Culture survives in smaller spaces – not in the history books that erect monuments to the nation’s grand history but in cafes and cinema houses, village squares, and half-forgotten libraries.
– Amitav Kumar
Travel to some of the most unique villages of India that we are sure you must not have even thought they ever existed. They are all unique in their own ways, and equally bizarre.
1. Shani Shingnapur Village, Maharashtra
“Where even the banks have no doors”
Welcome to the doorless village and first-of-its-kind lock-less bank of India. This is where houses, shops and even the public bank have no doors. People keep their valuables and money out in the open without having the worry if it would get stolen.
2. Bera Village, Jawai, Rajasthan
“Where leopards roam freely”
Visit Bera Village in Jawai Hills where people and the predator have grown into an emotional attachment for each other. Catch the rare sight of these amazing leopards roaming freely out in the open.
3. Kodinhi, Kerala
“Highest twinning rate”
Meet the 400+ twins out of the 2500 people living in Kodinhi Village in Malappuram district of Kerala, which is still a matter of mystery to researchers from around the world.
4. Jambur, Gujarat
“First living African village in India”
Amidst the dense Gir forests, live the Siddi tribe, originally Bantu people of sub-Saharan Africa following their native rules and rituals.
5. Shetpal, Maharashtra
“Where snakes are family members”
If you have the slightest of ophidiophobia, then this is not for you. Visit the village where every house has a resting place for snakes and till date, there has not been even a single snake-bite incident reported.
6. Rongdoi, Assam
“Attend wild frogs wedding”
For centuries, people of Rongdoi have been marrying off wild frogs to please the rain god.
7. Mawlynnong, Meghalaya
“Asia’s Cleanest Village”
We wouldn’t brag about it but a trip to this village in East Khasi Hills will only suffice why its called the cleanest village in all of Asia.
8. Mattur, Karnataka
“Learn Sanskrit”
If you thought Sanskrit was slowly disappearing from the face of India, visit Mattur Village in Karnataka where 90 percent of the population speaks, read and write Sanskrit. It’s a way of life.
9. Dharnai, Bihar
“First fully solar-powered village of India”
If you though India’s villages were downtrodden, this village will take away all the misconceptions. Take a trip to this small village in Bihar that is energy self-sufficient with the installation of macro solar-powered grid that provider 24X7 power supply to their homes.
10. Kuldhara Village, Rajasthan
“Haunted Village of India”
If you are interested in a little paranormal adventure on your trip to Rajasthan, visit Kuldhara village which is believed to be cursed and haunted. Legend says that Kuldhara was once a prosperous village inhabited by Paliwal Brahmins. Because of the brutal acts of Diwan once upon a time, the village people fled the village and now lies abandoned.
The interaction with Nature is the founding discourse of any traveller. Recently moving to the mountain village brought me nearer to ground, a look closer at the dance of eternity. I realised there are varied worlds steeped in beauty, innocence and imagination, not bound by false arcades of norms and pretence. Travel stories fascinate me. For me, it’s been about renegotiating newer territories; forever relocating; listening & writing stories.
