10 new Indian destinations (you’ve not heard of)

From a Tibetan colony in central India to a luxe leopard safari camp, here are 10 new places in the country for your travel bragging rights:

Amadubi, Jharkhand

In one line: Make a day trip from Jamshedpur to watch artists at work

Though India is known for its rich art forms, the concept of Pyatkar painting is not so widely known. Chitrakars in Jharkhand paint on scrolls made from leaves and barks as they relate ancient legends through a series of pictures. Just 65km from Jamshedpur, Amadubi is home to these artists and presents a wonderful opportunity to watch the pictorial storytellers at work. Experience village tourism in rustic huts at a newly designed tourist complex while dining on local delicacies such as ud-pitha (steamed rice dumpling with lentils), gud-pitha (with jaggery) or zil-pitha (non-vegetarian). The akhara (open stage) showcases traditional dances linked to agricultural practices during colourful festivals such as Tusu parab (Jan–Feb), Sarhul/Baha (Feb–Mar), Dansai (Oct–Nov) and Sohrai (Nov–Dec). The nearest railway station Dhalbhumgarh, 9km from the village, has historic sites such as Rajbari, the palace of the Raja of Dhalbhum, besides the Trivineshwar and Dasbhuj temples. Samples of Pyatkar paintings, dokra craft, Mithila hand-painted saris and the region's rich crafts can be bought at Biponi Handicrafts in Jamshedpur, which also organises trips to Amadubi. Website

Parule and Bhogwe, Maharashtra

In one line: An authentic farmstay experience, complete with plantation walks and Malvani cuisine

The Konkani settlement of Parule was once Parulya gramam, built around a Surya temple where the rays of the setting sun touched the idol before disappearing over the horizon. The temple's renovation may have eclipsed this phenomenon, but the magic of the region is intact. Stay with the Samants at Maachli while enjoying life on a farm—milk a cow, get a fish spa treatment in a natural stream, go on a plantation walk and learn how to use a laath (the traditional method of drawing water for irrigation) as you relish delicious Malvani cuisine. Go on a morning nature trail to a shepherd's temple or a longer sunset trek to the beach. Nearby, Bhogwe, lying in the shadow of Tarkarli, has remained unnoticed by travellers. But the rustic eco cottages made of bamboo, cane and thatch offer stunning coastal views and an enriching experience. Visit a devrai (sacred grove) or cashew-processing units, go bird-watching in serene mangroves in country crafts, and enjoy sunsets at Kille Nivti fort before taking a boat ride to Golden Rocks. Stop by at Chiva, designer George Oomen's store near Kudal for innovative bamboo products. Bhogwe: +91 94230 52022; a.samant4530@gmail.com

Hankon, Karnataka

In one line: For the eco-conscious adventurist

A 12km diversion from Karwar towards Dandeli on SH-95 leads past agricultural fields, railway crossings and Asnoti village, till finally, you reach the riverside hamlet of Hankon. Spread over five acres by the gently flowing River Kali, Riveredge Paradise is an eco-adventure camp that offers a range of water-sports right on the property! Try kayaking, canoeing, rafting, tubing and river crossing, or go rock-climbing and rappelling 4km away at Pata. For white-water rafting, banana0boat rides and other aqua adventures, head to Kali River Lodge at Dandeli or Devbagh Beach Resort, on an island off Karwar. Stay in wooden cabins or comfortable tents, with a river-facing restaurant serving fresh seafood. Solar-lit pathways, solar-heated water supply and the wastewater-treatment plant enhance the eco-experience. +91-8382266742, +91-9845588439

Damro, Arunachal Pradesh

In one line: Visit the original village of the Adi Padam tribe and witness their age-old customs

The longest hanging bridge in Arunachal Pradesh at Damro sways gently over a silvery slash of River Yamne as Adi Padam herders head to the forests with their mithun. A domesticated form of the gaur (Indian bison), these semi-feral bovines recognise their master's call and lumber forth for salt. Just above the woods, surrounded by terraced fields, is Yamne Abor, a cluster of thatched bamboo houses in a clearing. Run by Tsange Tsering Thungon and Oken Tayeng, the country home is a great base to explore this hidden back route between Pasighat and Yingkiong. Visit Damro, the original village of the Adi Padam tribe, and get an insight into their unusual Donyi-Polo culture, centred on the worship of the sun and the moon. Try the local staple of smoked pork, lai (leaves), raja chilli chutney and apong (rice beer). Watch men wield daos (machetes) with practiced ease as women carry firewood or harvested crops in cane baskets called beyen. For stay at Yamne Abor or longer explorations in the Northeast, contact Abor Country Travels & Expeditions.

Neduncheri T Puthur, Tamil Nadu

In one line: Marvel at the rich Chola tradition and get your fortune read by a parrot

Just 12km from Chidambaram and 2km east of Veeranam Lake, Lakshmi Vilas is a heritage hotel run by the Saradharam group at Neduncheri, housed in a traditional 1927 pannaiyar bangla (landlord's bungalow) on Sivankoil Street. Replicating Chola architecture and showcasing rich Tamil traditions and cultural heritage, the heritage bungalow has an ethnic charm. The sprawling 4½-acre property has 20 heritage rooms and a restaurant in a coconut grove. Visit the adjacent Shiva temple, get your fortune read by a parrot (Kili jyotisam) and play traditional games such as Pallankuzhi (board game played with seeds), Adu Puli (tiger-hunt board game), Goli Gundu (marble-stone balls), Pambaram (spinning a top with thread) and Uri Adithal, where blindfolded participants break a clay pot hung above their heads. Lakshmi Vilas is a great base for birding at Veeranam Lake or the mangrove forest at Pichavaram.

