Want to feel like you’re in another country without breaking the bank? These 7 Indian places carry the vibe of France, Switzerland, or Maldives—without ever leaving the country. Let’s go!
Here are 7 Places in India That Feel Like Abroad:
1. Pondicherry – Feels like: France
Pondicherry (currently Puducherry) is a region within the coast of India, a union territory of the south east region. It is approximately 150 km away from Chennai and it is located in Tamil Nadu region. Pondicherry is a beach-town with the lovely blend of the French colonial structure and local Tamil culture.
Pastel houses, sea-side cafes and exotic villas concentrate on the streets of this town. Sounds wonderful, already, does it not? French architecture has been particularly preserved in the French Quarter (White Town) – famous for its cobbled streets, colonial buildings and the French cafes. Among other renowned sites, there is Auroville, Rock Beach, Serenity Beach, Sri Aurobindo Ashram, and the Goubert Market should be visited as it is the most important place to see the fresh produce, food, and flowers.
Pondicherry has an abundance of stay facilities such as heritage hotels, eco-stays, and beach cottages.
2. Auli – Feels like: Mini Switzerland
Auli- Auli is a beautiful hill station planted in Uttarakhand in the Garhwal range of the Himalayas in the Chamoli district. It is rather silent and snowy in the winter and becomes a summer meadow, just in Switzerland! Auli is a clean and calm place ideal to people who are fond of skiing, mountaineering and nature retreat.
Some of the tourist attractions are Auli Ropeway-one of the longest cable cars in Asia; Gurso Bugyal-a beautiful meadow that offers great views of the Himalayas; ski slopes-considered the best in India to ski and snowboard. You may also make hikes to Valley of Flowers and Hemkunt Sahib with tranquil views.
Auli offers resorts, mountain lodges and budget friendly home stays.
3. Allepey – Feels like: Venice
Allepey is on the South west coast of Kerala on the Vembanad Lake. As serene as it may sound, the location has a relaxing atmosphere amidst slow-paced canals and lushly foliaged ambience, reason enough to entitle the nickname of the Venice of the East.
A traditional cruise on the back water of Vembanad Lake is something you should not miss. A lake activity will be a perfect one of catching the glimpse of the village life of Allepey as well as paddy fields and coconut groves as you take a boat ride in the lake. Other destinations which remind of Venice, are Allepey Beach, Marari beach, Pathiramanal Island and Mullakkal Street & Market.
You have the choice of high-end floating villas, comfortable canal-side cottages or even the cheap family-operated guesthouses.
4. Lakshadweep – Feels like: Maldives
Lakshadweep is a chain of 36 islands in the Arabian sea 440km south west of the Indian Coast. The Union Territory is the smallest in India. Lakshadweep is a tropical island with blue waters, coconut palm-dotted beaches, and white sand which has not been developed. The nature of Lakshadweep is more of Maldives than Indian continent. Tourism is narrow and environmental protection is highly enforced, which makes the islands calm, free of people, and clean, perfect for travellers who want nothing but nature, diving excitement and island retreat.
Accommodations are in the form of beach resorts, cottages and Eco-resorts.
5. Rann of Kutch – Feels like: Bolivia
One of the largest salt deserts of the world, Rann of Kutch is found in the Kutch district of Gujarat. It is unending, — a vast white plane that is more snow than sand. The uniqueness about this desert is that during full moon nights, the reflection of the salt is seen and it even looks like it is glowing very brightly thus making the entire desert appear to be lit. It is even equated to the Bolivia Salar de Uyuni.
It is a peaceful and spacious lazily camel parade, and local people in their colorful turbans, and mud huts decorated by mirror work could shine in the sun. The best known period to visit is the Rann Utsav (November to February) period where the desert is awash with folk music, arts, dancing and food.
For accommodations, Kutch offers traditional homestays to tented camps, and desert resorts.
6. Coorg – Feels like: Scotland
Coorg is the Scotland of India which is situated in the Kodagu district of Karnataka in the Western ghats with the cool climate, the misty mountain and the continuous greyness. It is extremely calm, misty, and earthy. With reputed coffee plantations, dense forests, hilly roads, fresh air Coorg is an appropriate destination, which should be slip paced and attached with nature.
The sightseeing can be Abbey Falls- as it flows through the coffee plantations; Raja seat- to watch the sunset and the valley; Dubare Elephant camp- where you can feed and wash the elephants; Mandalpatti- it is a hilltop, which you can reach by jeep; Bylakuppe Monastery and Golden Temple- to learn some more about the Tibetan culture.
Coorg offers diverse forms of accommodations which include guest houses, plantation home stays, cottages and luxury resorts.
7. Khajjiar – Feels like: Again Switzerland!
Khajjiar – a beautiful hill station, is in chamba district of himachal pradesh. Due to its scenic beauty and the cool weather people very frequently refer to this hill station as Switzerland and some also call it the Mini Switzerland of India. It has broad grassy areas, a little lake at the centre and in the winter everything is covered with snow. It is so quiet, so open and so beautiful.
Attractive visit sites in Khajjiar such as Khajjiar Meadow which is the main site of attraction is an ideal place to walk around, ride horses and have picnics. It is encompassed by nature where beautiful mountains make it look all the more unreal in winter when there is snow on the surface. Close by is also the Khajji Nag Temple, an old wooden shrine, a combination of Hindu- Mughal architecture.
The other popular places of interest include Kalatop Wildlife Sanctuary and Dalhousie, a colonial hill town with shopping, cafes and viewing points.
Khajjiar also has many accommodation facilities that comprise budget hotels, guest houses and luxury resorts.
Your next foreign — sorry, Indian trip is all set!
