imagine how amazing would it feel to sit below a sky full of stars with some ice cream in your hand, surrounded by mountains and greenery, while you can hear the stream flowing nearby. To be honest, you won’t even need the ice cream anymore, the charming village will have a calming effect on you.
It is one of the most enticing villages in India situated near the Tibetan border. Here you can try your hand at ice skating during the winter season. From Nako you can even visit the Tashigang village. The Tashigang village is picturesque and leaves its imprint on your memory forever.
In Nako you will experience the life of a villager, you will get to see the houses made of stone and sheeps will be your street friend. Here you will get to live a life slightly similar to the ones your grandparents lived. If you have a free day up your sleeves you can even visit the UNESCO heritage site in Tabo. A vintage monastery that will make you want to stay a bit longer and try meditating.
Best time to visit:- The most pleasing time to visit Nako is from July to August.
Where to stay:
The stay options at Nako are quite limited. But some of them are:
- Hotel Reo Puruguii
- Norbuling Hotel
- Hotel Rikpa
- Hotel NotOnMap
- Lovon Hotel
- Himalayan Paradise Hotel
4- Ziro Village, Arunachal Pradesh: Where the Tribals reside.
This village is known to be one of the oldest areas in the state and is also a really enchanting village in India. Ziro is a village that is hidden in the hilly state of Arunachal Pradesh, this village is famous amongst youngsters and travelers because of the Ziro Music Festival that is held here annually. The village offers a lot to keep the visitors engaged. It is compulsory for one to own an Inner Line Permit before entering the village.
While visiting Ziro one will come across the tribe that resides there which is the Apatani tribe, you will be able to recognize them from afar as they are heavily tattooed. You must visit the wildlife sanctuary of Ziro named the Talley Valley Wildlife Sanctuary. Some more places you can visit while you are here are Kile Pakho, Train Fish Farm, Meghna Cave Temple, Shiv Linga, and Pine Grove. You can even take up the Dolo Mando trek, from the top of the hillock you will get a panoramic view of the old Ziro and the nearby town named Hapoli.
Best Time To Visit: The best time to visit Ziro Valley is from March to October.
Where To Stay:
During your visit to Ziro you can stay at:
- Ziro Palace Inn
- Enchanting Majuli Resort
- Kasa Resort
- Siiro Resort
- Ziro Valley Resort
- Suchusi Homestay
5- Almora, Uttarakhand: Feel the Love of Nature
Not many people must have heard of it. Almora is a stunning lush green village in India. It is situated in Uttarakhand. The place is very welcoming and positive, the location adds to the beauty of the town. The air is fresh and light, you might not understand what we are trying to say but once you reach Almora you will know.
The food here is tanalizing, even after consuming a meal you will want to have more. A trip to Almora can be a really quick and short one. One that will leave you feeling calm and rejuvenated.
Plan a trip to the village named Almora because here you will get to visit the temples with historical values. While in Almora you can visit Nanda Devi Temple, Chitai Golu Devta Temple, Bright End Corner, Martola, Simtola, and Kasar Devi Temple. Purchase some of the locally made items like handicrafts, jewelry, local textile, and much more.
Best time to visit: The best time to visit Almora is from September to November and from April to June.
Where to stay in Almora:
- Hotel Shivalik
- Essence of Nature
- Mountain Resort Khali Estate
- Kasar Rainbow Yoga Retreat
- Deodar Homestay
- Hotel Shikhar
- Hotel Milam Inn
6- Chitkul Village, Himachal Pradesh: A Cute Town
Chitkul is a village that has already attracted many tourists and travelers, it is a popular tourist destination in India. It is a serene as well as the scenic village that is also known as the last village of India. This hill station resides in the laps of the Himalayas. This beauty is located at an altitude of 11,319 ft and it can get slightly tricky for people to reach here. Chitkul is the definition of heaven on earth with the Kinner Kailash guarding its back and the Baspa river flowing freely in the foreground. Apple orchards are a sight to behold.
It is true that Chitkul does not have much to offer and it is just a tiny picturesque village. But this is its specialty if you look at it from a different lens. This is a perfect escape from your busy life, this is where you can spend time with yourself and clearer your mind, Chitkul is where you can get rid of all the stress. This is a destination that will help you enjoy your break from the rat race.
Once in Chitkul, you can go trekking, visit the Mathi Devi temple or take a walk along the Baspa River. A few things you should keep in mind while planning a trip to Chitkul are: if you enjoy trekking carry along with you comfortable trekking shoes and all the essentials that you use on a daily basis. Make sure that you have some packaged food with you at all times. The warm clothes should help you stay warm for real, make sure the warmers you carry are good quality.
You are visiting a hill station and will have to walk long distances so make sure that you do not carry heavy luggage and also avoid carrying bags with wheels. After reaching Chitkul give yourself some time to adjust to the surroundings and take some rest on the day you arrive.
Best time to visit: The best time to visit Chitkul is between April to August.
Where to stay in Chitkul:
- Abode the clouds
- Hotel Kalpa
- Eskape Camps
- Hotel Batseri Sangla
- Hotel Uttarayan
- The Monk- Kalpa
7- Diskit Town, Ladakh: A piece of art.
Love stargazing? Start packing your bags ASAP because this destination is for you. In Diskit the night sky sparkles brighter than all the diamonds combined. Diskit is a town situated in a remote area of one of the most popular tourist destinations in India. Once you have reached Ladakh it won’t be tricky to get to the Diskit Town. You can plan a road trip to Ladakh and then spare a day to explore the Diskit Town by road. Often people book hotels in Ladakh and then stop by this charming town to spend some time and see how locals spend their day.
Diskit is situated along the banks of river Shok and is surrounded by mountains which makes it look like a town that came straight out of a mesmerizing painting. This town is one of the most beautiful villages in India and is a work of art, it must not be missed while you are in Ladakh. People who come here often visit the 14th-century monastery, not many tourists know of it so this place is less crowded and radiates a calming and pleasant vibe. If you plan to travel further you can go to the Nubra Valley. Make sure that you visit this place when the Dosmoche festival takes place in the gompa.
Best time to visit Diskit: The best time to visit Diskit is from April to July.
Where to stay:
Places to stay in Leh-Ladakh:
- The Zen Ladakh (5 star hotels in Leh Ladakh)
- The Grand Dragon Ladakh
- Hotel Shangrila Ladakh (4 Star Hotels in Leh Ladakh)
- Ladakh Residency
- Hotel Grand Himalaya
- The Fortune Resorts (3 Star Hotels in Leh Ladakh)
- Ladakh Himalayan Retreat
- Hotel The White Yak
- Hotel Katpa Residency (Budget Hotels in Leh Ladakh)
- Oriental Hotel
- Hotel Grand Willow
Places to stay in Diskit:-
- Gomang Boutique Hotel
- TIH Chalet Seabuckthorn – Hunder
- Paramount Camp – Nubra
- Nubra Ecolodge
- Olgok Guest House
- Shangri La Camp
The beautiful villages of India mentioned above certainly mirror the magnificence of the country. We have shared as much information about the villages in India as we could but you must visit them to have an experience for yourself. They are unruffled by the modernity possessed by various cities around them. These villages give away a certain sense of ancestral charm that adds to their uniqueness.
A true traveler is one who takes the unexplored roads and comes across the gems that not many know about. So, now that we have given you enough reasons to explore the unexplored, which village do you plan to visit during your next trip?
Do let us know if you ever come across one such hidden gem, in the comment section below. Remember that we are here to assist you with hotel bookings. You must visit HotelDekho.com to avail some of the best deals and offers on hotel bookings.
