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INDIAN

TRAVEL

&

TOURISM



TOURISM IN INDIA

Tourism is the largest service industry in India, with a contribution of 6.23% to

the national GDP and 8.78% of the total employment in India. India witnesses

more than 5 million annual foreign tourist arrivals and 562 million domestic

tourism visits. The tourism industry in India generated about US$100 billion in

2008 and that is expected to increase to US$275.5 billion by 2018 at a 9.4%

annual growth rate.[4] In the year 2009, 5.11 million foreign tourists visited India.

Majority of foreign tourists come from USA and UK and Tamil Nadu,

Maharashtra, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh were the top four states to receive

inbound tourists. Domestic tourism in the same year was massive at 650 million.

Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu received the big share of these

visitors.[2] Ministry of Tourism is the nodal agency to formulate national policies

and programmes for the development and promotion of tourism. In the process,

the Ministry consults and collaborates with other stakeholders in the sectorincluding various Central Ministries/agencies, the State Governments/ union

Territories and the representatives of the private sector. Concerted efforts are

being made to promote new forms of tourism such as rural, cruise, medical and

eco-tourism.[5] The Ministry of Tourism is the nodal agency for the development

and promotion of tourism in India and maintains the "Incredible India" campaign.

According to World Travel and Tourism Council, India will be a tourism hotspot from 2009²2018,[6] having the highest 10-year growth potential.[7] The Travel &Tourism Competitiveness Report 2007 ranked tourism in India 6th in terms of

price competitiveness and 39th in terms of safety and security.indian grand prixto boost tourism from the year 2011.[8] Despite short- and medium-termsetbacks, such as shortage of hotel rooms,[9] tourism revenues are expected tosurge by 42% from 2007 to 2017.[10] Tourism in India need to be understood inthe global context of competing destinations. It may be thought of as multipleIndias with a multitude of competing destinations Goa, Rajasthan,Kerela,Assam, Kashmir under the India umbrella.[11] India's 5000 years of history, itslength, breadth and the variety of geographic features make its tourism basket large and varied. It presents heritage and cultural tourism along with medical,business and sports tourism. India has a growing medical tourism sector. The2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi are expected to significantly boost tourism

in India.

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh has a rich cultural heritage and a variety of tourist attractions.The state of Andhra Pradesh comprises scenic hills, forests, beaches andtemples. Also known as The City of Nizams and The City of Pearls, Hyderabad istoday one of the most developed cities in the country and a modern hub of



information technology, ITES, and biotechnology. Hyderabad is known for itsrich history, culture and architecture representing its unique character as ameeting point for North and South India, and also its multilingual culture, bo

Andhra Pradesh is the home of many religious pilgrim centres. Tirupati, the

abode of Lord Venkateswara, is the richest and most visited religious center (of any faith) in the world. Srisailam, the abode of Sri Mallikarjuna, is one of twelveJyothirlingalu in India, Amaravati's Siva temple is one of the Pancharamams, andYadagirigutta, the abode of an avatara of Vishnu, Sri Lakshmi Narasimha. TheRamappa temple and Thousand Pillars temple in Warangal are famous for some fine temple carvings. The state has numerous Buddhist centres at Amaravati,Nagarjuna Konda, Bhattiprolu, Mangalagiri, Ghantasala, Nelakondapalli,Dhulikatta, Bavikonda, Thotlakonda, Shalihundam, Pavuralakonda, Sankaram,Phanigiri and Kolanpaka.

The golden beaches at Visakhapatnam, the one-million-year old limestone caves

at Borra, picturesque Araku Valley, hill resorts of Horsley Hills, river Godavariracing through a narrow gorge at Papi Kondalu, waterfalls at Ettipotala, Kuntalaand rich bio-diversity at Talakona, are some of the natural attractions of thestate. Visakhapatnam is home to many tourist attactions such as the INSKarasura Submarine museum (The only one of its kind in India), Yarada Beach,Araku Valley, VUDA Park, Indira Gandhi Zoological Gardens. The weather inAndhra Pradesh is mostly tropical and the best time to visit is in Novemberthrough to January. The monsoon season commences in June and ends inSeptember, so travel would not be advisable during this period. Also worthvisiting, the only Indian Buddhism Based Theme Park & Resorts on theVijayawada - Guntur Highway - Agrigold Haailand.

Arunachal Pradesh

Arunachal Pradesh attracts tourists from many parts of the world. Tourist attractions include Tawang, a beautiful town famous for its Buddhist monastery,Ziro, famous for cultural festivals, the Namdapha tiger project in Changlangdistrict and Sela lake near Bomdila with its bamboo bridges overhanging theriver. Religious places of interest include Malinithan in Lekhabali,Rukhmininagar near Roing (the place where Rukmini, Lord Krishna's wife in

Hindu mythology, is said to have lived), and Parshuram Kund in Lohit district (which is believed to be the lake where Parshuram washed away his sins).Rafting and trekking are common activities. A visitor's permit from the tourismdepartment is required. Places like Tuting have wonderful, undiscovered scenicbeauty.



