India in itself has more secrets and surprises than half the world combined. Though the idea of India abroad is all elephants and cows and mystic shamans in crowded streets and thin alleys, there are places to go and sights to see in your very own country that will surprise you beyond belief. There's beaches to match those of Malaysia, mountains grander than the Alps and forests more mysterious than the Amazon. Next time you're thinking about heading abroad for a beach vacation; reconsider, because these places will definitely give you a lust to check out your own country right now:

1. Uncannily similar to the Maldives?

Nope, it's Varkala in Kerala, a place made up of extraordinary cliffs and beaches.

2. Does this look like the roads in France's Champs-Elysees?

It's actually Pondicherry, a city filled with quaint French architecture and heritage.