The holiday season is knocking on our doors and while some of you may have made travel plans already, there a few like yours truly who take their time to decide where they want to go. If you too, are not one of those people who are happy with oft-travelled roads and like some adventure in life, here are a few offbeat locales that might interest the thrill seeker in you. Take a look!

Ziro Valley, Arunachal Pradesh

Named a World Heritage Site for its stunning natural beauty, Ziro in Arunachal Pradesh is a place for all nature lovers. It is situated at a cozy 1500m above sea level, has rice fields and pine forests to beat the best in the world and an abundance of flora and fauna to make a true botanist out of you.

What to see/do here – Talley Valley Sanctuary, Meghana Cave Temple, Midey Pine Forests, Tipi Orchid Research Centre

Pro Tip – Ziro is home to the famous Ziro Music Festival that brings together the best of talent in the entire North East. Do not miss this for anything! Also, if you are going to travel to Ziro, it makes much more sense to club it with other must-visits in the area like Tawang, and Majuli – India’s biggest river island cum district.

Khajjiar, Himachal Pradesh

When you arrive in Khajjiar, you would be forgiven for mistaking it from a scene straight of an erstwhile Yash Chopra movie and half expect a white saree clad Bollywood heroine to come crooning out of the Deodar forests toward you. The green glade which is only 5km in radius, is often called India’s Switzerland for its scenic beauty, minus the chocolate of course!

What to see/do here – Khajjar Lake, Kalatop Wildlife Sanctuary, Khajjar Trek

Pro Tip – The Khajjar trek is about 14 km long and since it winds around forest and mountain trails, it can be quite strenuous at times. Go on it only if you’re physically fit enough. There are also other adventure activities like zorbing and paragliding that one can indulge in.

Chail, Himachal Pradesh

The story of Chail dates back to the British era, when Indian kings had summer and winter capitals in their princely states. When one such king, Maharaja Bhupinder Singh of Patiala, was thrown out of Shimla as the British took it over, he decided to take revenge by creating his own summer capital and the beautiful town of Chail was born.

What to see/do here – Sidh Baba Ka Mandir, Kufri Village, Chail Palace, Cricket and Polo Grounds (world’s highest)

Pro Tip – At 2226 m above sea level, Chail is not for the cold hearted (pun intended). It can get freezing in winters and one needs heavy woollens to ward off the cold, while even in the midst of summer the nights can get pretty chilly enough to warrant the use of a jacket or a warm sweater.

Malana Valley, Himachal Pradesh

If you were to believe in the local folklore then the village of Malana, hidden in the mountain north of the famous Kullu Valley of Himachal, is the world’s oldest republic. Some say it was founded by the retreating forces of Alexander’s army, some believe a sage from the Puranas – Jamlu Rishi - to have established the hamlet and taught the locals democracy. Either way, it is truly one of the most enigmatic and least understood places in the country. Add to it the fact the folks here speak a language that has no known origin and the mystery just goes on deepening!

What to see/do here – Rukmini Temple, Jamlu Temple, Malana Holding Pond Trek

Pro Tip – If you have never been or heard of Malana before (which is pretty normal), you need to know that the people here have some strict, and often weird, customs. You cannot touch anyone for any reason. A foreigner speaking Kanashi; the local language, is considered an insult. Trees are sacred and burning them is not allowed. There are other norms too, and it would be wise to be aware of them before making the trip.

Dzukou Valley, Nagaland

Dzukou Valley on the border of Nagaland and Manipur is North East’s Valley of Flowers. From June to September, the lush green of the valley is heightened even more by the sprinkling of wild rhododendrons and the grace of the rare Dzukoi lilies. This is one of those places where you come for a soul vacation, and leave having found pieces of yourself you never knew exixtsed.

What to see/do here -  Camping, Trekking

Pro Tip -  June to September are the best months to visit this area as the flowers are in full bloom. The valley is reachable throughout the year, but if you’re travelling in the heart of winter then do carry suitable clothing and remember to acclimatise before making any treks.