Assam

Assam is the central state in the North-East Region of India and serves as thegateway to the rest of the Seven Sister States. Assam boasts of famous wildlifepreserves ² the Kaziranga National Park, which is home to the Great Indian One-

Horned Rhinoceros and the Manas National Park and Pobitora WildlifeSanctuary (These first two parks are UNESCO World Heritage Site), the largest river island Majuli, historic Sivasagar, famous for the ancient monuments of Ahom Kingdom, the city of eternal romance, Tezpur and tea-estates dating backto time of British Raj. The weather is mostly sub-tropical. Assam experiences theIndian monsoon and has one of the highest forest densities in India. The wintermonths (October end half to first half of April) are the best time to visit.

Assam has a rich cultural heritage going back to the Ahom Kingdom, whichgoverned the region for many centuries before the British occupation. Othernotable features include the Brahmaputra River, the mystery of the bird suicides

in Jatinga, numerous temples including Kamakhya of Tantric sect. 'Gurdwara SriGuru Tegh Bahadur also known as Damdama Sahib at Dhubri '- This famousGurudwara is situated in the heart of the Dhubri Town on the bank of the mightyBrahmaputra river in far north-east India. Guru Teg Bahadur the holy Sikh Guruvisited this place in 1505 and met Srimanta Sankardeva (the founder of theMahapuruxiya Dharma) as the Guru traveled from Dhaka to Assam, ruins of palaces, etc. Guwahati, the capital city of Assam, boasts many bazaars,temples, and wildlife sanctuaries.

Bihar

Bihar is one of the oldest continuously inhabited places in the world with historyof 3000 years. The rich culture and heritage of Bihar is evident from theinnumerable ancient monuments that are dotted all over this state in easternIndia. This is the place of Aryabhata, Great Ashoka, Chanakya and many othergreat historical figures.

Attractions:

y Patna - The capital of Bihar, famous for its rich history and royal

architecture. Golghar and Budha Smriti Park are famous lanmarks.y Gaya - Known for Bodh Gaya the place at which Gautam Buddha attained

enlightenment.Attraction for Buddhists across the globe.y Barauni - Petrochemical work for national levely Muzaffarpur - Famous for its education.y Kesariya - World's largest Buddhist Stupa located here.y Nalanda - World's oldest university remains here.



y Sasaram - Tomb of Sher Shah Suri, the great Emperor of Mughal age whodefeated Humayun.

y Sonpur - The Sonepur Cattle Fair or Sonepur Mela,it is the biggest cattle fair of Asia and stretches on from fifteen days to one month.

y Takht Sri Patna Sahib - One of the famous Sikh pilgrimage known for the

birth place of Sikh's Tenth Guru Sri Guru Gobind Singh Sahib.

Bihar is one of the most sacred places of various religions such as Hinduism,Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism & Islam. Famous Attraction includes MahabodhiTemple, a Buddhist shrine and UNESCO World Heritage Site is also situated inBihar, Barabar Caves the oldest rockcut caves in India, Khuda Bakhsh OrientalLibrary the Oldest Library of India.

Delhi

Delhi is the capital city of India. A fine blend of old and new, ancient and modern,Delhi is a melting pot of cultures, religions. Delhi has been the capital of numerous empires that ruled India, making it rich in history. The rulers left behind their trademark architectural styles. Delhi currently has many renownedhistoric monuments and landmarks such as the Tughlaqabad fort, Qutub Minar,Purana Quila, Lodhi Gardens, Jama Masjid, Humayun's tomb, Red Fort, andSafdarjung's Tomb. Modern monuments include Jantar Mantar, India Gate,Rashtrapati Bhavan, Laxminarayan Temple, Lotus temple and AkshardhamTemple.

New Delhi is famous for its British colonial architecture, wide roads, and tree-lined boulevards. Delhi is home to numerous political landmarks, nationalmuseums, Islamic shrines, Hindu temples, green parks, and trendy malls.

Goa

Goa is one of the most famous tourist destinations in India. A former colony of Portugal, Goa is famous for its excellent beaches, Portuguese churches, Hindutemples, and wildlife sanctuaries.The Basilica of Bom Jesus, Mangueshi Temple,Dudhsagar Falls, and Shantadurga are famous attractions in Goa. Recently aWax Museum (Wax World) has also opened in Old Goa housing a number of wax

personalities of Indian history, culture and heritage.

The Goa Carnival is a world famous event, with colorful masks and floats, drumsand reverberating music, and dance performances. The celebrations run threedays culminating in a carnival parade on fat Tuesday.



Himachal Pradesh

Himachal Pradesh is famous for its Himalayan landscapes and popular hill-stations. Many outdoor activities such as rock climbing, mountain biking,paragliding, ice-skating, and heli-skiing are popular tourist attractions in

Himachal Pradesh.[12]

Shimla, the state capital, is very popular among tourists. The Kalka-ShimlaRailway is a Mountain railway which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Shimla isalso a famous skiing attraction in India. Other popular hill stations include Manaliand Kasauli.

Dharamshala, home of the Dalai Lama, is known for its Tibetan monasteries andBuddhist temples. Many trekking expeditions also begin here.

