Offbeat destinations are places to skip the crowd at times and venture into the unknown. I love travelling to offbeat destinations, and India has fantastic unexplored corners. And this time, my exploration is Southern India, some of the places I have covered. At the same time, little is still on my bucket list. Southern India has beaches in Malabar to peaceful and quiet corners of the Western Ghats. My favourite places are away from the discordance, where peace & solitude are to be found. So let’s get started so you can choose your next trip.
Thalassery
It is popularly called the ‘City of seven hills”, providing a picturesque landscape for travellers. Located amidst the wooded hills and is protected by a natural breakwater of rocks. It has seven hills that are auspicious and are known to be the reason for prosperity in this city. And two rivers, Eranjoli and Dharmadam, flow around the city, forming a ring.
The Nearest Airport is Calicut International Airport. And Thalassery has a railway station connected to various cities in Kerala and outside.
Pollachi
This place is situated around 40km from Coimbatore untapped destination in the southern part of India. Pollachi offers a picturesque landscape whose warmth and joy are passed on to tourists. Primarily famous for temples & waterfalls, other attractions are Arivu Thirukoil, Arulmigu Masani Amman Temple, Topslip Tiger Forest, Annamalai Wildlife Sanctuary, and Anamalai Tiger Reserve. The climate here is breezy & cool due to the cool breeze from Palghat Ghats. Around 34 km from Pollachi is an ideal picnic spot at Annamalai.
The nearest airport & Railhead is Coimbatore. Cabs are readily available to reach Pollachi.
Devbagh Beach
The beach is still unexplored & the place to find your solitude. It is an exotic island covered with pristine blue water and casuarina trees with a backdrop of beautiful mountains. It lies along the Arabian sea and is about 2 km from southern Goa. This beach town is famous for its mesmerizing sunset & mouth-watering seafood. Best for the couple, solo travellers or even family to laze around on the sacks near the beach. Since the footfall is significantly less, the serene beauty is still intact.
There is a resort that gives private access to the island to explore it or try various water sports, snorkelling, kayaking, banana boat rides, and water scooters.
Devbagh Beach is well accessible by road, while the Kudia is the nearest railway station to Devbagh. And the nearest airport is Goa.
Tharangambadi
Still untouched and possessing that tranquillity of ancient times, Tharangambadi is a small beach town in the Nagapattinam district in Tamil Nadu. Also popularly known as The land of singing waves because of the sound of waves always in the background. Tharangambadi is located on the banks of river Kaveri and the Bay of Bengal. This city holds the magic of various cultures.
This city reflects Danish history in India, with famous attractions like Fort Dansborg, the town gate, the Zion Church, the Old Danish cemetery, the Ziegenbalg museum, and the Masilamani Nathar temple. The Scandinavians christened the name ‘Tranquebar’ since it was difficult to pronounce the Indian version. The place has everything, from fancy bars to beaches and sand. And one of the juxtaposing views of the city is colourfully painted old homes beside picture-perfect beaches.
Though the 2004 tsunami damaged this place is still a building, and the archaeological department helped restore most of it.
The nearest airport is Chennai, and the nearest railhead is Mayiladuthurai.
Then a state-run bus from Chennai runs down the East Coast Road to Pondicherry via Mamallapuram and reaches this place via NH45A. Even a taxi could be hired.
Gandikota
Gandikota reminds me of the Grand Canyon of India, which lies in the twee village in the Kadapa district of Andhra Pradesh. The town is flanked by the river Pennar, and deep gorges are formed due to the river cutting through the Erramala Hills. These narrow valleys, running streams, and steep rocky walls would remind you of Arizona. Built-in the 13th Century, the Gandikota Fort is another highlight of this place apart from these splendid gorges. Interestingly the fort is surrounded by these gorges on both sides. The red sandstone fortress is protected by a 5-mile-long wall and boasts intricate carvings. And it also offers exceptional views of the hills and valleys.
Tirupati is the nearest airport. It is also thoroughly connected via railways and roads.
Belum Caves
India’s most prolonged and extensive cave system is located in the Kurnool district of Andhra Pradesh. Belum caves are the second largest after Krem Liat Prah in Meghalaya, formed for millions of years with limestone formation. Belum caves are centrally protected monuments of national importance.
There are numerous pathways with intricate patterns of water streams on limestone, which will leave you awestruck with its sheer nature and beauty. The offbeat cave has been explored over three and a half kilometres. However, only a kilometre and a half are accessible to tourists.
The caves are as deep as 46 meters, known as Pataalaganga. An underground stream flows beneath the surface, gliding over the rocks throughout the year. The cave is beautiful, with long passages, galleries, large cavities, fresh water, and water tunnels.
The nearest airport is in Hyderabad, and Tadipatri is the nearest railway station at 30 km. A taxi can be hired to reach the destination.
Maravanthe Beach
Maravanthe beach is a beautiful offbeat beach, added to Karnataka’s many other beautiful beaches. But Maravantheis pristine on one side; you see waves crashing at the shore of the beach, while on the other hand, you see Kodachadri Hills making a beautiful backdrop for the Souparnika River. From the central city of Kundapur, the beach is situated at a distance of 12 km. It is so serene that it will leave you in sheer awe.
The panoramic views, serene and quietly flowing river, deep sea, and majestic mountains make this place a paradise that will leave you speechless. And the sunset here is a sight that should not be missed.
Bangalore is the nearest airport, and Kundapura is the nearest railhead to Maravanthe beach. And on the Kundapura-Udupi-Mangalore route (NH-17), buses ply every minute. A cab or auto can also be hailed.
Dhanushkodi
A small offbeat coastal town in Tamil Nadu with beautiful views. Though Dhanushkodi was hit by one of the worst storms in 1964, post that, it was built into one of the most beautiful and unique beach towns. This beach town is isolated, cut off from the world, and untouched. And its grandeur and beauty are reflected in the history of the city.
It can be reached from Rameshwaram by bus or cab as it’s the nearest town. Rameshwaram is the nearest railway station from where Dhanushkodi is 18 km.
Offbeat places don’t mean they are underdeveloped. Instead, these places have untamed beauty and nature. They all are famous for their specialities. However, they are not such renowned tourist destinations.
But must-try places, so add them to your bucket list. Trust me; you will not regret it!