8 unusual tourist spots in India that feel totally unreal

India is a land famous for its beautiful monuments, wide variety of flora and fauna, its beaches and spiritual wonders. Surprisingly, there is a crazy side to India, not much known of. India is known for its superstitious culture, and even today, there are certain locations that are unexplored and steeped in superstition, making them must-visit destinations.

Let’s go down the unexplored lane –

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This rat temple is located in Bikaner of Rajasthan, dedicated to Karni Mata, who the locals believe is an incarnation of Goddess Durga. The construction of the Karni Mata Temple was concluded in the early 20th century by Maharaja Ganga Singh of Bikaner. Home to more than 25,000 rats that roam around the temple area, devotees often consume food nibbled on by rats, as it is considered a sacred practice here. They also offer sweets, milk, and other things to rats as they are considered sacred beings. It is considered that specially the white rats are incarnations of Karni Mata’s sons. If you hurt a rat by mistake here, then you’ll have to replace the dead rat with one made of gold as penance, as it is considered a sin here.

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On NH62, connecting Jodhpur and Ahmedabad, 53 km before the town of Pali, resides this shrine, also known as Om Banna Shrine.

Here, you will find a Royal Enfield Bullet 350 cc which is worshipped by people, as it is considered that the bike miraculously returned to the spot where its rider died, named ‘Om Singh Rathore,’ even though it was in police confiscation. This temple is visited by riders and people from different parts of the world to bow down for their safety and happiness. It is considerably said that there is also a tree near the shrine, around which people tie a red thread, symbolising their faith in Bullet Baba.

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This palace was built by Maharaja Madho Singh in the 18th century and was restored in the early 2000s. It is considered that this palace was actually supposed to be a hunting lodge for the king and his army during duck hunting trips. This palace is in the middle of Man Sagar Lake in Jaipur city. It is designed in a Rajput manner with pink sandstone in a symmetrical style. A lot of thought has been put into building this palace. It appears to be of one floor to us, but it actually has 4 floors that are submerged into the water, and the walls of this palace have been holding back water for more than 250 years. It is one of the most photographed spots of Jaipur, as the blue of the lake and the pink sandstone create a magical contrast.

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This place was established in 1992 by the social reformer Dr Bindeshwar Pathak. He is also the founder of the Sulabh Sanitation Movement. This unique museum provides you a glimpse of the history of sanitation. It has a collection of pictures and objects from 2500 BC to the present day. This museum educates visitors on sanitation practices, on water sustainability leading to a better future. This toilet museum features ancient Harappan drains, royal Victorian seats, bidets, solar toilets, and even a “throne” toilet for Louis XIV.
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Located along the Leh–Kargil–Baltic National Highway amid the stark beauty of the Himalayas, Magnetic Hill is famed for its mysterious magnetic properties. It’s said to defy gravity—at a specific spot, if you leave your vehicle in neutral, it appears to roll uphill on its own. While this phenomenon is actually an optical illusion created by the layout of the surrounding land, the hill continues to spark fascination and folklore. Many locals believe the site holds spiritual significance, where the laws of physics seem to act a bit weird.

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This wonder is a blend of natural beauty and human innovation. Over 180 years ago, the elders of the Khasi clan set out on an extraordinary mission to build bridges by placing rubber tree roots into the hollow canes of Areca Nut Palms until they intertwined across streams and became strong enough to bear humanity's weight. This bridge was made to be double-decker because the river rises high one season and covers the original bridge. This bridge is made only of living roots, depicting how nature can be altered without impacting it harmfully. It is a perfect location for someone seeking tranquility.

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There is a mysterious 250-ton rock boulder, also known as Krishna’s Butterball, in Mahabalipuram, that strangely defies gravity. This rock stands on a slippery slope of a hill. No one knows whether it’s god’s play or gravity that holds the heavy rock against slipping down.
This rock is truly captivating, it has withstood the force of cyclones, tsunamis, and earthquakes, and even defied an attempt by Madras Governor Arthur Lawley to dislodge it using seven elephants.

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This lake is located on the bottom of a steep slope on Trisul, one of India's highest mountains, in the state of Uttarakhand. In 1942, a forest ranger had seen the lake of skeletons, where the remains were scattered around. The lake remains frozen most of the year and melts when the season changes, and that is when the skeletons become visible. It is considered that the skeletons of around 600-800 people have been found here. There are a lot of theories about this lake, one theory suggests that Indian soldiers who were trying to invade Tibet died here, while another theory suggests that this could have been a cemetery where victims of an epidemic were buried.

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