211 Cool and Unusual Things to Do in India - Atlas Obscura

Unusual Attractions in India

Chand Baori

Thousands of exquisitely carved stone water storage wells, hundreds of stone steps fill this exquisite medieval stepwell.

Hawa Mahal (Palace of Winds)

The 953 windows undoubtedly make this the world's most beautiful screened porch.

Cherrapunjee, India

The Root Bridges of Cherrapunji

Centuries-old bridges grown from tangled roots.

Skeleton Lake of Roopkund, India

A lake with hundreds of ancient skeletons surrounding it. The surprise is what killed them.

Jal Mahal

More than half of this Indian palace is drowned but it looks all the more spectacular for it.

Ellora Caves

This complex of vertically-excavated Buddhist, Jain, and Hindu monolithic temples in India's Maharashtra providence illustrates a spirit of tolerance characteristic of ancient India.

The Blue City of Jodhpur

Once an indicator of social class, the color blue has come to define this city on the edge of the Thar Desert.

Shatrunjaya Hill

A mecca for India's Jains.

See All 211 Things to Do in India See All 211 Places

Want to see fewer ads? Become a Member.

Cool Places to Eat & Drink in India

Amritsar Cantt., India

Golden Temple

This peaceful Sikh gurudwara serves around 50,000 free meals every day within its gilded walls.

New Delhi, India

Cafe Lota

Nestled among the artifacts of the National Crafts Museum, this hidden gem offers hard-to-find regional foods from all over India.

Nahoum and Sons

This Jewish bakery, among the last in the region, sells legendary sweets from a century-old storefront.

Guru Sweet Mart

At this sweet shop, the descendants of a royal chef serve up the fudge-like dessert his ancestor invented for a king.

See all 12 places to eat in India See all 12 places to eat in India

Atlas Obscura Trips

India: Desert Festivals of Rajasthan

Experience the traditions and customs of desert culture in Northern India.

Community Forums / South Asia / India

Top Discussions in the India Travel Forum

Post	Replies	Views	Activity
The Black Hole of Calcutta	1 November 7, 2019	1126	November 7, 2019
Sunder Burj	4 October 10, 2019	842	October 10, 2019
Agra ka Petha	1 July 30, 2019	1240	July 30, 2019
Bara Imambara	1 June 20, 2019	1243	June 20, 2019
Burma Bazaar	1 December 11, 2019	508	December 11, 2019

New Post Visit the Forum

Explore India

Launch Map

India Leaderboard

Places Added

Places Edited

Places Visited

Recent India Activity

kategilroy13 wants to go to Bara Imambara

kategilroy13 has been to Adalaj Ni Vav

kategilroy13 has been to Kalavantin Durg

switree wants to go to Bara Imambara

ishitarc1908 wants to go to Bateshwar Temple Complex

Stories About India

A British twist on a longtime South Asian tradition.

Strawberry Curry Is a Modern Twist on an Old Tradition

Fruit curries have a sweet and savory history.

by Sejal Sukhadwala

The Curious Case of Colonial India's Breakfast Curries

Even as the British Empire appropriated curry, authentic versions conquered local officials' tables.

by Lily Kelting

February 16, 2022

A honeycomb moray eel, stranded by the receding tide at Mahalaxmi, was later released into a nearby intertidal pool. The rocky shoreline has since been developed into part of a coastal road.

Discovering the Unexpected Wonder of Mumbai's Coastal Wildlife

Photographer Sarang Naik is reintroducing his hometown to its rich biodiversity, from glowing corals to dazzling sea slugs.

by Gemma Tarlach

January 10, 2022

Podcast: The Village Where Every Person’s Name Is a Song

Join us for a daily celebration of the world’s most wondrous, unexpected, even strange places.

by The Podcast Team

December 23, 2021

An Indian laborer sorts amla, or Indian gooseberries, at a fruit market on the outskirts of Allahabad.

Indian Millennials Are Flocking To Farms—and Traditional Ingredients

Amid COVID-19, some have swapped urban bustle for rural nostalgia.

by Cheena Kapoor

December 10, 2021

The Khauwale Patankar sweet shop in Pune makes sugar jewelry every year.

In India, a Sweet Tradition Calls for Head-To-Toe Sugar Jewelry

Maharashtra's halwa dagine symbolizes hope for future blessings.

by Shoma Abhyankar

December 9, 2021

An Apatani family and guests make tapyo around the hearth.

Without a Source for Salt, This Tribe Created a Delicious Substitute

The Apatani make tapyo from shrubs and ash.

by Lavina Dsouza

November 3, 2021

One of Kanha Tiger Reserve's revered residents: Conservation scientists are studying how villagers near the Central Indian park coexist with the big cats.

An Ancient 'Tiger God' Helps Communities and Big Cats Coexist in India

Across the central and western parts of the country, reverence for the deity translates to tolerance for predators.

by Radhika Iyengar

September 14, 2021

Want to see fewer ads? Become a Member.

Lists Featuring India