If you were waiting for the rains to be in their prime to plan a trip; it’s time. But if you want to go to places with lesser rainfalls, we have those as well. Don’t just hesitate planning a trip because you couldn’t finalize places to visit in August in India. Lined up for you are some very offbeat destinations to enjoy the mid-monsoon August and take advantage of the off-season prices!
Trekking mecca and a virgin paradise”
Spiti Valley Tourism
Long winding roads and valleys that present unforgettable glimpses of cold desert and snow-crowned mountains welcome you when you set foot into Spiti Valley. Bordered on all sides by the Himalayas, Spiti Valley, located in Himachal Pradesh, has an altitude of 12,500 feet above sea level, and gets just around 250 days of sunshine in the year, making it one of the coldest places in the country. With the thick Himalayan snow cutting Spiti off from the rest of the country for around 6 months a year, the summer months are the only time Spiti is directly accessible via motorway.
The term Spiti means ‘The Middle Land’, as Spiti Valley separates India from Tibet. Scantily populated, Spiti is an adventure lover’s paradise, with a number of trekking trails that tourists can choose from. All of these treks start from Kaza (Spiti’s capital from where you make your base camp) to various peaks from where you can get panoramic views of the Himalayan mountains. An easy 1.5-kilometre trek along the Spiti River from Dhankar Monastery to Dhankar Lake promises gorgeous views of the villages below. The Dhankar Lake itself is a place where you can sit back and relax amidst the cool mountain air.
The mountain ropeway from Kibber to Chichum is also another popular tourist attraction that offers spectacular views of the gorge below, as well a bird’s eye view of the surrounding peaks.
Tea Gardens, Lakes and Pretty little hill-station”
Munnar Tourism
The idyllic hill station Munnar – famous for its tea estates, exotic lush greenery and craggy peaks, is located in the Western Ghats, in the state of Kerala. It serves as the commercial centre for some of the world’s largest tea estates. In addition, Munnar has many protected areas which are home to endemic and highly endangered species like the Nilgiri Thar and the Neelakurinji.
One of the biggest tea-plantation area of South India, Munnar is one of the most beautiful and popular hill-stations of Kerala. Situated on the banks of three rivers- Madupetti, Nallathanni and Periavaru, Munnar is also blessed with natural view-points apart from the tea-plantations. Munnar is divided into Old Munnar, where the tourist information office is, and Munnar, where the bus station and most guest houses are located. The Eravikulam National Park, Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary and tea plantations are its major attractions.
Agumbe, Shimoga (Shivamogga)
Located in the Shimoga district of Karnataka, Agumbe is a tiny village often referred to as the “Cherrapunji of South India”. This biodiversity-rich region highest rainfall in south India and the second highest annual rainfall in India. Visiting Agumbe is an enriching experience as this hill station and picturesque beauty coupled with trekking trails and gushing rainfalls. It is one of the last surviving lowland rainforests. This beautiful place served as the setting for India’s very famous fictional town Malgudi in the TV serial Malgudi Days. Agumbe is famously known for the breathtaking sunsets over the Arabian Sea that can be witnessed from this region.
Agumbe is home to some rare species of medicinal plants like Myristica, Listsaea, Garcinia, Diospyros, Eugenia and Ficus which is why it is also known as “Hasiru Honnu” which means green is gold. This place has made a significant contribution towards the protection of biodiversity in India. Being home to the extensive rainforest and the wide variety of flora and fauna, Agumbe houses the Agumbe Rainforest Research Station. This is India’s oldest weather station which exclusively monitors any changes made in the rainforest areas.
Interestingly, Agumbe is also called as the “Cobra Capital” because of the high number of Cobras found here. Tourists from all over flock to this mesmerising place to experience tranquillity. Agumbe provides great options for trekking beckoning the adventure enthusiasts to visit this offbeat destination hidden in the lap of nature.
