Top 5 Secret Escapes in India

Cherapunji :
Cherrapunjee seems to be a place quite unknown in our country other than the fact that it is the wettest place on earth, and also the state it belongs to Meghalaya. Cherrapunjee is 56km in distance from Shillong(a famous tourist place) and takes about 90 minutes drive to reach on a clear day. But during monsoon the clouds are thick and the drive is difficult. The sights to see here are the Khasi monoliths and Mawsmai falls during the day time and Limestone caves can be visited on the way back. However, it does not rain during the months of winter and becomes completely dry. The city of Cherrapunjee is 1290 meters above sea level and much of the torrential rain runs off the mountains into the valley below. Another reason why this place has been undiscovered is mainly due to the lack of hotels and lodgings close by.

Daman and Diu
This Union Territory of Daman and Diu and are governed from Delhi. The Daman-Ganga river divides the town in half. The southern part of the city is known as Moti(Big) Daman and the northern part known as Nani(Little)Daman. Moti Daman is an old Portuguese area where the government buildings and old churches are located. A large wall surrounds it. And Nani Daman consists of most of the hotels of the city. The roads in Daman Diu are well maintained. Daman lies about 15kms off Vapi along the Mumbai Ahmedabad highway. There are 39 resorts & hotels listed for Daman & Diu. Cidade De Daman seems to be a popular place to stay. Places to visit in Daman Diu are the Church of Our Lady of the Rosary and Se Cathedral, Fort at Moti Daman, the Light House, Nani Daman Fort, St. Jerome’s Fort and Beaches of Devka and Jampore.

Tarkarli Beach :
Situated in Sindhudurg in Southern Maharashtra, Tarkarli beach has clear waters that allow one to snorkel and scuba dive. The beach is known for its pure shores with emerald green ocean waters, so clear you could see upto 15 feet deep. The places to visit here are Sindhudurg Fort, Devbag Beach and the Backwaters. The Malwani cuisine is quite famous here and one can have fresh fish or prawns in a thick coconut curry base. The MTDC resort is the only place of accommodations here which has 20-odd cottages on the beach front. This place though, has been spotted by the international luxury cruise liner Hebridean Spirit and the State’s Deccan Odyssey, its largely unknown by our country people. May be because of the sub-standard treatment given to our people. There have been bad reviews about double standard treatments given to the guests in the resorts.

Auroville:
The Auroville(which means the 'City of Dawn') is an international experimental township. It was inspired by the evolutionary vision of Sri Aurobindo and founded by Mirra Alfassa, known as the Mother. The small but exotic town of Auroville is located at a distance of 6 km north of Pondicherry. Now why this place is interesting is because of the different concept of living adapted by the people of this town. They build community-based housings and the whole township is planned around the Matimandir which is located in the center of the Auroville. In 1968 the land was a barren and out of use, but now it has become a developed and productive land, entirely through the efforts of Aurovilians. Out of 20 sq. km of the designated area of the township, about 12% is presently developed for urban uses and the rest is under agriculture, plantation and other non-urban uses. The town offers a great deal for tourists to do, see and experience. You can rent a rickshaw or a taxi from Pondicherry to get to Auroville. The places to visit in Auroville are :

• Matrimandir - temple has a gold plated exterior while the interior is done in stark white with a huge crystal placed in the center.

• Visitor's Center - Here, you can attend exhibitions and indulge yourself in shopping. The center also offers video viewing facilities and a cafeteria for to spend time at your convenience.

• Auroville Beach - the finest beach in Pondicherry.

Wayanad :
Yet another unexplored place in Kerala, Wayanad is one of the northern districts of Kerala, on its border with Karnataka. It is hilly country with a huge swathe of plantations & estates (particularly coffee estates). This mountain district is in many ways the most picturesque in the state, with its rolling hills covered with tropical rainforest.
Wayanad also contributes richly to its fortunes, with its flourishing cultivation of many spices, and also Tea, Coffee and Cocoa. Wayanad is situated at a height of 700 to 2100m above sea level with temperatures ranging from 12 to 25 degrees centigrade.
This district also has the added advantage of linking Kerala with the golden triangle of South India : Bangalore, Mysore and Ooty. Kalpetta town is the center for all the sight seeing places. It is an ideal place for trekking and other adventure activities.
Its famous wildlife sanctuary has got everything from exotic flora, birds and a collection of reptiles. The best time to visit is between the months of June to October. There are a number places to visit in Wayanad like Phookat lake, Eddakal caves, Kuruvadweep and Chembara Falls.