‘It happens only in India…’
We’ve often heard people rant that India is a land of mysteries and wondered where the notion came from. Well, we’ve finally got an answer for you! India truly has zillions of secrets buried deep in its most bizarre of places, that either leave people wide eyed with shock or freak them out when they learn about them.
1. The Tale of Twins at Kodinhi, Kerala
The extraordinary factor about this otherwise ordinary village in Malappuram, Kerala is the strikingly large number of twin births that it witnesses. Kodinhi, or the ‘Village of Twins’, as it is now called, holds an eminent place among the mysterious places in India. Once you set foot into this village, you’ll start seeing doubles of almost everyone. Kodinhi is currently home to over 200 pair of twins and two sets of triplets. And that’s not all. Kodinhi’s women who are married outside the village also end up having twins or triplets.
2. The Hanging Pillar at Lepakshi, Andhra Pradesh
An important archaeological and historical site in India, Lepakshi is known for its architecture and painting. This temple dedicated to Lord Shiva is among the most mysterious places in India, owing to its famous floating pillar. Among the 70 pillars at the site, one is hanging in mid-air, that is, it exists without a support. People come to the temple and pass objects under the pillar, believing it’ll bring prosperity into their lives.
3. The ‘Holy’ Rat Infested Karni Mata Temple at Deshnok, Rajasthan
The Karni Mata Temple is one of the most holy sanctums, but little do people know that it is also one of the most mysterious places in India. The temple is home to over 20,000 rats. Revolting as it may sound, one is not allowed to kill, hurt, or even scare them away. These rats, or ‘kabbas’, as they’re called there, are considered to be highly auspicious, are worshipped, and safeguarded, which is why they hold more value than the humans visiting the shrine.
4. Door-Deprived Houses of Shani Shignapur, Maharashtra
Shani Shignapur, a small village located 35 kms away from Ahmednagar, is famous for its Shani temple. But that’s not all that is famous about this village. None of the houses, schools, and even commercial buildings in this village have a door, or even a door frame. In addition to this, not a single crime has ever been reported here.
5. The Red Rain at Idukki, Kerala
Apart from a place with rich natural splendour of the Western Ghats, a vast forest reserve, & the tempting coastal curry, Idukki, or the ‘Red Region’, is also famous as one of the mysterious places in India. The red coloured rain at Idukki first fell on 25th July, 2001, and occurred sporadically for 2 months, staining clothes and buildings as it poured. This blood-red downpour, when collected by the locals, turned into clean water with red particles settled at the bottom.
6. The Immortal Flame of Jwala Ji Temple in Kangra, Himachal Pradesh
Jwala Ji temple is a holy shrine located in the lower Himalayas in Kangra district, typical of other Jwala Ji shrines in the country. Why then, is it listed among the mysterious places in India, is another matter altogether. The central pit of hollowed stone inside this shrine holds a flame that has been burning endlessly for over a 100 years.
7. The Shrine of the Bullet Baba in Bandai, Rajasthan
A man named Om Singh Rathore, or Om Banna, had died at this very spot in a tragic accident while riding back home on his bullet. What followed was a series of unusual happenings wherein the police would take away the bike, empty its fuel tank, and bind it in chains, but it would return to the same spot before day break…every single time. When the authorities finally gave up, the locals built a temple around this bike, which is now listed among the most mysterious places in India owing to the story behind it.
8. The Abandoned Village of Kuldhara, Rajasthan
About 2 centuries ago, over 1,500 Paliwal Brahmins fled the village, OVERNIGHT. Since then, no one has been able to live here and it is now one of the abandoned places in India. Those who try are chased away at night by ‘paranormal activities’. Tourists who visit Kuldhara encounter an uneasy feeling when they set foot inside the village.
9. The Floating Stones of Rameshwaram, Tamil Nadu
Rameshwaram in Tamil Nadu holds immense importance in the Hindu mythology, as it is the place where, according to Ramayana, Lord Rama’s Vanara Sena built a bridge of floating stones all the way to Sri Lanka. But there is something else about the bridge that makes this place one of the most mysterious places in India.
10. The Visa God of Chilkur, Hyderabad
Troubled by your endless attempts at getting a US visa? Not to worry. Get to the Balaji Temple in Chilkur, Hyderabad, and Lord Balaji will grant you one.
11. The Lake of Skeletons at Chamoli, Uttarakhand
Roopkund Lake is a glacier lake located at an elevation of 16,500 feet in the most God forsaken place in the Himalayas. But it’s remote and dangerous location has got nothing to do with the gloom and despair associated with this lake. It’s what lies beneath it that scares the shit out of most people.
12. The Magnetic Hill of Leh, Ladakh
The enchanting hills of Ladakh have more than mere beauty to offer. The Magnetic Hill, located at an altitude of 11,000 feet above sea level is one of the most unusual places to visit in India. Cars driving up the hill get pulled up of their own accord. That is, one can drive up here with the ignition of their vehicles turned off.
13. The Gravity Defying Palace at Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh
A stunning creation of the 18th century, Bara Imambara, with a blend of Arabic and European architecture is among the most mysterious historical places in India.
14. The E.T. Inhabited Kongka La Pass at Ladakh
At an elevation of 16,970 feet, the Kongka La Pass is one of the least accessed place in India, owing to the fact that is a disputed territory between India and China. But that’s not what makes it one of the most mysterious places in India.
15. The Place of Suicidal Birds in Jatinga, Assam
An otherwise quaint and picturesque little village in Assam, Jatinga experiences a bizarre, yet sad phenomenon every monsoon. During dark and foggy nights in monsoons, migratory birds flying over the village, dive headlong into trees, buildings, poles, and what nots, crashing to death. Jatinga is one of those strange places to visit in India that turns into a land of mass bird suicide every year during September & October.