The prettiest of settlements lie in lands hidden from mankind, in places far, far away, and considered uninhabitable for most. Ever wondered how the natives of these lands survived with peace by adapting themselves to their natural surroundings, completely hidden from the rest of the world?
From an Indian monastery hidden in a cave, to the goat-land of Undredal in Norway, and from the molehill Coober Pedy in Australia, to an unknown place in Mali – the Earth is full of things that will leave you in awe of how marvellous nature can be.
The Phugtal Monastery or Phugtal Gompa is one of the most secluded monasteries in the world. Located at the entrance to a cave on a cliff face in the south-eastern Zanskar region in Ladakh, it is made from mud and timber, and was founded in the 12th century. A stone tablet at the monastery is a reminder of the stay of Alexander Csoma de Kőrös at Phuktal between 1826 and 1827.
The palm trees and lagoon in this surreal place has made Huacachina a traveler’s hot favourite. It is a small oasis town in a barren desert in south-western Peru, and the 96 residents here, who run small businesses, welcome visitors with open arms!
The Aussies built an entire town concealed underground with a population of 1700-odd people, to deal with the unbearable heat there. It is located under the massive mole hills you see in the picture. Because of the precious opals mined there, Coober Pedy is also known as the 'opal capital of the world'.
With a population of 16, this village which looks like a scene from Game Of Thrones is the most beautiful part of the poorly known and distant Faroe Islands. Gásadalur is located on the edge of Mykinesfjørður, surrounded by the highest mountains on Vágar. A tunnel was blasted through the rock in 2004, and it is possible to drive through to this place by car.
Furore is a sight to behold! An Italian village with colourful houses decorated with murals, it looks like a place straight out of an artist’s mind. There is an interesting story behind the colours which says that for the longest time, Furore was hidden from the eye of the traveller. Nobody knew about the beauty that existed. It started being called the 'village that doesn't exist'. Following these claims, the mayor of the town ordered the houses to be painted in bright, vibrant colours so that the beauty of the village could be spotted from the coastal road.
Administered by Tokyo, Aogashima is probably the only inhabited volcanic island there is. Currently, a home to around 170-200 people, this magical island measures a mere 8.75 sq km. Even though the last proper volcano that erupted here was in the 1780s, living on this island means a constant threat to life. Imagine living inside an active volcano! *gasps*
With a population of only 64 people, this little village town is my personal favourite! Oh, what I’d give to be here! Cut off from the rest of the world, in peace and tranquility, literally in the middle of nowhere, Isortoq is paradise. Earlier, the inhabitants of this place would have to rely only on meat for food since the harsh conditions wouldn't allow for any green to grow. And now, there is a supermarket here, offering a variety of things. They even have a heliport now!
Accessible only by boat till 1988, Undredal is less of a township and more of Wonderland! Famous for its brown goat cheese and goat sausages, this little town is home to more goats than humans. Yes, there are 100 people and 500 goats in Undredal!
Definitely the most remote village on the list, and probably also the most remote settlement known to mankind till date, this group is islands is right in the middle of the ocean. Tristan da Cunha is 2000 kms away from Saint Helena, 2,400 kms from South Africa and 3,360 kms from South America. The only way to reach this gorgeous place is by a six-day boat journey from South Africa, or as a part of an unforgettable month-long cruise through the South Atlantic Ocean.
The White House is adorned with the best building stone in the world. This is the place of origin of the famous Brac stone, it is the single most beautiful island in Croatia.
Located in the middle of the Himalayas, this village is only available if you go on foot or by horse and donkey. Built to support one of the numerous surrounding castles, it is pristine and nothing like you would’ve ever seen.
Göreme is actually open-air museum where you will find numerous houses, some built in the rocks some not, in addition to churches built in the rocks. Located among the "fairy chimney" rock formations, it is a town in Cappadocia, a historical region of Turkey. It is also home to Derinkuyu, an ancient multi-level underground city.
13) An anonymous village, Mali
This anonymous village on the bank of the river Niger, in Mali, is a mystery. Nobody knows what it's like, or how many people live here. People know absolutely nothing about this place. Nobody even knows its name, let alone other details! Doesn’t it make you curious?
Even a hundred lives aren’t enough to entirely explore the heavenly wonder that Earth is!
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