103 hidden gems of India
Lesser-known places that reward the extra effort: canyons, river islands, carved hillsides and villages off the usual circuit.
Hidden gemGandikota
A medieval fort perched on the rim of a deep Pennar river gorge, often called the Grand Canyon of India. Camp on the edge for sunrise.
Hidden gemLepakshi
The 16th-century Veerabhadra temple is known for its painted ceilings, a giant monolithic Nandi and the famous hanging pillar.
Hidden gemAmaravati Stupa
Remains of a great Buddhist stupa beside the Krishna, with a fine site museum of carved limestone panels.
Hidden gemZiro Valley
Pine-ringed rice fields of the Apatani people and the home of the Ziro music festival each September.
Hidden gemDirang
A quiet valley stopover with hot springs, apple orchards and an old stone dzong village.
Hidden gemNamdapha National Park
Remote rainforest on the Myanmar border, one of the few parks with four big cats. Treks need a guide and permits.
Hidden gemMechuka
A remote, wide valley of Memba villages and a 400-year-old gompa, close to the Tibet border.
Hidden gemPasighat
The oldest town in Arunachal, where the Siang river leaves the hills. Great for river rafting and Adi villages.
Hidden gemMajuli
One of the largest river islands in the world, home to centuries-old Vaishnavite satras, mask-making and slow village life.
Hidden gemManas National Park
A UNESCO-listed tiger reserve in the Himalayan foothills, quieter than Kaziranga and rich in birdlife.
Hidden gemSivasagar
The old Ahom capital with Rang Ghar, Talatal Ghar and huge temple tanks from the 18th century.
Hidden gemHaflong
Assam's only hill station, with a lake, green ridges and the famous mountain railway through Dima Hasao.
Hidden gemDibru-Saikhowa National Park
Riverine islands and grasslands known for feral horses, river dolphins and hundreds of bird species.
.jpg/500px-N-BR-69_Raja_Vishal_Garh_(5).jpg)
Hidden gemVaishali
An early republic where the Buddha preached his last sermon, with an Ashokan pillar still standing.
Hidden gemVikramshila
Ruins of a great Pala-era Buddhist university with a large cruciform stupa near Bhagalpur.
Hidden gemValmiki National Park
Bihar's only tiger reserve, a sal forest on the Nepal border with jeep safaris and river stays.
Hidden gemChitrakote Falls
A horseshoe-shaped waterfall on the Indravati river, often called the Niagara of India. At its widest during the monsoon.
Hidden gemTirathgarh Falls
Tiered falls inside Kanger Valley National Park, close to limestone caves.
Hidden gemSirpur
Ancient Buddhist, Jain and Hindu ruins, including the brick Laxman Temple from the 7th century.
Hidden gemKanger Valley National Park
Limestone caves like Kotumsar, waterfalls and forest trails near Jagdalpur.
Hidden gemMainpat
A cool plateau called the Shimla of Chhattisgarh, home to a Tibetan settlement and monasteries.
Hidden gemFontainhas
Panaji's Latin quarter of colourful houses, tiled balconies and small cafes.
Hidden gemBhagwan Mahaveer Sanctuary
Western Ghats forest on the Karnataka border, with Tambdi Surla temple and the trail to Dudhsagar.
Hidden gemCabo de Rama
A cliff-top fort above the Arabian Sea in South Goa, with a small chapel and empty coves below.
.jpg/500px-Temple_Tank_(Divar_Island).jpg)
Hidden gemDivar Island
A quiet island of paddy fields and Portuguese houses, reached by a free ferry from Old Goa.
Hidden gemModhera Sun Temple
An 11th-century Solanki temple with a magnificent stepped tank.
.jpg/500px-DHOLAVIRA_SITE_(24).jpg)
Hidden gemDholavira
Remains of a planned Harappan city on Khadir island, inscribed as a UNESCO site in 2021.
.jpg/500px-Jain_Temple,_Pavagadh_(cropped).jpg)
Hidden gemChampaner-Pavagadh
A UNESCO site of Sultanate mosques at the foot of Pavagadh hill, crowned by the Kalika Mata temple.
Hidden gemPolo Forest
Old Jain and Shiva temples hidden in deciduous forest on the Harnav river, beautiful in the monsoon.
Hidden gemSultanpur National Park
A small wetland near Gurugram that draws flamingos, pelicans and other migrants in winter.
Hidden gemGurugram heritage and Sohna
Hot springs, the Damdama lake and the Aravalli hills just south of Gurugram.
Hidden gemPanipat
The famous battlefield town with the Panipat Museum, Kabuli Bagh mosque and Ibrahim Lodi's tomb.
Hidden gemRakhigarhi
One of the largest Harappan sites ever found, with mounds still being excavated in a working village.
