Snapshots
Beyond the lush jungles and bustling cities lies a version of India that feels entirely extraterrestrial. From the lunar-like craters of Maharashtra to the gravity defying hills of Ladakh, and the shimmering, infinite white salt plains of Kutch, the subcontinent hides landscapes that challenge our very understanding of Earth. The numerous natural wonders in India are the corners where geology turns into high fantasy, and where the bubbling geothermal springs, neon-blue bioluminescent shores, and ancient meteor impact sites create a tapestry of the earthly. So, here’s for you to journey through the most amazing 10 wonders of the natural world in India that look like they belong to another planet altogether!
The most breathtaking 10 wonders of the natural world in India that you should definitely bookmark
Forget the familiar maps of the subcontinent. There are corners of India where the laws of geology and physics seem to blend, revealing landscapes so alien that they feel like fragments of a distant galaxy.
1. Lonar Crater Lake, Maharashtra
Created about 52,000 years ago by a high velocity meteor impact, the Lonar Crater Lake in Maharashtra is among the top 10 wonders of the natural world. An emerald-green lake that sits inside the only hyper velocity impact crater in basilic rock on Earth, the water of the lake is both saline and alkaline. A truly amazing wonder of nature, this lake supports a unique ecosystem that feels like a laboratory for alien life.
2. The Great Rann of Kutch, Gujarat
A natural wonder in India that offers an amazing view of nature in the infinite white, the Rann of Kutch transforms into a blindingly white, cracked earth desert during the dry season. A massive salt marsh that stretches to the horizon, under a full moon, this landscape glows with an eerie, silver luminescence that makes you feel as though you are walking on the surface of an icy moon.
3. Lamayuru (Moonland), Ladakh
True to its name, the yellowish-grey eroded soil of Lamayuru creates a landscape of strange, undulating craters and peaks. A natural wonder in India that is remarkably similar to the moon’s topography, Lamayuru is referred to as ‘Moonland’ by the locals and travellers alike.
4. Puga Valley, Ladakh
Located in the remote Changthang region, the Puga Valley is a geothermal wonderland. Plumes of steam erupt from the sulphurous hot springs against the stunning backdrop of barren and salt encrusted plains and jagged mountains. Offering some of the most amazing views of nature, this place resembles a scene from the early formation of the Earth, or maybe some other planet entirely!
5. Gandikota Canyon, Andhra Pradesh
Often called the Grand Canyon in India, this place is almost like a hidden gorge in the country. This amazing wonder of nature are massive gorges of glowing red sandstone that were carved centuries ago by the Pennar River. The sheer scale of the stone walls and the deep, silent chasm give it a Martian-like grandeur.
6. St Mary’s Island, Karnataka
A geometric shore that was formed by the sub-aqueous volcanic activity millions of years ago, this island is famous for its unique hexagonal basaltic rock columns. A true natural wonder in India, this island boasts of perfectly straight, pillar-like structures that look like they were carved by ancient architects rather than the natural cooling lava.
7. Loktak Lake, Manipur
This is the only lake in the world with Phumdis, which are circular, floating islands made up of vegetation, soil, and organic matter. An amazing wonder of nature, from above, it looks like a green, patterned mosaic floating on a mirror. This is one of the top 10 wonders of the natural world in India that defies the traditional boundaries of land and water.
8. Yana caves, Karnataka
Located deep in the Sahyadri mountains, these are two massive, soot-black karst limestone monoliths that rise sharply from the jungle. These crystalline spires, known as Bhairaveshwara and Mohini look like dark, gothic fortresses that emerge right from a high fantasy world.
9. Marble Rocks of Bhedaghat, Madhya Pradesh
The Narmada River flows through a three kilometer gorge flanked by towering cliffs of pure white marble. On full moon nights, the cliffs reflect in the dark water, creating the most surreal and monochromatic world of shimmering stone and silence.
10. Magnetic Hill, Ladakh
On the stretch of the Srinagar-Leh highway, the surrounding terrain creates a powerful optical illusion where the downhill slope actually appears to be uphill. It is here that watching the car roll up the mountain in neutral is the most disorienting experience that makes you question the laws of physics.
Why do we seek the surreal?
We travel not just to see new sights, but to lose our sense of the ordinary. In these alien landscapes and natural wonders, the familiar comforts of the world fall away, and are replaced by a profound sense of awe. Whether it is the silence of the salt desert at the Great Rann of Kutch or the sheer scale of the prehistoric crater at Maharashtra, these breathtaking natural wonders in India remind us that our planet is far more mysterious, and beautiful than we dare to imagine.