4 Stunning Destinations That No One Has Heard Of

Wahan kaun hai tera, musafir, tu jayega kahan!

A lovely song from one of the best movies ever made – Guide. The lines of the song truly capture the big question facing all of us as the holiday season approaches – Musafir, is chutti tu kahan jayega? Where will you celebrate your Christmas and New Year? Kids howling, wives scolding, moms questioning and dads directing. Whose preference will you take into account?

There are obvious choices like Kerala, Kashmir, Goa, Thailand, Paris, America; and then there are the not so obvious choices. The hidden gems that require a connoisseur’s eye and taste to be found. I don’t profess to be that connoisseur but let me be your guide (pun intended) in the quest for some of the most beautiful offbeat destinations in the world.

Makepeace Island, Australia

Oh, I don’t need to make much effort to get you to like this place. One photograph and a small video will be enough for you to fall in love with this place, just as I have. We have Sir Richard Branson – the eccentric founder and owner of Virgin Group – to thank for this paradisiacal experience. The island, developed in 2009 as a private getaway for owners Richard Branson and Brett Godfrey, is now open to all.

Located on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast, the island offers total privacy and seclusion to visitors. The food served here is delicious, to say the least. Some of the enthralling experiences that you can enjoy here include an open-air cinema, fishing (Beautiful Mangrove Jacks, Bream and Flathead are caught right off the Makepeace dock) and kayaking.

Juzcar Village, Spain

If you’re feeling ‘blue’ this winter, a visit to the old Juzcar village in Spain is perhaps the best antidote. Every building, every structure in this quiet and yet bizarre village is painted blue! Why, you ask? Well, in 2011 all the buildings here were painted blue to celebrate the premiere of the movie The Smurfs and since then, the village has become one of the hottest tourist destinations in the Andalusia region of Spain. Spend a quiet, secluded and peaceful weekend at this village with your family and maybe then move on to the more famous destinations of Spain.

Bay of Fundy, Canada

When one looks at this incredible bay of glistening water bodies and unbelievable rock formations, one truly wonders – ‘God must be a genius, crazy, whimsical painter’. Not only is this bay one of most resplendent on earth, it is also home to the highest tides in the world. A hundred billion tons of water move in and out of Canada’s Bay of Fundy twice a day.

One of the favourite tourist activities during low tide is fossil hunting. But truly thrilling (and exhausting, as I found out) is kayaking in the crystal waters of the bay. Picture yourself surrounded by overhanging sea caves and cliffs enjoying a stint on the kayak in the blue waters. Makes me nostalgic!

Avebury, England

You may have heard of the Stonehenge and  its precious Neolithic treasures. Well, you may want to reconsider your notion of Stonehenge being the abode of the best Neolithic monuments after you visit Avebury. Located just 20 miles north of Stonehenge, Avebury is considered by many as the best and perhaps also the eeriest Neolithic monument in Europe. It consists of multiple concentric stone circles set in and around a medieval village. While there, do visit the onsite museum that houses many incredible findings from the excavation that happened here in 1930.

So ditch the old touristy spots this year; explore the unknown and unleash the true Roaming Dil inside you.