.jpg/500px-Kalpa_(8512894537).jpg)
Hidden gemKinnaur and Kalpa
Apple orchards and wooden temples facing the Kinner Kailash range on the old Hindustan-Tibet road.
Hidden gemChitkul
The last inhabited village on the India-Tibet road, in the Baspa valley at 3,450 m.
Hidden gemNetarhat
A pine-covered plateau town known as the Queen of Chotanagpur for its sunrises and sunsets.
Hidden gemBetla National Park
Part of the Palamau Tiger Reserve, with elephants, bison and two old forts inside the forest.
Hidden gemDalma Wildlife Sanctuary
Forested hills above Jamshedpur known for wild elephants and sunrise views.
Hidden gemPatratu Valley
A hairpin-bend ghat road above a big reservoir, the most photographed drive in Jharkhand.
Hidden gemBadami
Sandstone cave temples of the Chalukyas, close to Aihole and Pattadakal.
Hidden gemBekal Fort
A huge keyhole-shaped sea fort in north Kerala with a long, quiet beach.
Hidden gemVagamon
Rolling meadows, pine forest and paragliding in the Idukki hills.
Hidden gemOrchha
Riverside palaces, cenotaphs and the soaring Chaturbhuj Temple of the Bundela kings.
Hidden gemKaas Plateau
A UNESCO-listed plateau that bursts into wildflowers from late August to early October.
Hidden gemTarkarli and the Konkan coast
Clear water for snorkelling, Sindhudurg sea fort and Malvani seafood.
Hidden gemShirui Hills
Hills in Ukhrul home to the rare Shirui lily, which blooms only here in May and June.
.jpeg/500px-INA_Memorial,_Moirang,_Manipur_(12).jpeg)
Hidden gemMoirang and INA Memorial
Where the Indian National Army first raised the Indian flag in 1944, beside Loktak Lake.
Hidden gemMawlynnong
A spotless village with bamboo skywalks and a living root bridge nearby.
Hidden gemMawphlang Sacred Forest
A centuries-old sacred grove protected by Khasi tradition, where not even a leaf may be taken out.
Hidden gemMawsynram and Mawjymbuin Cave
One of the wettest places on earth, with a natural stalagmite cave shaped like a Shiva linga.
Hidden gemNartiang Monoliths
A forest garden of hundreds of standing stones, among the tallest megaliths in the world, raised by the Jaintia kings.
Hidden gemVantawng Falls
The highest waterfall in Mizoram, set in thick bamboo forest near Thenzawl.
Hidden gemPhawngpui (Blue Mountain)
The state's highest peak, a national park with rhododendrons and rare birds.
Hidden gemReiek
A ridge near Aizawl with a heritage village of traditional Mizo houses and views into Bangladesh.
Hidden gemChamphai
The rice bowl of Mizoram on the Myanmar border, with Rih Dil lake and old memorial stones.
Hidden gemDampa Tiger Reserve
Mizoram's largest sanctuary, with hoolock gibbons, clouded leopards and rich birdlife.
Hidden gemTam Dil Lake
A peaceful lake ringed by pine forest, a good day trip from Aizawl.
.jpg/500px-Breathtaking_beauty_of_Dzukou_Valley_in_Manipur-Nagaland_border_(edit).jpg)
Hidden gemDzukou Valley
Rolling green hills on the Nagaland-Manipur border, famous for seasonal lilies. A popular overnight trek.
.jpg/500px-View_of_Khonoma_(2024).jpg)
Hidden gemKhonoma
A green Angami village known for its conservation efforts and terraced fields.
Hidden gemMokokchung
The cultural heart of the Ao Nagas, with hilltop villages like Ungma and the Moatsu festival in May.
Hidden gemJapfu Peak
Nagaland's second-highest peak above Kohima, known for one of the tallest rhododendron trees.
Hidden gemLongwa
A Konyak village where the chief's house sits on the India-Myanmar border.
Hidden gemBhitarkanika
Mangrove creeks with large saltwater crocodiles, best explored by boat.
Hidden gemDaringbadi
Pine forests and coffee gardens called the Kashmir of Odisha, where winters can touch freezing.
Hidden gemGopalpur-on-Sea
A quiet old port town with a lighthouse and a wide, empty beach.
Hidden gemRatnagiri, Udayagiri and Lalitgiri
The Diamond Triangle of Buddhist monasteries and stupas in the Assia hills.
Hidden gemKapurthala
The Paris of Punjab, with the French-style Jagatjit Palace and a Moorish mosque.
Hidden gemHarike Wetland
Where the Beas and Sutlej meet, a winter home for huge flocks of migratory birds.
