India overflows with spectacular places, yet many travellers stick to the famous circuits. This list from Times of India pulls back the curtain on eight lesser-known spots that reward the curious with quiet majesty, wild landscapes, history, and genuine local flavour.

• Majuli, Assam — An island in the Brahmaputra, rich in tribal arts, festivals, waterways and calm green expanses.
• Ziro Valley, Arunachal Pradesh — Home to the Apatani culture, rice paddies, and the growing Ziro Music Festival, yet still a peaceful mountain valley.
• Chitrakoot, MP/UP — A blend of mythology and waterfalls, with forests and temples tied to the Ramayana legends.
• Gokarna, Karnataka — Beaches without the bustle, hidden coves and a spiritual, laid-back ambience.
• Kausani, Uttarakhand — Panoramic Himalayan views, quiet trails, the Anasakti Ashram, and off-season calm.
• Orchha, Madhya Pradesh — Historic palaces, riverside temples, cobblestone lanes that feel like stepping into another era. 
• Dholavira, Gujarat — Ancient Harappan ruins perched in the Rann; a desert archaeology site full of insight and mystery.
• Spiti Valley, Himachal Pradesh — High-altitude solitude, Buddhist monasteries, stark landscapes, and Himalayan silence.