Mysterious India

Mysterious India – a land shrouded in a sheen of Mystery, Myths and Legends

By Anand Parameswaran India Legend, India travel, mystery, myth, travel to India 0 Comments

India is waiting for travelers. To explore and gently remove the shroud of Mystery, Myths and Legends. Only then will they get a glimpse of the real India beneath.

India has a rich history of centuries of civilization. And hence as an off-shoot, it is a treasure trove of myths and legends. The fact is, there are many rituals and practices, even places, that are shrouded in mystery and conjecture. Logic has a place in this land, but with the rational, comes generous add-ons of irrationality. Irrationality to some, can also be completely rational to others. The American Indian beliefs for instance, have long been labelled as irrational. This was due to the wave of rationalism that swept modern America along with scientific temper.

However, with a philosophical eye, they can seem perfectly rational… Sometimes, of course, the philosophical eye can be opened with only with the aid of some funny stuff to imbibe, through smoke or chewing… 😉

Here are some the stranger ones – my favorites…

Malana – Mysterious India

Malana, for instance, is a mystery waiting to be discovered… Along with a lost Greek tribe isolated for centuries and the myths of a warrior saint from the hoary past… Discover the mystery of Malana

Roopkund – A mystery waiting to be solved

Or the mysterious lake of skeletons in a remote area of the Himalayas. That shows itself only when the ice of the Himalayas thaws. Many a scientific explanation has been put forward, but nothing conclusive yet on the history and cause of this… Try and solve the mystery of Roopkund

The legend of Jaswant Singh

The story of the ghost of a patriotic soldier guarding the border with China in one of the remote outposts in the Himalayas. It is one of valor, courage, hope and the supernatural… Understand the Legend of Rifleman Jaswant Singh Rawat

The Beatles and the Maharishi in Mysterious India

This heady cocktail of mystery, spirituality and pop-philosophy had been manna for the Hippie movement in the Swinging Sixties. Many a musician and music icon of the Western world has been smitten by this. The Beatles were no exception. Explore the Connection between Maharishi and Beatles in mysterious India.

Up close with the Dacoits of Chambal valley in Mysterious India

The oppressive caste system and toxic patriarchy drove inequality in this system. That gave rise to rebellion and a violent hacking of societal chains… The dacoits and myths of the Chambal Valley are an example of this… Read and wander through the dreaded Chambal valley .

The ancient burial stones Kudakkallu

The magic is not only in the present day and recent history. The strange umbrella-like burial monuments from the ancient times still exist in parts of Southern India. They are quite similar to the famous Plain of Jars in Laos. Gaze at the mystery of the Kudakkallu.

The ancient, forgotten cult of the Chausath Yogini – Mysterious India

As if that’s not enough, how about an ancient feminist cult? The iron hand of traditional patriarchy almost wiped this cult out from the collective consciousness of the people. Of course, subsequently transplanted Victorian morality helped this erasing of memory. Understand the legend of the Chausath Yogini cult.

The Strange temples of Mysterious India

Malananda Duryodhana Temple — Malanada Temple where Duryodhana, the villain of Mahabharata is worshiped!

Places of worship of the many Gods of this great culture abound. There are many strange places of worship too, that require a giant leap of faith to believe in. For instance, temples built to pray to the villains of the great epics of Ramayana and Mahabharata. Or dacoits, film stars and sometimes even motorbikes! Soak in the myths and legends behind the Strange and Mysterious temples of India

The Black Magic village of Mayong

Or maybe encounter the ancient art of controlling nature through Black Magic. The villagers of a little-known village of Assam called Mayong practice this art even now. Read more about the Black Magic Capital of India – Mayong in Assam

The True story of Dashrath Manjhi, India’s “Mountain Man”

Faith indeed moves mountains. And faith when boosted with determination and perseverance, results in a road on the mountain. This is the true story of Dashrath Manjhi – the Mountain Man. A simple man, a laborer who lived in the mountains. He could not save his ill wife because it was a long road around the mountain to the nearest hospital. He single-handedly worked and built a shorter road through the mountain! Just so that no one else died due to healthcare that was too far off… It took him 22 years of hard work to build this memorial for his wife. I would rate this as a bigger effort than an emperor building the Taj Mahal in his wife’s memory. Don’t you think? Read the true story of Dashrath Manjhi, a modern Indian legend.

The Haunted Bhangarh Fort – Mysterious India

How about visiting a haunted medieval fort in Rajasthan with its own history and legend? Learn about the bloody history and the legends of unrequited love, greed and curses. A supernatural theory of ghosts that seems vouched for by the Government! Guaranteed to give you the chills – the haunted Bhangarh fort

The Village of Twins – Kodinhi

Kodinhi a village in Malappuram district, Kerala shot into the limelight in 2008. The reason being for the highest number of twins. There are an estimated 20,000 families in this village. Of which there are over 250 pairs of twins! The reason behind the rise in twinning rate is still a mystery…

Tower of Silence

The practice of sky burial has always been a mystery for most. The history behind the ritual and that of the people who follow it is clear. More or less. Even the philosophy is clear to a certain extent. But the practice itself and the place it is conducted in has always been under a shroud of secrecy. Read more about this practice and the place – the Tower of Silence.

The Mysterious Tradition – Athi Varadar

Located in the city of Kanchipuram is the famous Athi Varadaraja Perumal temple. Every 40 years, millions of people visit this place to get a glimpse of the Lord. As per tradition, the idol of Athi Varadar stays immersed in water for 40 years. The water in the tank is then drained and the idol kept for public viewing for a period of 48 days. After 48 days the idol is immersed back in the water tank for another 40 years.

The Floating Church of Shettihalli

Dilapidated stat of Shettihalli Rosary Church — Dilapidated condition of Shettihalli Rosary Church built in 1860

Built in 1860 by the French missionaries, the Shettihalli Rosary Church is in a dilapidated condition. This church was apparently abandoned when the Gorur dam was built over the Hemavathi reservoir. As this resulted in flooding, the villagers left the surrounding villages. The Shettihalli church remains party submerged during the monsoon and hence appears afloat. In comparison during the summers, one is able to take their vehicles to this church.

And then there are more…

Did these intrigue you? There are many more such places in India… This country is not just about places. It is also about a way of thinking. This is a culture that has long grappled with the mysteries of life. And hence a plethora of thought processes and philosophy streams. For instance, check out these musings on Indian philosophical thought regarding the joys of creation without attachment.

Come along with us. Let us take you on a different side of India –the mysterious India. It is one that will astound, intrigue and wow you. It has cast a spell on most visitors who come back to explore more and more of this ancient land that revels in the ambiguous… And thrives under the shroud…

Interested? Write to us and we can help craft an experiential travel itinerary for you.

India is not just about mystery. There are many more facets to this ancient land – culture, spirituality, history, nature, wildlife and so on. Read more about how the different facets of India travel are celebrated here…