174 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.

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.

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Unique Food & Drink in India

Szechuan Button

This herb gives cocktails another kind of buzz.

Pista Burfi

The pistachio fudge makes a vibrant accompaniment to celebrations in Northern India.

Falooda

A 2,500-year-old Persian dessert evolved into this Indian summertime favorite.

Chai at Sahu Tea Shop

In an unassuming shop in Jaipur, a family has been serving highly addictive chai for decades.

See all 36 things to eat in India See all 36 things to eat in India

Atlas Obscura Trips

Food & Faith Along India's Southwestern Coast

Journey along the western coast of South India, exploring how the distinct cultures and cuisines of the Malabar region came to be—and continue to evolve.

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Stories About India

Yams and foraged greens for sale at Mujai’s cafe.

India’s Mother Earth Cafés Shine a Spotlight on Indigenous Crops

Rural restaurants are providing a market for endangered edibles.

by Sharanya Deepak

A glacier researcher at work in the Himalayas.

Glacier Research Is Particularly Treacherous at the 'Third Pole'

Scientists in the Indian Himalayas deal with low oxygen, zip lines, and paths blocked by giant boulders.

by Mahima A. Jain

A new house in Kongthong.

The Indian Village Where Every Person's Name Is a Unique Song

Hear the tunes that Kongthong residents are given at birth.

by Zinara Rathnayake

Jiffy Felix, in light blue, captains around 100 rowers from the back of his team's snake boat.

The Resurgence of Indian Snake Boats in an Age of Rising Seas

Storms, floods, and COVID-19 could threaten one of Kerala's iconic sports.

by Colin Daileda

Indians collect meals distributed on day 19 of the 21-day nationwide lockdown in New Delhi, India.

Here's What Indians Ate After a No-Warning, Midnight Lockdown

Dozens of crowdsourced food photos reveal inequality, but also generosity.

by Jennifer Kishan

The mango button lock opens only when you turn the key after pressing a hidden button.

The Devilishly Difficult Locks of Dindigul

These unique handcrafted mechanisms are designed to protect homes, confound cashiers, and outthink thieves.

by Kamala Thiagarajan

February 21, 2020

The living bridges are vital in the rainy season.

Toward a Better Understanding of South Asia's 'Living Bridges'

Human and plant, working together.

by Isaac Schultz

December 16, 2019

Grains of different varieties of rice that have broken away from their panicles.

The Conservationist Saving India's Heirloom Rice Varieties

A tiny plot of land in eastern India safeguards 1,420 kinds of rare indigenous rice.

by Rohini Chaki

November 25, 2019

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