1. Introduction.

The word tourist was used in 1772 and tourism in 1811. It is formed from the word tour,
which is derived from Old English turian, from Old French torner, from Latin tornare; 'to
turn on a lathe,' which is itself from Ancient Greek tornos (τόρνος); 'lathe
Tourism is travel for pleasure or business; also the theory and practice of touring, the
business of attracting, accommodating, and entertaining tourists, and the business of
operating tours. Tourism may be international, or within the traveller's country. The World
Tourism Organization defines tourism more generally, in terms which go "beyond the
common perception of tourism as being limited to holiday activity only", as people "traveling
to and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive
year for leisure and not less than 24 hours, business and other purposes".
Tourism can be domestic or international, and international tourism has both incoming and
outgoing implications on a country's payments. Tourism has become an important source of
income for many regions and even entire countries. its importance as "an activity essential to
the life of nations because of its direct effects on the social, cultural, educational, and
economic sectors of national societies and on their international relations."
Tourism brings large amounts of income into a local economy in the form of payment
for goods and services needed by tourists, accounting as of 2011 for 30% of the
world's trade in services, and for 6% of overall exports of goods and services.[6] It also
generates opportunities for employment in the service sector of the economy associated with
tourism.
The terms tourism and travel are sometimes used interchangeably. In this context, travel has a
similar definition to tourism, but implies a more purposeful journey. The
terms tourism and tourist are sometimes used pejoratively, to imply a shallow interest in the
cultures or locations visited. By contrast, traveller is often used as a sign of distinction. The
sociology of tourism has studied the cultural values underpinning these distinctions and their
implications for class relations.

Tourism is the activities of people traveling to and staying in places outside their usual
environment for leisure, business or other purposes for not more than one consecutive year.

Tourism is a dynamic and competitive industry that requires the ability to adapt constantly to
customers' changing needs and desires, as the customer’s satisfaction, safety and enjoyment
are particularly the focus of tourism businesses. Importance of tourism arises from the
numerous benefits and advantages it brings to any host country. But the real importance of
tourism comes from its nature and how it is defined & structured. And this is what we will
explain here. Tourism contributes towards complete growth and development of a country:
one, by bringing numerous economic values & benefits; and, second, helping in building the
country's brand value, image & identity. Tourism industry goes beyond attractive
destinations, to be an important economic growth contributor.

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 1.1. Introduction to Indian tourism.

In India tourism is the major earning of people and majorly it connects different people and
make them watch, learn and experience our culture. In short tourism is the backbone of
Indian economy and it is expanding day by day.

India has become one of the worlds promising tourist destination with large number of
visitors each year for its diverse climatic features and heritage cultures. It has a dramatic
growth of tourism over the last 25 years and it is one of the most remarkable economic
changes. India is the only country that offers different categories of tourism year by year to
the visitors. The Indian government took efforts to encourage different kinds of tourism in
India. Indian government adopted different approaches for the promotion of tourism in India.
India plans to modify the visa policy during 2014 by allowing visitors from most countries to
obtain an electronic visa online. The Indian government decided to increase revenues from
the tourism sector by projecting India as the "ultimate tourist spot". So, there is no doubt that
the development of tourism industry in India is very strong in the next ten years.

Tourism in India is important for the country's economy and is growing rapidly. The World
Travel and Tourism Council calculated that tourism generated ₹15.24 lakh
crore (US$210 billion) or 9.4% of India's GDP in 2017 and supported 41.622 million jobs,
8% of its total employment. The sector is predicted to grow at an annual rate of 6.9%
to ₹32.05 lakh crore (US$450 billion) by 2028 (9.9% of GDP). In October 2015, India's
medical tourism sector was estimated to be worth US$3 billion, and it is projected to grow to
US$7–8 billion by 2020. In 2014, 184,298 foreign patients travelled to India to seek medical
treatment.

Over 10 million foreign tourists arrived in India in 2017 compared to 8.89 million in 2016,
representing a growth of 15.6%. Domestic tourist visits to all states and union
territories numbered 1,036.35 million in 2012, an increase of 16.5% from 2011. In
2014, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh were the most popular states for
tourists. Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Agra and Jaipur were the five most visited cities of India
by foreign tourists during the year 2015. Worldwide, Delhi is ranked 28th by the number of
foreign tourist arrivals, while Mumbai is ranked 30th, Chennai 43rd, Agra 45th, Jaipur 52nd
and Kolkata 90th.

The Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Report for the year 2017, ranked India 40th out of
136 countries overall. The report ranks the price competitiveness of India's tourism sector
10th out of 136 countries. It mentions that India has quite good air transport (ranked 32nd),
particularly given the country's stage of development, and reasonable ground transport
infrastructure (ranked 29th). The country also scores high on natural and cultural resources
(ranked 9th). However, some other aspects of its tourism infrastructure remain somewhat
underdeveloped. The nation has very few hotel rooms per capita by international comparison
and low ATM penetration. The World Tourism Organization reported that India's receipts
from tourism during 2012 ranked 16th in the world, and 7th among Asian and
Pacific countries.

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The Ministry of Tourism designs national policies for the development and promotion of
tourism. In the process, the Ministry consults and collaborates with other stakeholders in the
sector including various central ministries/agencies, state governments, union territories and
private sector representatives. Concerted efforts are being made to promote niche tourism
products such as rural, cruise, medical and eco-tourism. The Ministry of Tourism maintains
the Incredible India campaign focused on promoting the tourism in India.

India is proud to have over 30 World Heritage Sites spread over the length and breadth of the
country. They are so diverse with each site offering something unique to the tourist to savour.
These can be better marketed to draw leisure tourists who wish to catch a glimpse of our
varied and rich cultural history. In more modern terms, the presence of highly skilled medical
doctors and relatively inexpensive (as compared to other countries) medical facilities with
high-class hospitals paves the way for a huge growth in what has come to be known as
“medical tourism”. The main structure of tourism industry

It is delighted to see considerable progress made in branding, which is so crucial in the

business of selling India as a travel destination. “Incredible India” and “Atithi Devo Bhava”
(“Consider the Guest as God”) are campaigns which have highlighted what India has to offer
It is commendable that Tourism finds a place in the “Make in India” campaign launched. by
the present Government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This comes out of recognition
that this sector can in turn help alleviate poverty and enhance skill development as many jobs
can be created through growth in the tourism and hospitality industry. Foreign investors have
many incentives to set up their hotels and hospitality business ventures in India. 100 %
Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) is permitted in this sector. This will enable international
hotel chains to bring with them their expertise and get economies of scale as the sector
develops. Our country has so much to offer by way of natural beauty. We need to develop the
infrastructure to support tourist destinations so that more people from India and from abroad
can visit these places. The nature of tourism investment and lack of engagement of the poor
can cause much tourism spending to leak away from poor destinations. The income that
remains may not end up benefiting the poor, reaching instead the better educated and well-off
segments of society. Tourism should not be seen on its own as „the answer‟ to the
elimination of poverty but it can make a powerful contribution. The potential to develop more
tourism and to channel a higher percentage of tourism spending towards the poor may be
great in some areas and quite small in others. However, given the size of the sector, even
small changes in approach when widely applied can make a significant difference.

Present Scenario
The United Nations had designated 2017 the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for
Development. As one of the world’s largest economic sectors, Travel & Tourism creates jobs,
drives exports, and generates prosperity across the world. The International Year provides an
enormous opportunity to further showcase the tremendous economic, social, cultural,
environmental, and heritage value that the sector can bring. The right policy and investment
decisions are only made with empirical evidence. For over 25 years, the World Travel &
Tourism Council (WTTC) has been provid-ing this evidence, quantifying the economic and
employment impact of Travel & Tourism. This year, the 2017 Annual Economic Reports
cover 185 countries and 26 regions of the world, providing the necessary data on 2016
performance as well as unique 10-year forecasts on the sector’s potential. Despite the ever-
increasing and unpredictable shocks from terrorist attacks and political instability, to health

3
pandemics and natural disasters, Travel & Tourism continued to show its resilience in 2016,
contributing direct GDP growth of 3.1% and supporting 6 million net additional jobs in the
sector. In total, Travel & Tourism generated US$7.6 trillion (10.2% of global GDP) and 292
million jobs in 2016, equivalent to 1 in 10 jobs in the global economy. The sector accounted
for 6.6% of total global exports and almost 30% of total global service exports. For the sixth
successive year, growth in Travel & Tourism outpaced that of the global economy (2.5%).
Additionally, in 2016, direct Travel & Tourism GDP growth not only outperformed the
economy-wide growth recorded in 116 of the 185 countries covered by the annual economic
impact research (including in major Travel & Tourism economies such as Australia, Canada,
China, India, Mexico and South Africa), but it also was stronger than the growth recorded in
the financial and business services, manufacturing, public services, retail and distribution,
and transport sectors.

