From Glowing Seas To Floating Forests: 8 Natural Marvels Across India

11 December 2025

Dec 11, 2025, 12:00 PM
Photo Credit : 30 Stades

Across India, nature works in ways that surprise even seasoned travellers. Glowing beaches, floating islands and uphill-rolling cars reveal landscapes shaped by forces you don’t encounter every day.

Photo Credit : Instagram/@the.indiaexplorer

1. Magnetic Hill, Ladakh

At Ladakh’s Magnetic Hills, vehicles appear to roll uphill because of a clever optical illusion created by the slopes and horizon. It gives the sense that gravity has flipped.

Photo Credit : Golden Wheels

2. Invisible Chandipur Beach, Odisha

Twice a day, Chandipur Beach pulls the sea back by nearly 5 km, uncovering shells, small crabs and rippled sand patterns. It turns into a vast open seabed for a few hours.

Photo Credit : Sand pebbles tours

3. Bioluminescent, Lakshadweep

On some nights, the shores glow blue as bioluminescent plankton light the waves. The shimmering water creates a calm, star-like glow along the coastline.

Photo Credit : Viacation

4. Reverse waterfall, Maharashtra

At Naneghat, strong monsoon winds push the waterfall streams upward. The water lifts instead of falling, creating a rare scene that feels almost gravity-free.

Photo Credit : Holidify

5. Living root bridge, Meghalaya

Communities in Meghalaya guide the aerial roots of rubber trees so they form bridges over streams.

Photo Credit : Travenjo

6. Phumdis, Manipur

Phumdis are floating islands on Manipur’s Loktak Lake. Made of soil, vegetation and organic matter, they drift with the seasons and support a unique lake ecosystem.

Photo Credit : bw travel

7. Lonar Crater Lake, Maharashtra

A meteor impact in ancient basalt created this circular lake. Its saline-alkaline water and unusual geology offer insights into planetary science.

Photo Credit : Indiahikes

8. Red Rain, Kerala

In parts of Wayanad, winds lift red algae spores into clouds. When it rains, the droplets appear crimson, creating a rare and scientifically intriguing event.

Photo Credit : Superb collection