Hidden gemBundi
A small town of stepwells, blue houses and painted palace walls, still free of crowds.
Hidden gemShekhawati
An open-air gallery of painted havelis in towns like Mandawa and Nawalgarh.
Hidden gemZuluk and the Silk Route
Zigzag roads of the old Silk Route with sunrise over Kanchenjunga at Thambi viewpoint.
Hidden gemChettinad
Grand merchant mansions, Athangudi tiles and one of India's most celebrated cuisines.
.jpg/500px-Ramappa_Temple_(Human_Scale).jpg)
Hidden gemRamappa Temple
A 13th-century Kakatiya temple built with floating bricks, a UNESCO site since 2021.
Hidden gemNagarjuna Sagar
A giant masonry dam and an island museum of Buddhist relics from Nagarjunakonda.
Hidden gemKuntala Falls
Telangana's highest waterfall in the Sahyadri forest of Adilabad.
Hidden gemUnakoti
Giant rock-cut Shaiva images carved into a forested hillside.
Hidden gemJampui Hills
Mizo villages, orange orchards and sunrise views, with an orange festival in November.
Hidden gemSepahijala Wildlife Sanctuary
Known for the spectacled langur, a lake for boating and lots of birds.
Hidden gemDumboor Lake
A drum-shaped lake with 48 small islands, near the source of the Gomati river.
Hidden gemDudhwa National Park
Terai grasslands near the Nepal border, with tigers, rhinos and swamp deer.
Hidden gemJhansi
Rani Lakshmibai's fort town, a short hop from Orchha and Datia.
Hidden gemChitrakoot
Ghats on the Mandakini where Rama spent years of exile, with caves and waterfalls nearby.
Hidden gemChopta
Meadows that lead to Tungnath, the highest Shiva temple, and Chandrashila peak.
.jpg/500px-Munsiari_IMG_20160617_132452119_(32987221606).jpg)
Hidden gemMunsiyari
A Kumaon village facing the five Panchachuli peaks, the base for Milam glacier treks.
Hidden gemHar Ki Dun
A cradle-shaped valley trek past ancient wooden villages in Govind Pashu Vihar.
Hidden gemBishnupur
Terracotta temples of the Malla kings and Baluchari sarees.
Hidden gemSantiniketan
Tagore's university town, a UNESCO site since 2023, with the Saturday Sonajhuri haat.
Hidden gemPurulia
Ayodhya Hills, red soil, spring palash forests and the Chhau masked dance.
Hidden gemShaheed Dweep (Neil Island)
A small, slow island of coral beaches, natural rock bridges and cycling.
.jpg/500px-Limestone_Cave_Baratang_Andaman_vrvbaan042k24_(23).jpg)
Hidden gemBaratang
Limestone caves, mangrove creeks and the only mud volcanoes in India.
Hidden gemMount Harriet
A forested hill above Port Blair with a trek to Madhuban and views over the islands.
Hidden gemDiglipur
Ross and Smith twin islands joined by a sandbar, and Saddle Peak, the highest point in the islands.
.jpg/500px-Diu,Gujarat,India_(37).jpg)
Hidden gemDiu Fort
A 16th-century Portuguese sea fort with a lighthouse and views over the Arabian Sea.
.jpg/500px-Monuments_of_Diu_(City).jpg)
Hidden gemNaida Caves
A maze of rock caves with tree roots and sunlit openings, near Diu town.
Hidden gemHauz Khas and Mehrauli
Medieval ruins, a lake and village cafés, with step-wells and tombs in Mehrauli.
Hidden gemGurez Valley
A remote valley along the Kishanganga with wooden villages and Habba Khatoon peak.
Hidden gemDoodhpathri
Meadows of milky streams near Srinagar, far quieter than Gulmarg.
Hidden gemYusmarg
A pine meadow in the Pir Panjal, good for pony rides and treks to Nilnag lake.
.jpg/500px-Tso_Moriri,_Ladakh_(34855616204).jpg)
Hidden gemTso Moriri
A quieter high-altitude lake in Changthang, home to nomadic herders.
Hidden gemTurtuk
A Balti village of apricot orchards near the Line of Control, opened to tourists in 2010.
Hidden gemBangaram
A tear-shaped atoll ringed by white sand and coral.
.jpg/500px-Usteri_Lake,_Pondicherry,_India_(21013490160).jpg)
Hidden gemOusteri Lake
A large wetland on the edge of town, great for winter birdwatching and quiet boating.
Hidden gemArikamedu
Remains of an ancient Indo-Roman trading port on the Ariyankuppam river, 2,000 years old.
Suggest a hidden gem
Send us the name, state, a few lines on why it is special and your best photos. Approved places are added with credit to you.