Travelling alone is exciting - no encumbrances, freedom to change plans at will, opportunities to meet and interact with a whole lot of new people! There are various destinations in India that offer much for solo travellers. Listed below are a few interesting, laid back and relatively safer destinations across India, just right for solo travel.
1. Khajjiar, Himachal Pradesh
Popularly referred to as India’s mini Switzerland, Khajjiar bestows travellers with the beauty of pastures, lakes and forests. Consume the breathtaking landscape and enjoy the peace and quietude to your heart’s content. At around 6000 ft and an hour’s drive from Dalhousie, Khajjiar is relatively secluded and away from the hustle and bustle of a busy township. The best way one can explore Khajjiar is by trekking. One can also trek to Chamba, Kalatop wildlife sanctuary and Dalhousie from here. Invite some co-travellers for a trek; it can be fun trekking with a group of new people.
2. Valley of Flowers National Park, Garhwal
A beautiful valley in full bloom with flowers of lovely shades and shapes – this paradise on earth is an ideal place for solo travellers. Nestled in the lap of the Garhwal region amidst the mountains of Uttarakhand, this is a place where it’s easy to lose oneself in the beauty of nature and calm raw city nerves. As the local legend goes, this is the place from where the mighty Hanuman collected the Sanjeevani herb for Lakshman. The valley of flowers is home to some rare animals like the Asiatic Black Deer, Musk Deer and Snow Leopard. The valley is remote and getting there involves a lot of trekking and hiking, so it’s best to travel alone, since you have the liberty to move at your own pace.
3. Rumtek, Sikkim
Rumtek is a quiet and spiritual place known for its monastery, also known as Dharmachakra Centre. The Rumtek Monastery is the seat of the 16th Karmapa in exile. A solo traveller can take the opportunity of being alone and head to Rumtek for some spiritual nourishment and introspection. The monastery is located in eastern Sikkim, an hour’s drive from Gangtok. The best time to visit this place is from March to May and from October to December.
4. Pushkar, Rajasthan
Pushkar is a lively place frequently visited by lone travellers. It is a place of pujas, aartis, local shopping, camel fairs and quirky competitions like the bridal competition, moustache competition, and matkaphod. Chill at Pushkar, soak in the sunset and enjoy the desert. When on your own, you can mingle with the friendly crowd and partake in the local cultural activities with ease. The Pushkar experience is one which you will definitely remember for a long time.
5. Udaipur, Rajasthan
Udaipur is all about the royals and royalty. There are a lot of ‘havelis’ or big houses here, belonging to noblemen, which are open to visitors. You will not get bored in this city, if you are on your own and are fond of history, art and architecture. Udaipur is a picturesque city with its forts and palaces and there is a lot to be captured on your camera. The nights here are chilly and you could relax with your tea and a book of romantic stories about brave Rajputs from a bygone era.
6. Hampi
If you are out on your own, one place you should definitely visit is Hampi. It is a place with momentous history and world heritage architecture, which you can appreciate best while travelling solo. Hampi was a bustling city of the Vijayanagar Empire and has some gorgeous temples built way back in the 1500s. There are other interesting structures to explore like the Lotus Palace, Domed Gateway, Bhima’s Gate, etc. The river Tungabhadra runs through Hampi and has various bathing spots. So if you are up for a refreshing dip, indulge yourself and you may well be blessed - pilgrims throng to Hampi for holy dips.
7. Mahabalipuram
Mahabalipuram or Mamallapuram is a great place to visit alone. The seaside is awesome here with serene beaches and soothing waters. Foodie alert: there is some great seafood available here. Other places of interest are well carved temples and monuments that speak of mythological incidents and deities. Historically, this was the main seaport of the Pallava kingdom and the rulers commissioned artistically carved caves and temples to make the place memorable. Just rent a bike and ride up the scenic countryside along the majestic seashore. You can also ponder over the idea of heading up to Pondicherry, a backpacker’s delight, which is only a few hours’ drive away from Mahabalipuram.
8. Goa
Beautiful beaches, lush green countryside, friendly locals, interesting new people to bump in to, days spent lazing on sun-beds with a book by the beach and nights spent club hopping or lounging at the hostel patio with a mix of people from all over the world. This pretty much sums up Goa. Hire a bike or hop on the local buses if you can’t drive. Flea markets, shacks and cafes, water sports, night parties and impromptu plans to go for a swim at the dead of night, there will never be a dull moment for you while you are in Goa. It is safe, gorgeous and of course fun for a solo traveller.
So, travel solo and experience these wonderful places in India to the fullest.
Anjali Nayyar
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