Future Scenario
The outlook for the Travel & Tourism sector in 2017 remains robust and will continue to be
at the forefront of wealth and employment creation in the global economy, despite the
emergence of a number of challenging headwinds. Direct Travel & Tourism GDP growth is
expected to accelerate to 3.8%, up from 3.1% in 2016. As nations seem to be looking
increasingly inward, putting in place barriers to trade and movement of people, the role of
Travel & Tourism becomes even more significant, as an engine of economic development
and as a vehicle for sharing cultures, creating peace, and building mutual understanding. Over
the longer term, growth of the Travel & Tourism sector will continue to be strong so long as
the investment and development takes place in an open and sustainable manner. Enacting
pro-growth travel policies that share benefits more equitably can foster a talent and business
environment necessary to enable Travel & Tourism to realise its potential. In doing so, not
only can we expect the sector to support over 380 million jobs by 2027, but it will continue to
grow its economic contribution, providing the rationale for the further protection of nature,
habitats, and biodiversity. WTTC is proud to continue to provide the evidence base required
in order to help both public and private bodies make the right decisions for the future growth
of a sustainable Travel & Tourism sector.

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 2. Impact of travel and tourism in India.

The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) has been investing in economic impact
research for almost 20 years in order to identify the value of Travel & Tourism contribution
to the employment & GDP’s of the different countries around the world. India is one of the
fastest growing economy growing rapidly and tourism playing major role in the contribution
of economic growth of India.
Adventure tourism is major category in travel & tourism industry. There are numerous
studies and reports on the economic benefits of Adventure tourism and every study shows
that if there will be more development in basic infrastructure and ease of availability
of Adventures in India, it will attract and restore businesses, will generate new jobs and can
raise more revenue to contribute in the GDP and recent statistics proves this in last few years.
Adventure tourism is growing exponentially in India over the past few years with local and
foreign tourists visiting destinations previously undiscovered. This allows for new &
unpopular destinations in different states of India to market themselves as truly unique,
appealing to those travellers looking for rare, incomparable adventure experiences.
Tourism is one of the most rapidly growing sectors in the world, and adventure tourism is one
of its fastest growing categories, growing faster than other significant sectors such as
financial and business services, transport and manufacturing. Increasingly, countries in all
stages of economic development are prioritizing adventure tourism for market growth,
because they recognize it’s ecological, cultural, and economic value and so as a diverse
country and fastest growing economy, India should pay more attention in growth of
Adventure sector as well.
“With rising levels of disposable income, many emerging economies have shown fast growth
over recent years, especially in markets in Asia, Central & Eastern Europe, and the Middle
East & Africa.”
As per the Indian government report, travel and tourism is the largest service industry in
India. It is expected that the tourism sector contribution to the country’s gross domestic
product (GDP) will grow at the rate of 7.0% yearly in the period 2013-2024 and this number
can be increased if the Adventure travel improved significantly because it will going to be
major factor to increase the Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTA) resulting in growth of overall
economy. Earlier it was very difficult situation for Adventure hobbyist and traveller’s in
India, as people used to plan their adventure trips along with all required equipment’s and
expertise. But now many companies like come up with plan to provide adventure tourist a
complete package – expertise with equipment’s and all necessary facilities like travelling to
go on an adventure trip. All you have to do is, tell your definition of Adventure and you will
get the package with assurance of safety, security and most importantly life time experiences.
And as a sign of that, Adventure sports are picking a great popularity in Indian market with
its very own domestic travellers. According to ATOAI (Adventure Tour Operators
Association of India) in the last five years the demand by Indian tourists for adventure sports
has shown a 400% rise as compared to International tourist’s demand.