Jammu and Kashmir

Jammu and Kashmir is the northernmost state of India. Jammu is noted for itsscenic landscape, ancient temples, Hindu shrines, castles, gardens and forts.The Hindu holy shrines of Amarnath in kashmir attracts about .4 million Hindudevotees every year . Vaishno Devi alsoattract tens of thousands of Hindudevotees every year. Jammu's historic monuments feature a unique blend of Islamic and Hindu architecture styles.

Tourism forms an integral part of the Kashmiri economy. Often dubbed"Paradise on Earth", Kashmir's mountainous landscape has attracted tourists for centuries. Notable places are Dal Lake, Srinagar Phalagam, Gulmarg,

Yeusmarg and Mughal Gardens etc. Kashmir's natural landscape has made it one of the popular destinations for adventure tourism in South Asia.Marked by four distinct seasons,Ski enthusiasts can enjoy the exotic himalayan powderduring winters. 7000000 tourists arrived in kashmir in the months of April,Mayand June alone

In recent years, Ladakh has emerged as a major hub for adventure tourism. Thispart of Greater Himalaya called "moon on earth" comprising of naked peaks anddeep gorges was once known for the silk route to High Asia from thesubcontinent. Leh is also a growing tourist spot.

Karnataka

Karnataka has been ranked as fourth most popular destination for tourismamong states of India. It has the second highest number of protectedmonuments in India, at 507.Kannada dynasties like Kadambas, Western Gangas,Chalukyas, Rashtrakutas, Hoysalas and Vijayanagaras, ruled Karnatakaparticularly North Karnataka.[13][14] They built great monuments to Buddhism,Jainism, Shaivism. The monuments are still present at Badami, Aihole,



Pattadakal, Hampi, Lakshmeshwar, Sudi, Hooli, Mahadeva Temple (Itagi),Dambal, Lakkundi, Gadag, Hangal, Halasi, Galaganatha, Chaudayyadanapura,Banavasi, Belur, Halebidu, Shravanabelagola, Sannati and many more. NotableIslamic monuments are present at Bijapur, Bidar, Gulbarga, Raichur and otherpart of the state. Gol Gumbaz at Bijapur, has the second largest pre-modern

dome in the world after the Byzantine Hagia Sophia. Karnataka has two Worldheritage sites, at Hampi and Pattadakal, both are in North Karnataka.

Karnataka is famous for its waterfalls. Jog falls of Shimoga District is one of thehighest waterfalls in Asia. This state has 21 wildlife sanctuaries and five Nationalparks and is home to more than 500 species of birds. Karnataka has manybeaches at Karwar, Gokarna, Murdeshwara, Surathkal. Karnataka is a rockclimbers paradise. Yana in Uttara Kannada, Fort in Chitradurga, Ramnagaranear Bangalore district, Shivagange in Tumkur district and tekal in Kolar district are a rock climbers heaven.

Kerala

Kerala is a state on the tropical Malabar Coast of southwestern India.Nicknamed as one of the "10 paradises of the world" by National Geographic,Kerala is famous especially for its ecotourism initiatives. Its unique culture andtraditions, coupled with its varied demography, has made it one of the most popular tourist destinations in India. Growing at a rate of 13.31%, the tourismindustry significantly contributes to the state's economy.

Kerala is known for its tropical backwaters and pristine beaches such asKovalam.

Madhya Pradesh

Madhya Pradesh is called the "Heart of India" because of its location in thecentre of the country. It has been home to the cultural heritage of Hinduism,Islam, Buddhism, Sikhism, Jainism. Innumerable monuments, exquisitely carvedtemples, stupas, forts and palaces are dotted all over the State.

The temples of Khajuraho are world-famous for their erotic sculptures, and are a

UNESCO World Heritage Site. Gwalior is famous for its forts, the Tomb of RaniLakshmibai, and the Palace of Tansen.

Madhya Pradesh is also known as Tiger State because of the tiger population.Famous national parks like Kanha, Bandhavgadh, Shivpuri, Sanjay, Pench arelocated in MP. Spectacular mountain ranges, meandering rivers and miles andmiles of dense forests offering a unique and exciting panorama of wildlife insylvan surroundings.



Maharashtra

Mumbai is the most cosmopolitan city in India, famous for its architecture,

shopping, gastronomy, and Bollywood. Maharashtra accounts for second

largest foreign tourists arrivals in India.[15]

Maharashtra is the second most visited state in India by foreign tourists,[15] withmore than 2 million foreign tourists arrivals annually. Maharashtra boasts of alarge number of popular and revered religious venues that are heavily frequented by locals as well as out-of-state visitors.

Ajanta Caves, Ellora Caves and Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus are the threeUNESCO World Heritage sites in Maharashtra and are highly responsible for thedevelopment of Tourism in the state.

Mumbai is the most cosmopolitan city in India, and a great place to experiencemodern India. Mumbai famous for Bollywood, the world's largest film industry. In

addition, Mumbai is famous for its clubs, shopping, and upscale gastronomy.The city is known for its architecture, from the ancient Elephanta Caves, to theIslamic Haji Ali Mosque, to the colonial architecture of Bombay High Court andChhatrapati Shivaji Terminus.

