Top 5 Natural Wonders Of India

                 

#5. Chir Batti at the Rann of Kutch

A seasonal salt marsh located in the part of the Thar Desert that extends into the Kutch district of Gujarat, the Rann of Kutch is renowned for its dramatic white flatlands, barren beauty and eerily beautiful sunsets. At night, an unexplained phenomena known locally as Chir Batti (ghost light) occurs in the Rann. Chir Batti can be described as unexplained bright lights occurring on dark nights in colours that change from blue to red to yellow. The lights often resemble a moving sphere or pear shaped blob of fire which may move fast or stop and stay stationary. They say the lights can only be seen after 8pm on dark nights and are known to be harmless.

Photograph by www.flickr.com user arup malakar

#4. Cherrapunji

Cherrapunji, in the north eastern state of Meghalaya (literally meaning 'abode of the clouds') has the dubious distinction of being the wettest place of earth by sheer virtue of the amount of rainfall it receives every year. Cherrapunji receives a whopping 425 inches of rain annually on average. To put this into perspective, consider that Hawaii receives an annual average of 63 inches of rain and Wales receives 115 inches in a rainy year! We highly recommend you carry your galoshes along on this trip!

Photograph by Nikita Kapoor

#3. Magnetic Hill, Ladakh

Magnetic Hill is located about 30 kilometres off the gorgeous town of Leh in Kashmir. At 14,000 feet above sea level, the hill is alleged to have magnetic properties strong enough to pull stationary cars uphill at a speed of around 20 km/hr. The movement of a vehicle up a steep mountain with its ignition off is a truly unbelievable experience. Even airplanes and helicopters need to fly at higher speeds and altitudes to avoid the magnetic impact of the hills.

Photograph by www.flickr.com user koshy koshy

#2. The Sundarbans

A UNESCO World Heritage Site covering parts of India and Bangladesh, the Sundarbans is the largest single block of tidal mangrove forest in the world! Covering over 10,000 sq kms in the delta of the Bay of Bengal, the Sundarbans is home to enormous species of flora and fauna including the elusive Royal Bengal tiger. An interconnected network of waterways makes almost every corner of the forest accessible by boat.

Photograph by www.flickr.com user Anurag Agnihotri

#1. The Himalayas

The young Himalayan mountain system is home to the world's highest peaks; the 8000 meter club including Mt. Everest, K2 and Kanchenjunga. To comprehend the scale of the Himalayas, consider that Mount Aconcagua, in the Andes, at 6,962 metres (22,841 ft) is the highest peak outside Asia. The Himalayan ranges however, include over 100 mountains exceeding 7,200 m (23,600 ft)!! Some of the world's vastest river systems arise in the Himalayas and their combined drainage basin is home to some 3 billion people (almost half of Earth's population) in 18 countries!