Places You Need To Check Out

India is a land with a great tourism potential. It is a land with dazzling beaches, dramatic temples, exotic rain forests, picturesque hill stations, the serene backwaters, colossal mountains, eternal deserts, lively cities, and the Indian peninsula, which creates an ultimate allure for the tourists across the globe. Here are the five most surreal places, which deserves to get more attention, as compared to cities and towns that are already attracting tourism in various things. Go and undertake exciting trips in these named places, which will make your travelling experience a memorable and a gorgeous one:-

Kumbhalgarh – Located in the hilly ranges of Aravalli, in south-central Rajasthan, this small sleepy town is around 86km from Udaipur. Kumbhalgarh is the birthplace of Maharana Pratap Singh, the ruler of Mewar in the 15^th Century. He constructed the mammoth Kumbhalgarh Fort, which is also sometimes called 'The Great Wall of India.' The walls of the Kumbhalgarh Fort extend over 38 km, which is claimed to be the second-longest continuous wall, after the Great Wall of China. The walls are 15 feet thick. The fort has seven fortified gateways. There are over 360 temples within the fort and it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.Every evenings, there is a sound and light show. The Kumbhalgarh Wildlife Sanctuary surrounds the Kumbhalgarh Fort and spans an area of 586 square km. There are plenty of fauna and fauna.

Daman and Diu - This union territory is the second smallest in India, in terms of area. The coastal exclaves of Daman and Diu faces the sky blue Arabian Sea to the west. The towns of Daman and Diu are approximately 500km away from each other. There are a plethora of beaches, strewn along the coast. However, there are certain tourist attractions, that will leave you awestruck and amazed, The St's Paul Church, is an attraction located in Diu. Constructed in 1607 and named after St. Paul, the Apostle of Jesus, it is the most renowned, surviving and functioning church, built by the Portuguese in Diu. It a serene place for all, especially hearing those anglican prayers and Christmas carols. The Diu Fort was built by the Portuguese for protecting the town from external attacks, as it overlooks the Gulf of Cambay. It is also a picnic spot for tourists watching the sea view or the sunrise/sunset. It consists of an archive room containing the ancient weapons and lighthouse.The Fortim-Do-Mar and the Zampa Gateway are the other major attractions.

Chembra Peak - Located in the Wayanad hill ranges of the Western Ghats, Chembra Peak is the highest in Kerala and overall the 10^th highest peak in the Western Ghats. Standing at an elevation of 2100m, it is adjacent to the Nilgiri Hills, in nearby Tamil Nadu. One of the tourist attractions on the top of the hill is a heart shaped lake. The lake is believed to have never dried up.To reach the top of the peak, one has to climb up to the topmost part of the hill in order to see the entire view of the lake, which is obstructed with dense trees, at ground level. The trekking exercise, requires a lot of attention and care as it is a bit steep and slippery. After you climb up, rest for a while, have some light snacks and enjoy the cool breeze gushing against you. One should atleast wear proper footwear, having a good grip. The entire trekking takes almost three hours.

Belur-Halebidu – Located in Hassan district of Karnataka and about 188km from the state capital, Bangalore, these twin cities are popularly known as the ‘Cities of Temples.’ The distance between the two cities is just 16km. Originally, called Dorasamudra, it got the name "Halebidu" because it was ransacked twice by Malik Kafur, Ala-ud-din Khilji’s general, which left these temples in a state of disarray.

Belur is well renowned for the Chennakeshava Temple. Belur-Halebidu was the seat of various medieval empires like Hoysalas, Vijayanagar, Chalukyas and so on. Their architectural styles reflects on that. Inside it, there is a old puja room, where you can see the statue of Lord Vishnu. There is ample space to go on a round with the statue. The temple is not in a good shape due to wear and tear, but still, you could spend hours studying the minute carvings on the exterior.

In Halebidu, there are two temples which has been constructed multiple times by the ruling Hoysalas and the Chalukyas at that time. The Hoysaleswara and Kedareswara temples are the best examples of having multiple architectural styles. It has wall engravings related to Hindu mythology. Lastly, the temple premises is protected by the statue of Nandi the bull, on a raised platform, while entering the complex. So, if you really love history and want to explore such monuments and temples, then these places are worth it and suited for you exclusively.

Agartala – This city is the charm of the entire North-East India. The second most popular city after Guwahati in Assam, the state capital boasts of various places of interests, ranging from palaces to hills. The best time to visit Agartala is during the monsoon and the cool seasons, for enjoying a relaxed and refreshing trip. The city is only 2km away from the Bangladesh border.

The Ujjayanta Palace is the most visited place both in all over Tripura and North-East India. The palace view from the front is excellent. The garden in front gives it an aesthetic look. It is illuminated beautifully in the evening hours, which makes the adjacent Bir Bikram Lake, even more gorgeous. Now, a museum, this palace boasts of the local history of the state and other important information of the royal family.

The Neermahal Palace or the Palace of Lake was constructed in 1930 with a blend of Indo-Islamic and British architecture. This palace is situated in the middle of Rudrasagar Lake, a huge artificial lake. Situated at a distance of 65km from the city centre, this place is beautiful location for holidaying. The lake water usually recedes during the dry season. So it is better to visit the place during the onset of the monsoon, when the lake is full and is ideal for boating. A ring road is being laid around the periphery of the lake, to make it more attractive to visitors. Many Bengali, fast food and North Indian restaurants are located in the vicinity, thereby providing you with valuable dining options. It also attracts migratory birds to quench on the rejuvenated water of the lake, thus making it an extremely beautiful sight.

This article is authored by Prateek Chakraborty, presently interning with DQ Channels.