Maharashtra also has numerous adventure tourism destinations, includingparagliding, rock climbing, canoeing, kayaking, snorkeling, and scuba diving inplaces like Kolad, Tarkarli, Koyna, Manor. Maharashtra also has several pristinenational parks and reserves, some of the best ones are Tadoba with excellent accommodation and safari experiences besides little known by amazing wildlifedestinations like Koyna, Nagzira (very small with incredible sightings), Melghat (disturbed with massive mining truck movement), Dajipur, Radhanagari and of course the only national park within metropolic city limits in the world - SanjayGandhi National Park. The Bibi Ka Maqbara at Aurangabad the Mahalakshmitemple at Kolhapur, the cities of Nashik, Trimbak famous for religiousimportance and the city of Pune the seat of the Maratha Empire and the fantasticGanesh Chaturthi celebrations together contribute for the Tourism sector of Mahrashtra.

Manipur

Manipur as the name suggest is a land of jewels. Its rich culture excels in everyaspects as in martial arts, dance, theater and sculpture. The charm of the placeis the greenery with the moderate climate making it a tourists' heaven. Thebeautiful and seasonal Shirui Lily at Ukhrul (district), Sangai (Brow antlereddeer) and the floating islands at Loktak Lake are few of the rare things found in



Manipur. Polo, which can be called a royal game, also originated from Manipur.Some of the main tourist attractions are:

y Imphal (Capital)y Churachandpury

Keibul Lamjao National Parky War cemeteriesy Loktak Lakey Shree Govindajee Templey Moreh

Meghalaya

Meghalaya has some of the thickest surviving forests in the country andtherefore constitutes one of the most important ecotourism circuits in thecountry today. The Meghalayan subtropical forests support a vast variety of

flora and fauna. Meghalaya has 2 National Parks and 3 Wildlife Sanctuaries.Meghalaya also offers many adventure tourism opportunities in the form of mountaineering, rock climbing, trekking and hiking, water sports etc. The stateoffers several trekking routes some of which also afford and opportunity toencounter some rare animals such as the slow loris, assorted deer and bear.The Umiam Lake has a water sports complex with facilities such as rowboats,paddleboats, sailing boats, cruise-boats, water-scooters and speedboats.

Cherrapunjee is one of the most popular tourist spots in North East of India. It lies to the south of the capital Shillong. The town is very well known and needslittle publicity. A rather scenic, 50 kilometer long road, connects Cherrapunjee

with Shillong.

The popular waterfalls in the state are the Elephant Falls, Shadthum Falls,Weinia falls, Bishop Falls, Nohkalikai Falls, Langshiang Falls and Sweet Falls.The hot springs at Jakrem near Mawsynram are believed to have curative andmedicinal properties.

Orissa

Tourism in Kosal has been a preferred destination from ancient days for people

who have an interest in spirituality, religion, culture, art and natural beauty.

Ancient and medieval architecture, pristine sea beaches, the classical and

ethnic dance forms and a variety of festivals. Orissa has kept the religion of

Buddhism alive. Rock-edicts that have challenged time stand huge and over-

powering by the banks of the river Daya. The torch of Buddhism is still ablaze in

the sublime triangle at Udayagiri, Lalitagiri and Ratnagiri, on the banks of river

Birupa. Precious fragments of a glorious past come alive in the shape of stupas,

rock-cut caves, rock-edicts, excavated monasteries, viharas, chaityas and



sacred relics in caskets and the Rock-edicts of Ashoka. Orissa is also famous

for its well-preserved Hindu Temples, especially the Konark Sun Temple and

The Leaning Temple of Huma.[16]

Orissa is the home for various tribal communities who have contributed uniquely

to the multicultural and multilingual character of the state. Their handicrafts,different dance forms, jungle products and their unique life style blended withtheir healing practices have got world wide attention. The Sitalsasthi Carnival isa must see for everyone who wants to see a glimpse of the art and culture of Odisha at one place.

Puducherry

The Union Territory of Puducherry comprises four coastal regions viz-Puducherry, Karaikal, Mahe and Yanam. Puducherry is the Capital of this UnionTerritory and one of the most popular tourist destinations in South India.

Puducherry has been described by National Geographic as "a glowing highlight of subcontinental sojourn". The city has many beautiful colonial buildings,churches, temples, and statues, which, combined with the systematic townplanning and the well planned French style avenues, still preserve much of thecolonial ambience.

Punjab

The state of Punjab is renowned for its cuisine, culture and history. Punjab has avast public transportation and communication network. Some of the main citiesin Punjab are Amritsar, Chandigarh, and Ludhiana. Punjab also has a richreligious history incorporating Sikhism and Hinduism. Tourism in Punjab isprincipally suited for the tourists interested in culture, ancient civilization,spirituality and epic history. Some of the villages in Punjab are also a must see for the person who wants to see the true Punjab, with their beautiful traditionalIndian homes, farms and temples, this is a must see for any visitor that goes toPunjab. India-Pakistan border at Wagha is also a popular tourist attraction.

