5 Monsoon Spots Where Hills Become Islands, Fields Turn Pink & Waterfalls Flow Up

Every monsoon, a few places in India change so dramatically that they feel worth planning an entire trip around. In Rajasthan, green hillocks sit surrounded by water like tiny islands. In Karnataka, a 160-year-old church slips halfway underwater. Manipur has islands that actually float, Kerala’s paddy fields turn pink, and strong winds in Maharashtra can send a waterfall back towards the sky.

The best part is that these sights belong to the rains. Water levels, blooms and winds decide exactly what you will see, so the view can change from one week to the next. If you like travelling for experiences that appear for only a short part of the year, these five places deserve a spot on your monsoon list.

1. Banswara, Rajasthan: Where green hills turn into 100 islands

Rajasthan during the monsoon can look completely different from the Rajasthan in your head. Head south to Banswara and the Mahi River opens into a landscape of water, green hills and scattered islands, earning the region its name, the ‘City of a Hundred Islands’. 

This is the time to head towards the Mahi Bajaj Sagar Dam and Chacha Kota, where water surrounds green hillocks and gives you wide views across the river and backwaters. Add the waterfalls around Banswara and you have one of Rajasthan’s most surprising rainy-season escapes. July to September is particularly good for seeing the district at its greenest. 

Plan your visit: Ratlam, around 80 km away, is the nearest major railway station, while Udaipur is the closest major airport. Banswara is also well connected by road from Udaipur, Ratlam, Indore and Ahmedabad. 

2. Shettihalli, Karnataka: Where a church goes half underwater

Imagine reaching an old Gothic church and finding its arches rising straight out of a reservoir. That is the sight that brings travellers to Shettihalli in Karnataka every monsoon.

Built by French missionaries in the 1860s, the Shettihalli Church was abandoned after the Hemavathi Dam and reservoir came up. As the reservoir fills during the rains, water surrounds and partially submerges the ruins, leaving parts of the church visible above the surface. The exact view changes with the season and rainfall. 

Plan your visit: The church is around 21 km from Hassan and about 205 km from Bengaluru. The Hassan district administration lists visiting hours from 6 am to 7 pm. If seeing the submerged version is your main reason for going, check recent water levels before starting your trip. 

3. Loktak Lake, Manipur: Where Islands Actually Float

A boat ride on Loktak Lake comes with a sight you are unlikely to find anywhere else: pieces of land floating on the water, some carrying fishing huts and supporting the lives of local communities.

These floating masses are called phumdis, thick layers of vegetation, soil and organic matter that move with the lake. From Sendra, you can look across the water and spot the floating patches, boats and winding channels below. Head out on the lake and the experience gets even closer, with fishermen living in floating huts called phumsangs. 

There is another reason to make the trip. Loktak is home to Keibul Lamjao National Park, recognised by Manipur Tourism as the world’s only floating national park and the last natural habitat of the endangered Sangai deer. Tourist boating and water activities are also organised around the lake. 

Plan your visit: Loktak lies about 48 km from Imphal in Bishnupur district. Sendra is one of the easiest places to take in the lake from above, while Moirang and the lake area have tourist stays and homestays. Check the latest local weather, road and travel advisories before setting out. 

4. Malarikkal, Kerala: Where paddy fields turn pink

Set your alarm early for this one. During the rainy season, water-filled paddy fields in Malarikkal, near Kottayam, begin filling with pink water lilies. At their peak, the flowers stretch across the fields while small boats move between the blooms.

The experience is best seen from the water. Local boatmen take visitors towards the flowering stretches, and the 2026 season has also brought flower sellers and tea stalls back around the village. This year’s blooms had already begun appearing in parts of the fields by June, with the main season generally arriving around August. 

Plan your visit: Go between 6 am and 8 am, when the lilies are open before the stronger sun makes them droop. The boat ride to some blooming stretches takes roughly five to eight minutes. Malarikkal is about 13 km from Kumarakom, making the two easy to combine. Agree on the boat fare and ride duration before boarding, wear the provided life jacket, and leave the flowers where they grow.

5. Naneghat, Maharashtra: Where a waterfall seems to flow up

At Naneghat, you may find yourself watching a waterfall and wondering whether your eyes have got it wrong. During strong monsoon weather, water falling from the cliff can be blown back upwards, creating the striking sight known as a reverse waterfall. 

The effect comes from powerful winds moving through the mountain pass and pushing falling water and spray back towards the top. It is weather-dependent, which means there is no guarantee of catching the full effect on every visit. The surrounding Sahyadri hills, mist and green plateau make the trip worthwhile even when the winds are less dramatic. 

There is history here too. Naneghat was an ancient trade route through the Western Ghats, so you can combine the monsoon views with the old pass and nearby rock-cut remains. 

Plan your visit: Naneghat is near Junnar and can be planned from Pune or Mumbai. Check weather conditions and access restrictions before leaving, especially during heavy rain and high winds. Stay well back from cliff edges and avoid exposed viewpoints when authorities restrict access.

Sources: 

‘Places in India that turn beautifully green during monsoons’ by Panchali Dey for Times Travel, Published on 14 July 2021.

‘8 Hidden Monsoon Villages In India That Look Straight Out Of A Storybook’ by Mahi Adlakha for Curly tales, Published on 25 June 2026.

‘Islands In The Rain: When Bastar’s Villages Vanish From Map’ by Anurag Dwary for NDTV, Published on 26 June 2025.

Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: thebetterindia.com