Everybody goes to mainstream places meant for tourism and spends oodles of money on something that is overrated. Here, I’ll share my personal experience of living in a small village for a couple of days in a remote town on the mountains and why I felt that it was one of the best experiences of my life
Less than a year ago I was leaning on the balcony of a small lodge nestled on a mountaintop at the height of almost 2500 ft , overlooking snow-capped peaks with a river rushing underneath, sipping a cup of tea and astounded by the sight I beheld in front of my eyes.
This was my solo stay in a small remote village called Nakthun, with a population of a mere 500 somewhere in the Himalayan range in the state of Himachal Pradesh in India.
The majority of Indians who are even remotely familiar with traveling probably would’ve never heard of this place, because of how tiny and inconsequential this place seems to be. This is a tiny village that falls in the middle of the Kheerganga trek route in Kasol, approximately 10 kilometres from the base camp of the trek, Barshaini. While trekking with a small group of people almost midway through the trek I stumbled across this sleepy village on a mountain that I absolutely fell in love with, and couldn’t bear to leave. Something about the sparse, yet closely nestled wooden houses, small shops selling necessary items, bright-eyed and rosy-cheeked children bundled up in clothing ushering herds of goats up the mountain and groups of old men gossiping in corners and sipping their chai. The place seemed as it was suspended in time. There wasn’t a single telephone pole in sight, and the only was down was by foot. After stumbling upon a small lodge that offered spacious rooms at a mere 200 rupees per night I wasted no time in announcing that I’ll be staying back for a day while the others completed their trek. As I maneuvered through the narrow spaces between the houses, I stumbled across many locals that surprisingly greeted me with huge smiles on their faces and asked me about my trek in barely decipherable yet delightful accents.
Finally, after I had dined from one of the local shops and had retired to my room, I wasted no time in pulling out a diary and hurriedly jotted down my experiences, something that I did for the remainder of my two days in that village. It was an incomparable experience and I came back as a better and lighter person, having unloaded all my worries in that small balcony overlooking the sunset. Never had I imagined that I could enjoy so much in a place that is very nearly unknown to the outside world.
Often travel companies and media popularize certain destinations and hype them up more than necessary. It has always been the case that certain destinations are deemed to be worth visiting and are constantly thronged with people all through the year. It is not as if these destinations aren’t as promising as they seemed to be or as quaint that you always imagined them to be. But there are always other less-explored destinations that offer a similar experience with added benefits. There are plenty of places that are worth visiting but because they lack the sort of hype that more touristy places have, they’re lesser known by the general public. Here are some reasons why you should opt to visit such off-beat destinations instead of the more mainstream ones-
Less crowded
Imagine yourself standing on top of a beautiful bridge and staring off into the distant horizon just like you had always envisioned. Except you are struggling to maintain your balance in a bustling crowd, with people stomping on your feet, elbowing their way through, the skies that you had imagined clear and soundless now punctuated with the cries of impatient tourists. Off-beat travel locations offer you the best shot at traveling to locations and enjoying their beauty in the best way possible, away from the stifling crowds and cell-phones. Such places, the majority of which are undiscovered by the general public are delightful simply because they offer you a better chance at exploring the place more minutely and take in the entire sensory experience without much interference.
Less expensive
It is now something of a norm to shed off heaps of cash while visiting popular destinations. People especially save a ton of money just for holidays and end up spending much more than they expected to. This is because touristy destinations have a knack of being overpriced. Granted that if the place has somewhat a global recognition, everything, right from food to lodgings, souvenirs and even articles of basic necessity tend to be on the higher side. To avoid all this hassle of an overpriced vacation that would empty out your pockets and leave you thinking at the end if it was all worth it, it is better to choose a place that is lesser known than its counterparts. It will surely be better in terms of the overall experience and will also be a bit easy on the pockets.
More scenic views
Often there are some gems that are hidden from plain sight, yet are as good as their better-known counterparts. Also, many places offer a similar experience in terms of scenic beauty and austerity. So you could easily get all that you bargained for plus many more things. In fact, it is a possibility that such obscure places might be more picturesque and peaceful.
Often there are some gems that are hidden from plain sight, yet are as good as their better-known counterparts. Also, many places offer a similar experience in terms of scenic beauty and austerity. So you could easily get all that you bargained for plus many more things. In fact, it is a possibility that such obscure places might be more picturesque and peaceful.
More privacy
It is obvious that not-so-well known places will be less crowded and would offer a better shot at some privacy. Getting away from that hustle-bustle of the city and exploring such quieter and more sheltered locales are bound to be richer in experience. Being at such places would enable you to explore the area in peace. If not that, it would definitely serve the purpose for people who have taken a break from work and are struggling for some inspiration. Also, such locations are preferable for people who need to relax from their busy lives and lay low for a while, enjoying the peace and solitude before they get back into the grind of things.
Better chance at trying out the local cuisine
An inimitable part of vacationing is its close ties with food and all things gourmands would love to try out. Along with exploring new places and cultures comes the pleasure of trying out new cuisines and what better way to try out new cuisines than to have them at their place of origin rather than some expensive and over-priced hotel. Hotels and restaurants at all overwrought places do offer a lot of cuisines including their local cuisine but they are often outrageously priced. Instead, it is better to go to small and offbeat destinations to try out the local cuisines that are made with love and have an authentic taste, and of course, are cheaper.
Mingling with the local community
Another reason why people travel is to gain a better understanding of the outside world and its various cultures, languages, customs, traditions and social practices. Apart from increasing one’s knowledge, it also helps in gaining a deeper understanding of people and cultures that are alien to you, something that would in turn give you a unique perspective. Instead of living in some posh, high-end hotel and paying an arm and leg for the tariff, it is always better to visit a less extravagant place. Offbeat destinations have lower hotel or lodge prices, so you can stay longer for lesser money. Even better would be staying in a hostel or someplace that would allow you to commune closely with the locals in order to understand their culture better. Couchsurfing is also a good option, where through online apps such as AirBnB, HomeAway, HomeStay, etc you could get in touch with locals that are willing to host tourists for reasonable prices, providing a wholesome experience of intermingling of two cultures.
Test your boundaries
Above all, visiting offbeat destinations would test your limits. You might encounter experiences that are unique to you and problems that you cannot find solutions to on Google. You will have to go through these experiences yourself and find a way around these problems with your natural resourcefulness. There might be some places that would subject you to challenges pertinent to that place itself. In such situations, while maneuvering through these issues one might find a certain sense of adventure that they are unlikely to encounter in well-known and tourist-ridden areas where everything is already managed and arranged. Some people might love this adventure that the new place offers to them and revel in the rawness of the experience.
Images courtesy Sheryl Alexander
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