Rajasthan

Rajasthan, literally meaning "Land of the Kings", is one of the most attractive

tourist destinations in Northern India. The vast sand dunes of the Thar Desert attract millions of tourists from around the globe every year.

Attractions:

y Jaipur - The capital of Rajasthan, famous for its rich history and royalarchitecture and motidungari lord ganesha temple.



y Jodhpur - Fortress-city at the edge of the Thar Desert, famous for its bluehomes and architecture.

y Udaipur - Known as the "Venice" of India.y Jaisalmer - Famous for its golden fortress.y Barmer - Barmer and surrounding areas offer perfect picture of typical

Rajasthani villages.y Bikaner - Famous for its medieval history as a trade route outpost.y Mount Abu - Is the highest peak in the Aravalli Range of Rajasthan.y Pushkar - It has the first and one of the very Brahma temples in the world.y Keoladeo Bird Sanctuary - A UNESCO world heritage sitey Nathdwara - This town near Udaipur hosts the famous temple of

Shrinathji.y Ranthambore - Situated near Sawai Madhopur, this town has one of the

largest and most famous national parks in India.

Sikkim

Originally known as Suk-Heem, which in the local language means "peacefulhome", Sikkim was an independent kingdom till the year 1974, when it became apart of the Republic of India. The capital of Sikkim is Gangtok, locatedapproximately 105 kilometers from New Jalpaiguri, the nearest railway stationto Sikkim. Although, an airport is under construction at Dekiling in East Sikkim,the nearest airport to Sikkim would be Bagdogra.the important places to visit are; 1.Baba Mandir 2.Nathula Pass 3.Rumtek Monastry 4.Handicraft Shops5.Tsangpo Lake Sikkim is considered as the land of Orchids and mystic culturesand colorful traditions. Sikkim is well known among trekkers and adventurelovers, as West Sikkim has a lot to give them.

Places near Sikkim include Darjeeling also known as the Queen of hills andKalimpong. Darjeeling, other than its world famous "Darjeeling tea" is also famous for its refined "Prep schools" founded during the British Raj. Kalimpongis also famous for its flora cultivation and is home to many internationally knownNurseries.

Tamil Nadu

The Nilgiri Mountain Railway, a UNESCO World Heritage Site provides a scenic

view of hills through out its 41 km journey between Mettupalayam and Ooty

(7500 FT above ground level).

Tamil Nadu is the top state in attracting the maximum number of foreign touristsin India [1]. Tamil Nadu. Marina Beach, Carnatic music, Bharata Natyam danceand country's largest Shopping locality [2].This city is also famous for Medicaltourism and houses Asia's largest hospital [3][4]. Archaeological sites withcivilisation dating back to 3800 years [5] are found in Tamil Nadu.



With more than 34000 temples [6] this state also holds the credit of havingmaximum number of UNESCO heritage sites (5) in India which includes Great Living Chola Temples and Mahabalipuram.Country's largest temple srirangam[7] and Pichavaram the world's Second largest Mangrove forest are located inthis state [8].

Tamilnadu has some great temples like Madurai Meenakshi Amman Temple,Tanjore Brihadeeswarar Temple, Srirangam Ranganathaswamy Temple and allthe above mentioned temples has world class architecture that reallymesmerize everyone.

Kanyakumari is the southernmost tip of India provides sceneic view of sunset and sunshine over the Indian ocean.Hill stations like Yercaud, Kodaikanal, Ooty,Valparai, Yelagiri are widely visited. Velankanni Church and Nagoor Dharga arevisited by people of all religion.Water Falls and Wildlife sanctuaries are locatedacross the state.

Uttarakhand

Uttarakhand, the 27th state of the Republic of India, is called "the abode of theGods". It contains glaciers, snow-clad mountains, valley of flowers, skiingslopes and dense forests, and many shrines and places of pilgrimage. Char-dhams, the four most sacred and revered Hindu temples: Badrinath, Kedarnath,Gangotri and Yamunotri are nestled in the Himalayas. Haridwar which meansGateway to God is the only place on the plains.

It holds the watershed for Gangetic River System spanning 300 km from Satluj in

the west to Kali river in the east. Nanda Devi (25640 Ft) is the second highest peak in India after Kanchenjunga (28160 Ft). Dunagiri, Neelkanth, Chaukhamba,Panchachuli, Trisul are other peaks above 23000 Ft. It is considered the abodeof Devtas, Yakashyas, Kinners, Fairies and Sages.[citation needed] It boasts of someold hill-stations developed during British era like Mussoorie, Almora andNainital.

Uttar Pradesh

Situated in the northern part of India, Uttar Pradesh is important with its wealth

of monuments and religious fervour. Geographically, Uttar Pradesh is verydiverse, with Himalayan foothills in the extreme north and the Gangetic Plain inthe centre. It is also home of India's most visited site, the Taj Mahal, andHinduism's holiest city, Varanasi. The most populous state of the Indian Unionalso has a rich cultural heritage, and at the heart of North India, Uttar Pradeshhas much to offer. Places of interest include Varanasi, Agra, Allahabad, Kanpur,Lucknow, Mathura, Jhansi, Prayag, Sarnath, Ayodhya, Dudhwa National Parkand Fatehpur Sikri.



