12 Unusual and Mysterious Must-Visit Places in India in 2023

India is a land of wonders. With architecture that defies the laws of physics and breathtaking natural phenomena, India is visited by people from all over the world. However, there are few places in India that make the list of unusual must-visit places.

These places range from completely beautiful and majestic to creepy and horrifying. However, every travel enthusiast needs to visit these places once in their life.

Jal Mahal: The Floating Palace in Jaipur, Rajasthan

Right in the middle of Man Sagar Lake, this mysterious Jaipur palace was abandoned years ago. This palace has five floors, of which four are submerged in the lake. The palace can be visited via boat. The entry is restricted to all visitors, but they can enjoy a beautiful boating experience in the majestic Man Sagar Lake.

The timing is 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Karni Mata Temple: Rat Temple in Deshnoke, Rajasthan

Are you afraid of rats? Then this place is not for you. Were you a fan of Stuart Little as a child? Then, for you, this temple is a must-visit, unusual place in India. The Karni Mata Temple is filled with more than 20,000 rats. You can see them running from here to there or lapping at the bowls full of milk kept just for them. The devotees believe that these rats are an incarnation of Goddess Karni Mata. Be careful, though, because if you step on a rat accidentally and hurt it, you will have to offer a silver or gold statue of a rat to the temple.

Bullet Baba Shrine on NH 62, Jodhpur-Pali Expressway, Rajasthan

Rajasthan is a state full of wonders and mysteries. This shrine is built for Om Singh Rathore, a young fellow who met with a drunken driving accident and died on the spot. His bike was taken away by the police, but the next day it was discovered at the site of the accident. This happened several times, with the police even locking and chaining up the bike. Now, this bike has been permanently moved to the location, and a shrine has been built around it. Locals believe that anyone who does not stop and offer prayers to the bike god while traveling gets into an accident. The devotees offer flowers and liquor to the bike too.

Floating Stones at Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu

The holy epic Ramayana talks about a bridge built by the army of Lord Rama, connecting India and Sri Lanka. This bridge was called Ram-Setu. These floating stones are said to be proof of the legend. There are several places in Rameswaram that are full of floating stones. These are situated somewhere between Pamban Island and Tamil Nadu and range up to 48 kilometers. It is a spiritual as well as a mind-boggling place in India.

Magnetic Hill, Leh, Ladakh

Lying at a distance of 30 km from Leh, there is a signboard that reads, “The phenomenon that defies gravity." These are the only magnetic hills in India. The notice board spells out all the instructions clearly, which shall be followed to the T. Located above 11,000 feet above sea level, these hills have magnetic powers that start pulling the vehicle towards them, even if the ignition is off. According to science, this is due to an optical illusion created by gravity, but it is a thrilling experience nonetheless.

The Snake Village in Shetpal, Maharashtra

Snake worship is an ancient practice in India due to the reptile’s connection with Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva. However, there is a town in Maharashtra that follows this practice with even more zeal. It is customary in every household in the town to have a resting place for cobras in the rafters of their ceilings. The snakes are pretty friendly, and not one instance of a snake bite has been reported in this town.

The Aleya Ghost Lights in West Bengal

West Bengal is full of various must-visit tourist places. However, these Aleya ghost lights are what make it a spooky place to visit in India. There have been sightings of unnatural glowing lights of different colors hovering over the Bengal swamps. These ghost lights have been the cause of the deaths of many fishermen, as they lost their way after following them. These marshes are one of the most mysterious places in India. These lights are due to the ionization of methane over the marshes, according to science, but these Aleya lights are a great experience.

Mass Bird Suicide at Jatinga, Assam

This village is famous for its unexplained phenomenon of bird suicides. Most of the birds that migrate to this town drop dead on the streets for no reason. Even more scary, the birds kill themselves between 6:00 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. on the moonless nights of September and October. Moreover, these mass suicides occur on a specific 1-mile by a 600-foot strip of land. This phenomenon has occurred every year for centuries. Scientists say that the dense monsoon fog and high altitude make the birds feel dizzy, and they hit trees and buildings, thus plummeting to their deaths. Nonetheless, this is one of the strangest places in India.

Land of the Crater, Lonar, Maharashtra

The only hyper-velocity impact crater in basaltic rock in the world, the Lonar Crater Lake, bears alkaline and saline waters. It is famous for its 50,000-year-old crater, which formed due to a meteorite collision on the surface. The source of this lake remains unknown. The best time to visit is from October to March.

Roopkund Lake, Chamoli, Uttarakhand

Located 5,029 meters above sea level on a steep slope on Trisul, in Uttarakhand, this lake is known as the "skeleton lake of India”. It is a chilling experience to visit the lake (pun intended). In 1942, HK Madwal, an Indian forest official, found hundreds of human skeletons piled in and around Roopkund Lake. He reported the finding of a mysterious lake where 300–800 people met their tragic end, and the Himalayas continued to preserve the human remains. The best time to trek to Roopkund Lake is in the autumn, from September to October.

Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary in Goa

This unexplained, mysterious place in Goa glows in the dark. On the forest trails, you can find glowing mushrooms that grow on decaying logs, twigs, and stumps. The sanctuary remains open in monsoon months. There are various other places that glow in the dark in India, some of them being Ahupe Village in Maharashtra, Juhu Beach in Maharashtra, Purushwadi Forest in Maharashtra, Mattu Beach in Karnataka, and West Jaintia Hills in Meghalaya.

Double Decker Living Root Bridge, Cherrapunjee, Meghalaya

Located in Tryna village, this Indian rubber tree is the biggest attraction in Meghalaya. The Umshiang River flows beneath the bridge.

So here we have compiled some of our favorite unusual places to visit in India. There are many more such spooky, unexplained, and mysterious places in India that are a must-visit. Let us know in the comment section which places we missed.

Image Source: Internet