5
"According to industry expert and as well as the Associations of Adventure Tourism, the
Adventure industry is expected to grow 200% in the coming days."
There are many important key points to explain why & how Adventure industry as major
category of tourism can play vital role in growth of Indian economy below are few key points
to highlight.
 Adventure tourism is resilient
 Attracts high value customers
 Support local economies
 Encourages sustainable practices
 Investors See Great Potential
Looking towards the future, according to UNWTO (World Tourism Organization) the growth
of International & Adventure Tourism arrivals immerging economies will grow at double the
pace of developed nations.
Source: WTTC Report
So, the economic impact of the Adventure industry in India in coming years can be accounts
for a sizable proportion of the Indian tourism economy's output and can support significant
number of jobs in India. Considering all the above factors it is clear that Adventure tourism is
currently an important sector for Indian economy and will continue to grow in importance as
the Adventure sector grows in India.
India offers assortment of diverse cultures, festivals, and breath-taking landscapes there are
multiple options to choose from while you are spending vacation in India. India not only
reflects diversity in the culture but also the places. From freezing mountain tops of the
Kashmir to the blistering desert of Rajasthan India is in itself a continent. These aspects of
the country reflect in the tourism also, there is huge array of tourist places in India. Growth in
medical tourism in India is also the reason for the lots of foreign tourists coming to India.
Factors responsible for the growth of tourism sector
Growth in overall standard of living among people
Aggressive marketing strategy for tourism
Augmentation of Indian Economy
Beneficial factors of growth in tourism
Employment opportunities
Growth of domestic tourism
Conservation and reinstatement of natural heritage and monuments
Promoting domestic Merchandising
Most Popular Tourist Destinations in India

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 2.1. Northern India.
Delhi: Capital of India, offers significant monuments and historical buildings.
Agra: Though there are numerous momentous buildings in Agra but it is renowned all over
the world because Of Taj Mahal. One of the seven wonders in the world and arguably most
famous monument of India across the globe.
Shimla: Capital of northern Indian state Himachal Pradesh. Shimla is one of the oldest hills
stations in India. Situated on the foothills of Himalayas, it’s one of the most beautiful places
to visit in India.
Dehradun: Capital of northern state Uttaranchal. Place offers one of the most scenic
landscapes in northern India. Being one of the oldest cities in India Dehradun offers
substantial historical significance.

2.2. Eastern India

Kolkata: Formerly known as Calcutta, it was India’s capital under the British rule hometown
of the great icons such as Rabindranath Tagore, and Satyajit Ray. It is a city of Cultural
enthusiast and Football fanatics.
Shillong : Hill station and a capital of state Meghalaya. Known as the smallest state in the
India Place is renowned as country’s rock capital.

2.3. Western India

Mumbai: One of the biggest cities in the world known as the commercial centre of India.
Often depicted as city of dreams Mumbai it’s a must visit destination while you are on
vacation in India.
Panaji: Capital of Goa it’s popular among the foreign tourists for its excellent beaches and
delicious sea food.

2.4. Southern India

Chennai: one of the most colourful cities in India. One of the most famous cities in the world
‘’Chennai’’ is favourite among tourists. Chennai holds a significant place in the Indian
History.
Cochin: Costal state in India, Cochin is loved by foreign as well as domestic tourists alike.
Cochin was renowned all over the world as a Spice Trading centre.
Bangalore: Famous for its beautiful weather and in recent years emerged as the Indian
counterpart of United States Silicon Valley.