West Bengal

Kolkata, one of the many cities in the state of West Bengal has been nicknamedthe City of Palaces. This comes from the numerous palatial mansions built allover the city. Unlike many north Indian cities, whose construction stresses

minimalism, the layout of much of the architectural variety in Kolkata owes itsorigins to European styles and tastes imported by the British and, to a muchlesser extent, the Portuguese and French. The buildings were designed andinspired by the tastes of the English gentleman around and the aspiring BengaliBabu (literally, a nouveau riche Bengali who aspired to cultivation of Englishetiquette, manners and custom, as such practices were favourable to monetarygains from the British). Today, many of these structures are in various stages of decay. Some of the major buildings of this period are well maintained andseveral buildings have been declared as heritage structures.

From historical point of view, the story of West Bengal begins from Gour and

Pandua situated close to the present district town of Malda. The twin medievalcities had been sacked at least once by changing powers in the 15th century.However, ruins from the period still remain, and several architectural specimensstill retain the glory and shin of those times. The Hindu architecture of Bishnupurin terracotta and laterite sandstone are renowned world over. Towards theBritish colonial period came the architecture of Murshidabad and Coochbehar.

Notable site of West BengalCooch Behar · Cooch Behar · Darjeeling · Kalimpong · Kurseong · Dooars · Digha · Bishnupur · Malda ·

Mukutmanipur · Ayodhya Hills · Murshidabad · Kolkata.

Places of WorshipDakshineswar Kali Temple · Kalighat Temple · Birla temple · Belur Math · Bhoothnath · Tipu Sultan Mosque ·

Nakhoda Mosque · St. Paul's Cathedral · St. John's Church · Parsi Fire Temples · Japanese Buddhist Temple · Pareshnath Jain Temple

Historic monuments

y The Taj Mahal is one of India's best-known sites and one of the best architectural achievements in India. Located in Agra, it was built between

1631 and 1653 by Emperor Shah Jahan in honor of his wife, ArjumandBanu, more popularly known as Mumtaz Mahal. The Taj Mahal serves asher tomb.

y The Mahabodhi Temple A 2000 year old temple dedicated to GautamBuddha in Bodh Gaya. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.



y The Nalanda Vishvavidyalaya, located in the Indian State of Bihar, was aBuddhist center of learning from 427 C.E to 1197 C.E partly under the PalaEmpire.[17][18] It has been called "one of the first great universities inrecorded history.".[18]

According to historical studies the University of Nalanda was established 450C.E under the patronage of the Gupta emperors, notably Kumaragupta.[17]

y The Brihadishwara Temple in Thanjavur, Tamil nadu built by the Cholas,this temple is one of India's most prized architectural sites.

y The Airavateswara temple located in the town of Darasuram, nearKumbakonam, Tamil nadu.

y The Shore Temple, along with the collection of other monuments inMahabalipuram, Tamil nadu have been declared as UNESCO World

Heritage Sites.

y The Golden Temple is one of the most respected temples in India and themost sacred place for Sikhs. The Golden Temple is located in Amritsar,Punjab, India.

y The Bahá'í temple in Delhi, was completed in 1986 and serves as theMother Temple of the Indian Subcontinent. It has won numerousarchitectural awards and been featured in hundreds of newspaper andmagazine articles. (It is also known as the Lotus Temple.)

y The Hawa Mahal in Jaipur also known as Palace of Winds is majorattraction in Jaipur.

y The Taj Mahal Palace is an icon of Mumbai.

y The Victoria Memorial in Kolkata

Nature Tourism

India has geographical diversity, which resulted in varieties of nature tourism.

y Water falls in Western Ghats including Jog falls (highest in India).y Western Ghatsy Hill Stationsy Wildlife reservesy Deserts



Wildlife in India

Royal Bengal Tiger in Sundarbans. The world's largest mangrove forest as well

as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

India is home to several well known large mammals including the Asian

Elephant, Bengal Tiger, Asiatic Lion, Leopard and Indian Rhinoceros, oftenengrained culturally and religiously often being associated with deities. Other

well known large Indian mammals include ungulates such as the domestic Asian

Water buffalo, wild Asian Water buffalo, Nilgai, Gaur and several species of deer

and antelope. Some members of the dog family such as the Indian Wolf, Bengal

Fox, Golden Jackal and the Dhole or Wild Dogs are also widely distributed. It is

also home to the Striped Hyaena, Macaques, Langurs and Mongoose species.

India also has a large variety of protected wildlife. The country's protected

forest consists of 75 National parks of India and 421 Sanctuaries, of which 19 fall

under the purview of Project Tiger. Its climatic and geographic diversity makes

it the home of over 350 mammals and 1200 bird species, many of which are

unique to the subcontinent.

