India is an exploration of ancient traditions, breathtaking landscapes, and multitudes of cultures with an atmosphere of some of the most mysterious and unexplained happenings in the world. Magnetic hills that defy gravity and places that observe weird happenings make up for avowal mysteries that have attracted travelers and researchers in equal measure over the centuries. So, in case you’re planning to wander into the unexplained in 2025, here is a list of 20 weirder places in India that are more mysterious than even the Bermuda Triangle!
- The Hanging Pillar at Lepakshi, Andhra Pradesh.
The Lepakshi Temple, famous for its architecture and murals, has its secret. Of the 70-odd pillars embellishing the temple, one appears to hang in mid-air-which by the laws of nature is just impossible.Visitors passing under it with various objects believe that this would bring them prosperity. Many attribute it to the brilliance of the ancient builders. - The Mini Desert at Talakad, Karnataka
A settlement of Talakad was once located on the banks of Kaveri River, having withstood the test of time for over 30 temples which now lay buried under sand. It is believed that the land was cursed by a widowed devotee of Lord Shiva, and thus the village once flourishing turned into a desert. This place is also known for another of its strange attractions, a whirlpool made by the Kaveri River, appearing mysteriously over here. - Kodinhi Village of the Twins, Kerala
This unique village in Kerala is noted for a very high incidence of twin births. There exist over 200 pairs of twins in the village, with several families reporting multiple births. It is a natural wonder that scientists are at a loss to explain, though some would hold the peculiar composition of water in the region as a possible factor. - The Levitating Stone, Shiva Pur, Maharashtra
At the Hazrat Qamar Ali Darvesh shrine in Shivapur, there rests a stone weighing 70 kg that can be lifted only under certain conditions. To raise this stone, eleven persons must encircle it, touching it with their forefingers and uttering the name of the saint. The stone was once bound in chains by the authorities, but it was repeatedly found in its original position. - The Rat Temple at Karni Mata, Rajasthan
Karni Mata temple at Deshnok, Rajasthan, is famous for its rats. The rats here are called ‘kabbas,’ and over 20,000 are worshipped, while visitors to the temple attend to them with utmost reverence. The white rats here are especially sacred; they are believed to be the reincarnated relatives of Karni Mata herself. - Doorless Homes at Shani Shingnapur, Maharashtra
In the village of Shani Shingnapur not a single house or shop has doors, and there are hardly any door frames for them. The residents say that a lock was never needed as the village doorman has been Lord Shani—an incarnation of god worshipped in the region—and that it never has had any crime. - The Bara Imambara Defying Gravity, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh
The 18th-century Bara Imambara in Lucknow is an architectural wonder with a central hall measuring 50 meters in length and 3 stories height. However, no beams or pillars support this fabulous structure. The unusual design of interlocking bricks and the elaborate maze lend further enigma to it. - Leh’s Magnetic Hill
Ever since Magnetic Hill, situated in Leh, Ladakh, has been witnessing vehicles mysteriously being pulled uphill with the engines turned off, it has gained renown for this seemingly impossible phenomenon. Experts however hypothesize it to be an optical illusion caused by the area’s gravitational pull. - UFO Sightings at Kongka La Pass, Ladakh
Which, however, is disputed by the People of India and China, rests on the greenery of Ladakh. Locals claim that this area is a hotbed of UFO activities, with many sightings of unidentified lights and humanoid figures. The remoteness and secrecy surrounding the area have made this land more attractive to UFO aficionados. - Lake of Skulls at Roopkund, Uttarakhand
Roopkund Lake 16,500 feet high became renowned because of the human skeletons which become visible beneath its surface when ice melts. Radiocarbon dating of these remains goes back to the 15th century. Locals, however, believe that these bones belong to a royal family which perished during a fierce hailstorm. - Red Rain in Idukki, Kerala
In 2001, another strange thing happened in Idukki, for red rain poured there! That strange rain, which lasted for a couple of weeks, rained on the clothes of the people and buildings. Scientists came after and proposed that the red particles in the rain were spores of an algae endemic to the area. - The Shrine of the Bullet Baba, Rajasthan
In Rajasthan, there is a shrine for Om Singh Rathore, called Bullet Baba. After dying in a tragic motorcycle accident, there were reports that Rathore’s bike returned to the scene of his death, mysteriously, after being moved several times by the police. The locals now worship the motorcycle, believing it to grant protection to travellers. - The Eternal Flame at Jwala Ji Temple, Kangra
At the Jwala Ji Temple in Himachal Pradesh, the flame has been burning continuously for centuries. According to the locals, it is due to the natural gas escaping from the earth’s crust, while some regard it as a miraculous phenomenon. - Suicide of Birds at Jatinga, Assam
Jatinga is a village in Assam that, during each monsoon season, confronts an unfortunate and inexplicable phenomenon: birds migrating fly into the trees and buildings and die in droves. Some say that fog obscures their vision, while many villagers feel the place is cursed. - Abandoned Kuldhara Village in Rajasthan
- The Ruins of Kuldhara Village in Rajasthan
Kuldhara is the ancient village of Rajasthan where suddenly one night the Paliwal Brahmins vacated the place. Stories say that the villagers put a curse on the land before their departure, and since then, no one has been able to remain there. People who try to settle in the deserted village, at times, report sighting ghosts. - Dumas Beach, Gujarat: Whispers of the Dead
Doomed by the supernatural aura, Dumas Beach in Gujarat is alleged to account for many spectral occurrences. Many visitors swear to have heard whispers but find no one around. Once a burial ground, the beach is believed to be haunted by the dead, to put it very crudely, which makes it one of the most haunted places in India. - The Floating Stone of Rameshwaram, Tamil Nadu
According to the great Hindu epic Ramayana, floating stones were used to build a bridge by Lord Rama and his army on their way to Lanka. These stones are still found in Rameshwaram, which is, of course, a further mystery to the place. It is said that these stones would float when the name of Lord Rama is written on them. - The Visa God of Chilkur, Hyderabad.
This tiny little hamlet of Chilkur, the site of the Balaji Temple, has a very different reputation. Here, people come to pray for their success in obtaining a visa to the USA. Strangely, those who pray here actually get the visa. Thus the temple came to be known as “the Visa Temple.” - The Village That Slithers at Shetpal, Maharashtra
Shetpal, a village located in Maharashtra, is famous for its peculiar culture of snake worship. Whereas in every household in that village, a special space is kept for the comfort of the cobras resting in the rafters of the house, nobody in this village is known to have been bitten by a snake. - The Ghost Lights of West Bengal
In the marshes of West Bengal, fishermen have reported seeing glowing lights, which they call “Aleya Lights.” These lights deceive fishermen into abandoning their original path. While the most accepted view attributes these lights to ionization of methane gas from decaying organic matter, the exact cause is still somehow elusive.
India’s mysterious places are as diverse as its culture and landscape. Whether you are craving a bit of supernatural intrigue or smatterings of the unknown, these destinations promise to haunt your imagination and leave you with a hundred more questions. Make sure you plan to visit these mysterious spots in 2025 for that unforgettable experience!
