6 Wonderful Destinations That Many Have Never Heard Of

Our world is an incredible place filled with endless wonders, and travelling enables one to discover things that are fascinating and are amazing to behold.

But many of the beautiful places in the world have been well trodden by thousands of tourists and travellers—making popular wonders such as the Taj Mahal and the Palace of Versailles unappealing to those in the search of unique yet unvisited.

Here are some of the most wonderful destinations in the world—that you might have never heard of.

The Las Lajas Sanctuary in Colombia

Colombia has definitely suffered an image problem thanks to the proliferation of illegal substances in the country. However, do not let that discourage you from visiting Colombia—the country offers a wide range of exciting and unique destinations, including the Las Lajas Sanctuary. Found in the town of Ipiales (which is very close to the country’s border with Ecuador), this breathtaking Gothic cathedral looks like a fairy tale structure rising out of the cloudy forest. The sanctuary is built a hundred meters over one of the gorges in the Gualtara River.

Local legend says that the Virgin Mary have appeared on a stone wall on the gorge, and cured a man and a little girl of their blindness. As of present, the stone wall where the Blessed Virgin made an appearance is used as the back wall of the cathedral, and locals still travel from far and wide to pray inside the sanctuary and feast their eyes on the dramatic view the Las Lajas Sanctuary offers.

The Northern Coast of Brazil

Brazil is one of the most popular destinations for those who want a tropical holiday, and one might easily dismiss this South American paradise as filled to the brim with thousands of other tourists. However, in the northern coast of the country, you can easily find a tropical paradise that is all for you. Jericoacoara, a fishing village found around 300 kilometres west of Fortaleza, is the perfect Brazilian destination for those who want to holiday in peace. Kite and wind surfing are very popular in this village, thanks to its clear blue waters, desert sand dunes, and reliable winds.

The Kalash Valley in Pakistan

No thanks to the negative image that the Middle East has suffered over the years, not a lot of tourists and travellers have dared to set foot in the region. However, if you can get over the media reports and other unsavoury comments on the Middle East, you should definitely visit the Kalash Valley in Pakistan.

The Kalash Valley is home to locals with a distinct polytheistic religion and set of features, which stand out from the rest of the country. Legend says that the Kalash are descended from the soldiers of Alexander the Great, which explains their Mediterranean features and different cultures. Getting to the Kalash Valley can be an arduous journey, but you will be greatly rewarded with an amazing experience once you have reached your destination.

The Ranakpur Temple of India

India boasts of one of the oldest civilizations in the world, and their numerous temples, palaces, forts, and mausoleums prove that Indian architecture is truly one of the world’s greatest treasures. However, the more popular destinations are often overrun with tourists, which greatly hinder a more introspective traveller’s enjoyment of a certain place. Rajasthan, a mystical destination once known as the “land of the kings”, is filled with amazing forts and palaces, and has a gorgeous site to offer travellers: the Ranakpur Temple. Rajasthan is located in the western part of India, and the Ranakpur Temple can be found near the city of Udaipur.

The exterior of the Ranakpur Temple alone is enough to amaze you, but make sure to go in for more jaw-dropping wonders. The entire temple is built with white marble, and the thousands of pillars within Ranakpur are intricately carved by ancient craftsmen in obsessive detail. There are four statues within the heart of the temple, including one of 108 snakes carved from a single slab of gorgeous marble.

The Kailas Mountain in Tibet

Most travellers go to this specific part of the world to tackle on the peaks of the Everest and the K2, but Mt Kalias is definitely worth the visit. With a snow-capped peak reaching up to 6,660 meters in height, Mt Kalias is believed to be the seat of the gods. Mt Kalias is actually a sacred mountain for a wide variety of religions, including Bonism, Buddhism, Hinduism, and Jainism.

If you want to embark on a sacred journey on Mt Kalias, you can tread the path of the kora, a 52-kilometer hike that you can do in a day. Just make sure that you are properly acclimatized for the temperature and the altitude.

The Sea Caves of Wisconsin

Known as the Jewels of Lake Superior, the Apostle Islands is found in America’s largest lake. The Apostle Islands boast of a network of sea caves, sculpted through years upon years of crashing waves meeting the sandstone cliffs. These breathtaking natural sculptures are essentially products of erosion, and can be found on the Sand Island and the Devil’s Island, and visible from the lakeshore mainland. While American national parks have plenty of visitors everyday, these sea caves are relatively pristine and do not draw the crowds like other national parks do.

The sea caves are perfect for a tranquil kayak trip during the summer, but winter definitely changes the game. Lake Superior typically freezes near these sea caves during the winter, and you can easily take a two-mile hike on the ice to get deeper into the mainland caves.