Some well known national wildlife sanctuaries include Bharatpur, Corbett,Kanha, Kaziranga, Periyar, Ranthambore, Manas and Sariska. The world'slargest mangrove forest Sundarbans is located in southern West Bengal. TheKaziranga National Park,Manas National Park, Sundarbans and KeoladeoNational Park is UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Hill stations

Several hill stations served as summer capitals of Indian provinces, princelystates, or, in the case of Shimla, of British India itself. Since IndianIndependence, the role of these hill stations as summer capitals has largelyended, but many hill stations remain popular summer resorts. Most famous hillstations are:

y Mount Abu, Rajasthany Pachmarhi, Madhya Pradesh - It is also known as The Queen of Satpura.y Araku, Andhra Pradeshy Gulmarg, Srinagar and Ladakh in Jammu and Kashmiry Darjeeling in West Bengaly Munnar in Keralay Ooty, Yercaud and Kodaikanal in Tamil Naduy Shillong in Meghalayay Shimla, Kullu in Himachal Pradeshy Nainital in Uttarakhandy Gangtok in Sikkimy Mussoorie in Uttarakhand



y Manali in Himachal Pradeshy Tawang in Arunachal Pradeshy Mahabaleshwar in Maharashtray Haflong in Assam

In addition to the bustling hill stations and summer capitals of yore, there areseveral serene and peaceful nature retreats and places of interest to visit for anature lover. These range from the stunning moonscapes of Leh and Ladhak, tosmall, exclusive nature retreats such as Dunagiri, Binsar, Mukteshwar in theHimalayas, to rolling vistas of Western Ghats to numerous private retreats in therolling hills of Kerala.

Beaches

India offers a wide range of tropical beaches with silver/golden sand to coralbeaches of Lakshadweep. States like Kerala and Goa have exploited the

potential of beaches to the fullest. However, there are a lot many unexploitedbeaches in the states of Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharastra, Tamil Nadu andKarnataka. These states have very high potential to be develop them as futuredestinations for prospective tourists. Some of the famous tourist beaches are:

y Beaches of Vizag, Andhra Pradeshy Beaches of Puri, Orissay Beaches of Digha, West Bengaly Beaches of Goay Kovalam Beach, Keralay Marina Beach, Chennai

y City Beach, Puducherryy Beaches of Mahabalipuramy Beaches in Mumbaiy Beaches of Diuy Beaches of Midnapore, West Bengaly Beaches of Andaman and Nicobar Islandsy Beaches of Lakshadweep Islands

Tourists Statistics - Kerala

Year Domestic Tourists

2007 5872182

2008 5946423

2009 6271724



Tourists Statistics - Goa


2007 2085729

2008 1965343

2009 2098654

Domestic Tourists Statistics - Delhi


2004 1866552

2005 2061782

2006 2237130

Domestic Tourists Statistics - Rajasthan


2004 16033896

2005 18787298

2006 23483287

Tourists Statistics - Tamil Nadu


2004 42279838

2005 43213228

2006 58340008

Domestic Tourists Statistics - Andhra Pradesh


2007 89440272

2008 93529554

2009 111715376



Domestic Tourists Statistics - Gujarat


2007 7748371

2008 9457486

2009 11936957

Domestic Tourists Statistics - Himachal Pradesh


2007 6345069

2008 6936840

2009 7671902

Domestic Tourists Statistics - Jammu & Kashmir


2007 6881473

2008 7239481

2009 7646274

Domestic Tourists Statistics - Uttar Pradesh


2007 88371247

2008 95440947

2009 105549478

Domestic Tourists Statistics - Uttarakhand


2007 11720570

2008 14215570

2009 16666525



Domestic Tourists Statistics - Orissa


2007 4125536

2008 4632976

2009 5239896

Domestic Tourists Statistics - Karnataka


2007 27194178

2008 30470316

2009 36195907

Domestic Tourists Statistics - West Bengal


2007 12380389

2008 13566911

2009 15808371

Domestic Tourists Statistics - Madhya Pradesh


2007 8619486

2008 7090952

2009 11062640

Domestic Tourists Statistics - Maharashtra


2007 13392212

2008 14329667

2009 16880348



Foreign Tourists In India (Number)

2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008

January 283750 228150 274215 337345 385977 459489 532088 584765

February 262306 227529 262692 331697 369844 439090 498806 560658

March 248965 225558 218473 293185 352094 391009 444186 509926April 185338 155378 160941 223884 248416 309208 333945 369677

