World's most unusual borders that feel stranger than fiction; what travellers need to know

Who would have thought that borders separating two countries could be so unique that they world become an attraction in themselves attracting travellers from all over. Some parts of the world are blessed with borders so bizarre that a single house can sit in two countries, and residents can cross borders simply by walking across their living room! Yes, you read that right. For offbeat travellers, these unusual borders offer some of the world's most unique travel experiences.

Let’s have a look:

Longwa is home to one of the world's most unusual borders! It is the international boundary between India and Myanmar which runs directly through the house of the village chief. One part of his home is in India, while the other is in Myanmar, allowing him to technically live in two countries at once. Sounds amusing right. It’s a popular tourist attraction here.

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Now this one is often touted as the world's most confusing border. It is set between Belgium and the Netherlands. The twin towns of Baarle-Hertog and Baarle-Nassau create a puzzle which has confused visitors for centuries now, yes centuries! The area has around 30 separate territorial fragments. But what’s fascinating is that border markings run directly through streets, stores, restaurants and even in some homes!

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The Haskell Free Library and Opera House sit on the border between Canada and the United States. Now this is another one of the world's most unusual public buildings which was built intentionally on the international border. The library's reading room is in Canada while parts of the building extend into the United States. There’s a black line on the floor which marks the exact border, now that’s interesting!

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These are tiny islands separated by about 4 kilometres and act as borders between Russia and the U.S. While Big Diomede belongs to Russia, Little Diomede is to the United States. And between them is the International Date Line which means despite being visible to each other across the water, the two islands are a day apart in time. Completely mindboggling!
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One can reach this fascinating border (Point Roberts) only by road through Canada. The border is set at the southern tip of a Canadian peninsula and is considered an American exclave. For travellers, it is a geographical mistake but a permanent one!

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The list of unusual borders would be complete without Vatican City. Spread across 44 hectares, it is the world's smallest independent country. The country is surrounded by Rome. Despite being enclosed by Italy, Vatican City has its own government, security and citizenship. Millions of travellers visit every year, often crossing an international border without even realizing it.

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