Garamur, Majuli, Assam

In one line: Visit now, before Majuli gains world-heritage status and the tourists arrive

At Garamur satra, a gigantic yellow sculpture of Garuda broods in solitude as the still air is broken by the sound of adolescent storks clattering their beaks in the trees above. One of the largest riverine islands in the world, Majuli's geographic isolation and serene atmosphere drew Vaishnava saint Srimant Shankardev (1449–1568), who set up Majuli's first satra (monastic centre) at Belguri. Patronised by Ahom kings, music, dance, theatre and the arts prospered at the various satras. Over the years, the River Brahmaputra has shrunk the 1,200sqkm island to its present size of 460sqkm. Its fragile environment and unique cultural landscape make Majuli an aspirant for the UNESCO World Heritage tag. Stay in bamboo cottages such as La Maison de Ananda (House of Joy), Me:Po Okum (House of Happiness) and Do:Ni Polo (named after Sun–Moon, the Mishing gods) modelled after a Chang ghar, an ethnic hut of the Mishing tribe. Feast on Mishing cuisine such as fish, duck and bamboo shoots and catch blazing sunsets at Luit Ghat. On riverside walks to tribal settlements, watch young girls catch fish in swamps as women clatter away on looms to weave mirizim (ethnic shawl) and homespun textiles. The raas festival in Oct–Nov is a great time to visit. La Maison de Ananda: +91-9957186356 (Manjeet), danny002in@yahoo.com. Me:Po Okum: +91-9435203165

Poppalwadi, Goa

In one line: An eco-camp so remote that you're picked up from a more accessible location

With no electricity, phones or roads, Off The Grid is a unique homestay experience in the Western Ghats run by white-water specialist John Pollard and his wife Sylvia Kerkar, a pottery artist. Eco-friendly, small, organic, rustic and ultra-low impact, the camp has adapted well to its remote environment. Located 600m above sea level on the Goa–Karnataka border, it has a wonderful climate all year round. Solar-powered LED lights provide lighting, and the use of cool materials and maximised ventilation offsets the lack of fans. Water is tapped from a waterfall above the property. Stay in teepee tents with attached bathrooms, or airy rooftop rooms with sit-outs. In the absence of nearby shops, the camp grows as much food as they can. Oven-fired pizzas, homemade breads, and barbecues, with a smattering of Japanese, Indian and Italian dishes, provide enough culinary variety. Go on guided walks to a private waterfall, nature treks, night safaris, and off-road drives to Dudhsagar waterfall. Being a remote property, guests are brought from the pick-up point at Castle Rock.

Jawai, Rajasthan

In one line: India's coolest leopard-spotting destination

Equidistant from Udaipur and Jodhpur, and an hour's drive away from the Jain temple at Ranakpur and the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Kumbhalgarh Fort, is Jawai Leopard Camp. It is located upstream of Jawai Bandh, one of western Rajasthan's largest reservoirs, which is abuzz with flamingos, geese, cranes and other migratory birds. However, leopards are Jawai's main attraction and the camp is virtually enclosed by leopard country. Stay in luxurious tents, with a private deck offering an uninterrupted view of the wilderness and the dramatic landscape of granite formations, scrub and sandy riverbeds. Experienced guides help you track the elusive big cats in customised 4x4 safari jeeps. Wildlife trails may also reveal the Indian wolf, sloth bear, antelope and smaller game, which all coexist with vibrant Rabari herdsmen.

Mainpat, Chhattisgarh

In one line: Because not many have yet heard of a Tibetan settlement in the hills of central India

You may have visited the gompas of Dharamsala, Sikkim or Ladakh and even the gilded monasteries of Bylakuppe in Karnataka, but a Tibetan settlement in the hills of central India? Now that's a find! After the Chinese invasion of Tibet in the 1960s, one group of Tibetan refugees working in road construction at Sitapur arrived at Mainpat (now in central Chhattisgarh). Amazed by its cool climes, the Tibetan delegation surveyed the land, and nearly 3,000 acres of wild tract was allocated to them with the consent of the Home Ministry.

Today, the group of 62 plateaus perched at 3,200ft wears a different look, with prayer flags fluttering in the breeze. A 30km ascent from the base of the hill through forests of sal and bauxite mines leads to Mainpat. Divided into seven camps that support a 2,000-strong population, the key attraction is the Thakpo Shedupling Monastery. Built in 1970, it houses old thangkas, wall murals, and a solar heater that boils water and cooks rice in just 30 minutes. Stay in Swiss tents at Mercury Resort & Restaurant, with Tibetan food and bamboo décor. Head to scenic viewpoints such as Mehta Point, Tiger Point and Jaljali, or visit farms of potato and tau (buckwheat)—good for controlling blood pressure and cholesterol. Website

Urakam, Kerala

In one line: Learn pottery from the masters in God's own country

Thrissur is the undisputed centre of Keralan art and culture. But there's more to it than the Guruvayoor School of Art, Kerala Kalamandalam, and Pooram, the majestic festival of caparisoned elephants. A 10km drive from town takes you to Urakam, where Clayfingers Pottery teaches you to shape earth into things of beauty. Set in peaceful rustic surroundings by a river, this multidisciplinary 15,000sqft pottery studio is a resurrected brick-and-tile factory that was built in the 1950s. Offering artist in residence programmes and internship courses, Clayfingers allows you to discover or hone your skills at clay modelling and glazing from national and international experts. Visit the pottery village Kumbhara gramam at Cheruthuruthy to watch traditional potters practising a craft that has withstood the onslaught of time for generations.