May 151098 132998 141508 185502 225394 255008 267758 290785

June 176716 143100 176324 223122 246970 278370 310104 344526

July 224432 186432 225359 272456 307870 337332 377474 -

August 196517 161477 204940 253301 273856 304387 360089 -

September 162326 151721 191339 226773 257184 297891 325893 -

October 181605 212191 260569 307447 347757 391399 440715 -

November 209685 243566 290583 385238 423837 442413 510987 -

December - - 319271 417527 479411 541571 575148 -

Total 2282738 2073025 2726214 3457477 3918610 4447167 4977193 2660337

Percentage Changes in foreign tourists arrival

2002/01 2003/02 2004/03 2005/04 2006/05 2007/06 2008/07

January -19.6 22.0 23.0 14.5 19.0 15.8 9.9

February -13.3 13.1 26.3 17.3 18.7 13.6 12.4

March -9.4 1.6 34.2 25.2 11.1 13.6 14.8

April -16.2 5.0 39.1 16.5 24.5 8.0 10.7

May -12.0 0.2 31.1 23.8 13.1 5.0 8.6

June -19.0 27.5 26.5 16.0 12.7 11.4 11.1

July -16.9 22.5 20.9 7.3 9.6 11.9 -

August -17.8 26.91 23.6 6.9 11.1 18.3 -

September -6.5 26.11 18.5 11.4 15.8 9.4 -

October 16.8 22.11 18.0 7.0 12.5 12.6 -

November 16.2 19.40 32.6 7.8 4.4 15.5 -

December - - 30.8 11.0 13.0 6.2 -

Total 9.2 13.1 26.8 13.2 13.5 11.9 11.5



International Tourists Arrivals to India

2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006

Arrivalsfrom

Region/Country

USA 329147 348182 410803 526120 611165 696739

UK 405472 387846 430917 555907 651803 734240

Canada 88600 93598 107671 135884 157643 176567

Germany 80011 64891 76868 116679 120243 156808

France 102434 78194 97654 131824 152258 175345

Australia 52691 50743 58730 81608 96258 109867

Italy 41351 37136 46908 65561 67642 79978

Japan 80634 59709 77996 96851 103082 119292

Malaysia 57869 63748 70750 84390 96276 107286

Singapore 42824 44306 48368 60710 68666 82574

Nepal 41135 37136 42771 51534 77024 91552

Sri Lanka 112813 108008 109098 128711 136400 154813

Netherlans 42368 31669 40565 51211 52755 58611

China 13901 15422 21152 34100 44897 62330

South

Korea 27150 29374 35584 47835 49895 705407



How to Improve Tourism in India

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

y Government actiony Fundsy Business investmentsy Collaboration

While India is very modern when it comes to engineering, medicine andtechnology, its infrastructure and public services are antiquated ornonexistent. In both big cities and small villages, open sewers andinadequate plumbing are widespread. Mounds of garbage along the sidesof the road are common. Public restroom facilities, even if available, are

poorly maintained. Often the only sanitary amenities available are at bigluxury hotels. India needs to improve its public services and foster basichygiene if it wants to appeal to the foreign tourist. This means modernizingits sewer systems to stop the spread of disease, creating more publichousing to get rid of the shantytowns and implementing regular trashdisposal measures. Once India cleans up, it will be a more inviting place tovisit.

Another issue with an adverse effect on India's tourism is its widespread

environmental pollution. Air quality throughout India is notoriously bad,since there are no curbs on emissions and lax enforcement to prevent gross polluters. Most days, the air in big cities such as Mumbai has a redtinge to it, causing watery eyes and coughing. Respiratory infections arecommon, especially among sensitive individuals or those with allergies.Additionally, air pollution is beginning to show its effects on prominent tourist landmarks, such as Agra's Taj Mahal. In recent years, toxic air hasdamaged the ancient marble of the monument, jeopardizing its beauty andrequiring significant repair.

Water quality is also inconsistent. With improper sewage treatment and no

curbs on water polluters, potable water for drinking and cooking isdifficult to come by. Outbreaks of waterborne diseases, such as choleraand dysentery, are common, especially in rural villages with few cleanwater practices.

If India wants to encourage tourism, it needs to act to improve the qualityof its air and water so Indians and tourists alike can breathe the air anddrink the water freely.



India's transportation system is also in need of a serious overhaul.Although cars and trucks traverse India's roads, laws for operatingvehicles are widely ignored. Often the result is pure chaos, as cars,

trucks, bicycles and rickshaws drive into opposing traffic and ignoretraffic lights to get where they need to go. Fatal car and truck accidentsare not uncommon. For a tourist visiting India, the experience of travelingalong India's lawless roadways can induce cardiac arrest.

While India also has an extensive railway system, due to overcrowdingand poor maintenance, this mode of transportation is not much better.Trains are frequently so crowded that people sit on the roofs of movingtrains or hang out the windows. While a rare breed of adventurous tourist may find traveling on India's trains exciting, the majority of tourists might find using India's railways highly inconvenient.

India needs to enforce its traffic laws and reduce railway overcrowding sothat visiting tourists will have an easier time traveling from place to place.

As India's population grows, forests are cleared to make room for morehousing and development. The destruction of these forests leads to a lossof habitat for many of India's famed fauna, such as Bengal tigers, Asianelephants and Indian ringneck parrots. If India does not make greaterefforts to reduce this loss of habitat, tourists searching for safarilike

encounters with the animals made famous in Rudyard Kipling's "JungleBook" will be out of luck. India needs to preserve ecotourism byprotecting its forests and the animals that inhabit them.

In addition to making India a more hospitable place to visit, the countryneeds to highlight the unique sights and offerings it has that areunavailable anywhere else. The Taj Mahal, one of the most easilyrecognizable monuments in the world, is an obvious tourist destination.However, India has many more places to visit that foreign tourists may not

know about. Jaipur, also known as the Pink City, is a popular traveldestination for Indians and those of Indian descent living abroad, but it isnot widely known to foreigners. The beaches of Goa are a tropicalparadise but are also relatively unknown to the rest of the world. Indianeeds to market itself to the world as a unique country with much to offerthe visiting tourist.

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