Incredible Natural Wonders in India

True beauty lies in nature's creations. Take a look at some of the most stunning natural formations in India.

 

 The world of mankind is making the world more beautiful with its innovative ideas on a regular basis. But the beauty that lies in nature's creations is undeniably stunning. Some of them are so awe-inspiring that people believe God to be an artist, whose canvas is planet Earth. India is home to quite a few natural wonders -- those that can fill a traveller's heart with joy. Let's take a quick look at the ones that deserve a place in every traveller's diary.

Lonar Crater Lake, Maharashtra

 

Located right outside the Lonar town in Maharashtra, there's lake which looks like the creation of something unearthly. Well, not an alien of course! The space was formed when a meteor crashed on Earth about 50,000 years ago. Considered as the world's third largest crater, the Lonar Crater Lake is both saline and alkaline in nature and looks green in colour when looked at from a distance. The circumference of the lake is said to be eight kilometres at the top, and 4.8 km at the bottom. One can find various mentions of this lake in ancient scripts like Skanda Puran, the Padma Puran and Aaina-i-Akbari.

Balancing Rock, Tamil Nadu

 Most travellers want to visit Mahabalipuram in search of amazing heritage sites and beautiful ancient temples. But when you are there, do take out some time to witness this natural wonder as well. A massive stone, popularly known as the Krishna's Butter Ball, has balanced itself precariously at the slippery edge of a hill for ages. Looking at it, one wonders as to how come a 20-feet-high, 5-metre-wide and 250-ton stone stood the test of time to remain stuck at that place for so many years. Apart from attracting travellers, the rock also serves as a shade for animals who want to stay away from the sun for a while.

Heart Shaped Lake, Kerala

 

 It's places like these that make you wonder if God is actually an artist. Located at Chembra Peak, the highest point of Wayanad at an altitude of 6,900 feet, is the famous Heart Shaped Lake. As the name suggests, the lake is actually in the shape of a giant heart! Adding to the beauty of this lake is the charm of the Western Ghats, which the Chembra Peak is a part of, and the enchanting Nilgiri Hills lying right next to it. What makes this lake even more wondrous is the fact that it has never dried up.

Valley of Flowers, Uttarakhand

 This place looks like one right out of a fairy tale. At first look, Valley of Flowers in Uttarakhand, doesn't look like a place that has naturally come into being. After all, nowhere else in the world will you see acres of land filled with so many colourful flowers arranged uniformly in different clusters spread across the place naturally. Talking about the variety, the place is home to more than 300 endemic types of alpine flowers. The snow-clad Himalayan peaks make for a stunning backdrop to this place.

Hogenakkal Falls, Tamil Nadu

Thanks to the sheer size of this waterfall, it is often referred to as the Niagara of India. Located on River Kaveri, in the Dharmapuri district of Tamil Nadu, the Hogenakkal Falls is counted amongst the most stunning tourist attractions in the country. One can spend hours looking at the milky-white water lashing down the heights along with the constant sound of the gushing water, which is soothing to the ears. The waterfall can be best experienced with the help of boat rides, that are also popular among the tourists visiting this place.

St Mary's Island, Karnataka




What makes this island so special is its numerous volcanic rock formations. Known as the Columnar Basaltic Lava, this set of hexagonal and polygonal rocks were formed about 60 million years ago, during the formation of the Deccan Traps, when dense viscid basaltic lava cooled down and took various interesting shapes. The shapes are so distinct that these rocks actually look man-made.

Belum Caves, Andhra Pradesh

 The dark caverns of Belum Caves are there to make travellers feel delighted in more ways than one. With a depth of around 3.5 km, it is the second largest cave in India and is also considered one of the longest caves in the Indian subcontinent. The stalactite and stalagmite formations in this cave make for a sight that is hard to forget in an entire lifetime. A traveller is often left awestruck at the beauty of this place, which was formed due to the constant flow of underground water for centuries. With all that in knowledge, one wonders as to how ancient this place is, and the kind of secrets and memories it has had over the years. Only 1.5 km of the cave is open to the tourists