You might be a daily visitor to our blog, or just a history enthusiast who bumped into us for another historical fact or maybe a travel freak looking for your next travel guide. Well, if mystery and extraordinary places fascinate you, this blog is just for you! We are about to go on an adventure of exploring 9 mysteries/mysterious places in India weaved together in the threads of science and folktales.
1. The mysterious village of Kodinhi
This tiny village in Kerala has become a global sensation due to its high rate of twin births! Kodinhi, also known as the ‘twin village,’ is a wonder to the people for the number of twins it cradles. The twin birth rate here is the highest, globally, leaving scientists and other people puzzled. While genetic predisposition plays an important role, scientists have yet to figure out the exact genetic factor responsible for this wonder!
This village has now adopted this twin phenomenon as its cultural identity and organizes various festivals and celebrations to honor these twins.
Kodinhi not only attracts visitors but also eager learners and scientists who are still trying to decode this miracle! In our quest to find out the top 9 mysteries of India, this mysterious village attains the 9th spot.
2. A Lost Treasure
The ‘pink city’ of Jaipur is also home to many forts and palaces, including the majestic Fort of Jaigarh. The fort isn’t limited to its cultural history but also its political one, including modern politics. It is believed that the secret chambers of the forts were filled with infinite wealth during the Kachwaha dynasty. Originally believed to be a reward for Raja Man Singh’s victory in the wars in Kabul, the wealth was believed to be never-ending. In 1977, during the emergency, the then-prime minister, Indira Gandhi, had a search team to look for the rumored treasure.
Although they failed drastically, a belief still goes that the infinite treasure is still hidden somewhere in a massive water tank within the fort! Wherever it is, is still a mystery and it goes to the 8th spot in our quest.
3. The Skeleton Lake of India
Roopkund, a high-altitude glacial lake, is a popular trekking destination and is widely known for the mysterious presence of numerous human skeletons in and around it. Situated in the lap of the Trishul massif, the lake is about 40 meters in diameter and 3 meters in depth and remains frozen throughout the winters. The lake is however surrounded by hundreds of human skeletons which makes it both eerie and intriguing for both the trekkers and scientists to explore.
Various theories revolve around the mystery of these dead humans including the one where these skeletons are believed to be of Japanese soldiers who died here during World War II. However, a closer examination led to the realization that these bones date back to centuries and of two different time periods! Hailstorm could be the probable cause of death; however, nothing has been confirmed making it more mysterious. We keep it on the 7th spot!
4. The secret chamber of the Padmanabhaswamy Temple
The Padmanabhaswamy Temple, located in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, is a famous Hindu pilgrimage site in South India. The temple, although a treasure trove of cultural and historical wealth, is famous among the public for its mysterious “secret chamber.” In the year 2011, a Supreme Court-appointed committee was given the task of assessing the temple, which eventually brought this secret chamber’ into light.
The chamber when opened, left the committee and the public in shock due to the amount of gold, precious stones, and other valuable artifacts it stored.
However, the discovery of the treasure led to controversial disputes among the government, the royal family, and the temple’s ruling family.
The temple is not limited to a single chamber. Another of its vaults remains unopened due to the belief that it is guarded by supernatural forces and curses. The mystery of this ‘secret chamber’ climbs to the 6th spot of our quest.
5. Jatinga, the Valley of Suicide
While you might be skeptical of why a valley of suicide made it to our list, we must clear it to you that this ‘valley of suicide’ has nothing to do with humans. The Jatinga valley of the Dimasa Hasao district is known for ‘mass suicide’ by birds! This eerie phenomenon where hundreds of birds fly at a high speed and crash into the trees has left scientists stunned. The phenomenon, however, occurs during the late monsoon, around the foggy times of September and November.
Some scientists believe that the high altitude, fast-flowing wind, and the fog and mist of the month are responsible for the dreadful conditions of the birds, while another theory suggests that the area’s unusual electromagnetic field might disrupt the birds’ navigation systems. The reason remains a mystery and a reason of death for many birds, including the kingfishers, pigeons, owls, etc. The mysterious valley of Jatinga sits on the 5th spot of the 9 mysteries.
6. The Nine Unknown Men
The Nine Unknown Men was a legendary group of scholars and experts believed to have been appointed by Emperor Ashoka of the Mauryan Empire. These 9 men were believed to be a part of some kind of’secret society’ and were tasked with safeguarding the knowledge and practices that, if placed in the wrong hands, might be dangerous to humanity. These nine fields of knowledge were: sociology, warfare, communication, physiology, microbiology, light, alchemy, gravitation, and cosmology.
Secret societies have always been a hot topic of discussion and a matter of wonder. Multiple secret societies are believed to have existed and these existed as the ones running the world far away from the gaze of the commoners. Now whether these 9 men actually existed or not is still a mystery; however, we will declare it as the 4th mystery and move ahead.
7. The Door-less houses?
Did you know that India has a village where the houses do not have doors? Well, even though it sounds so fictional, it is actually true! The small village of Shani Shingnapur in Maharashtra is renowned for its unique practice of having door-less houses! The village is also famously known for its shrine dedicated to the Lord Shani. The people of this village put their faith in Lord Shani and have removed the doors from their houses, believing that the Lord will guard their homes and belongings.
A remarkable example of cultural faith, Shani Shingnapur demonstrates the trust and belief a community possesses about its culture and tradition. Even though there have been a few reports in recent years, the people of the village still have their trust put into their Lord as they continue to live doorless. Definitely worth the 3rd position in our quest!
8. The Hanging Pillar of Lepakshi
Call it a wonder, a marvel of architecture, or just a mystery, but the hanging pillars at Lepakshi still manage to blow the minds of its visitors. Situated in Andhra Pradesh, this unique pillar seems to be suspended mid-air! Surprisingly, the base of the pillar never touches the ground creating a small gap between the pillar and the floor. The visitors often test this gap by passing thin pieces of paper or clothes in the gap making it clearly visible.
This marvel of architecture left many scholars and historians stunned due to its easy defy of gravity.
Different theories include different explanations. While some believe it’s just a showcase of the architectural marvel that the ancient architectures could crate, others believe that an earthquake or shift in grounds might have caused this appearance. Some people also believe that initially there might have been some defect during the construction, which later resulted in this appearance. Whatever it may be, it did not fail to amuse us or to bag the 2nd position!
9. The Magnetic Hill of Ladakh
This unique attraction in Ladakh defies gravity! This final and most fantastic mystery of our quest is the magnetic hill of Ladakh. If you have a vehicle parked here, you will still notice it running at a constant speed of 10-15 km/h. According to a theory, the hill road is actually a downhill road, but it appears to be uphill due to the optical illusion; however, the local folklore suggests that the hill has magnetic properties strong enough to pull vehicles uphill! The magnetic hill isn’t just a cool product of science; it also offers great scenic views. A popular tourist destination, people often come here to witness this magic of science.
However, the matter of belief arises only if you look at them through the lens of myths. But if you are someone who believes in science, these facts wouldn’t fail to amaze you! This magnetic hill definitely steals the 1st position in our quest!
CONCLUSION
These places do not only captivate people with their exciting history and beauty but also mesmerize them with their mysteries. Exploring these areas of mystery might help us debunk the myths and folktales related to them while understanding the science behind them. While some of these are a product of history, others are mere scientific facts. Whatever they may be, they do not fail to amuse us in all possible ways!
Science or myth? Let us know in the comment section.
Read out our Kamakhya Devi Temple blog to know about the mystery the temple hides within itself. Historical Kamakhya Devi Temple: Assam’s Divine Feminine Power