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 3. History of Indian Tourism.
India is a centre of two ancient civilizations of the world called the Indus valley civilization,
and the Aryan civilization. Tourism development in India started in the early sixties. By that
time most of the other countries have achieved a remarkable progress in this area and has
exploited to maximum possible extent. The best way to introduce India as a tourist
destination to foreigners is that ‘India is a country of all seasons and all reasons’. India’s
tourism resources have always been considered immense. The geographical features are
diverse, colourful and varied. As such the resource potential is so much that it can cater to all
kinds and tastes of tourists.
India has an ancient tradition of tourism. It existed as an industry in the informal sector in
ancient times and was indulged in by all classes of people. Mark Twain aptly remarked about
India on ‘India’ [National Tourism Policy 2002] that “India is one country that is endowed
with an imperishable interest for alien prince and alien peasant, for the lettered and the
ignorant, the wise and the fool, the rich and the poor, the bonded and the free – one land that
all men desire to see and once seen, by even a glimpse, would not give the glimpse for all the
shows of all the rest of the globe combined.” The unity of India lies in its diversity – people
bound together by centuries of common traditions, faith and philosophy [Pran Nath, Sushma
1993].
Indian tourism industry has recorded a phenomenal growth especially from 1990s in terms of
both international and domestic tourists arrivals [Honnappa, Ramakrishna 2006]. The
ministry of Indian tourism has launched a new programme called ‘Athithi Devo Bhavah’
which means guest is god. The inspiration behind this expression is to respect because;
respect has always been an essential part of Indian soul. Tourism, which is the third largest
foreign exchange earner in India, has started gaining prominence to the public agenda only in
recent years. Many countries in the world are relying on tourism as one of the fastest growing
sectors. In the Chief Ministers’ conference held on October 2001 [National Tourism Policy
2002] the Prime Minister of India, Shri. Atal Bihari Vajpayee had stated that “Tourism is a
major phenomenon of economic growth in major parts of the world. Many countries have
transformed their economies using the tourism potential the fullest ¦tourism has the potential
to create different types of employment in various sectors – from the most specialized to the
unskilled and what India needs is the generation of massive productive employment
opportunities “.
Tourism in India has a strong relevance to economic development and employment
generation. It creates huge employment opportunities, provides equitable distribution of
wealth, helps to acquire the much-needed foreign exchange, brings out a speedy development
and improvement of infrastructural facilities. Developing countries have given a special
importance for the development of tourism, for it is the main source of earning foreign
exchange, thereby the economic status of the country goes up [Hanapepe, Ramakrishna
2006].
Tourism is one of the few industries which generates high levels of economic output, with
minimum investments and has immense socioeconomic development potential. Indian
tourism industry has recorded a phenomenal growth particularly from 1990’s
[Sathyanarayana, Ramu 2006] in terms of both international and domestic visitor arrivals. A

8
noticeable change in the holidaying trend was reported both the international and domestic
tourists showed an inclination towards adventure sports. India is slowly but surely awakening
to its tourism potential. The outcome of many studies that has been done about tourism states
that India is best suited for all kinds of tourism rural, cultural, eco-tourism, spiritual, sports
and adventure tourism. With small countries like Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand are
already major tourist destinations; India has to struggle to promote itself to the world tourists.

The Great Dynasties.

By 6th century BC, the Magadh rulers dominated the Northern plains. It was also the time
when new thinking emerged in the form of Buddhism and Jainism to challenge Hindu
orthodoxy. The Magadh rule was followed by the rule of Chandragupta Maurya (322-298
B.C.), one of India 's greatest emperors. The Mauryan reign peaked under the reign of
Ashoka the Great who extended his empire from the Kashmir and Peshawar in the North to
Mysore in the South and Orissa in the East. Not only was Ashoka a great ruler, he was one of
the most successful propagators of Buddhism in the country. After Ashoka's death in 232
B.C. the empire began to disintegrate and the country was repeatedly raided and plundered by
foreign invaders, leaving India disunited and weak for the next 400 years. Stability returned
with the reign of Chandra Gupta I (380-412 A.D.). His rule is considered the golden period in
Indian history when art and culture flourished and the country prospered.
Unlike the North of India, foreign invasions had little impact on life in South India which
also saw the rise and decline of many empires. These included the Cholas whose rule
extended to Sri Lanka and South East Asia, the Pandyas, the Cheras, the Pallavas and the
Chalukyas. Under the various rulers, arts and craft in the South also saw the emergence of
various styles of architecture and some of the grandest architectural accomplishments in the
South - the most famous being the exquisitely crafted Chola bronzes. These were followed by
the Hoysala and the Vijaynagar empires - among the greatest Hindu empires.

The Muslim Invasions.

The first Muslim invasions of the country started with the Mahmud of Gazni, who plundered
the sub-continent for its riches between 1001 and 1025. Later Mohamed Ghori defeated
Prithviraj Chauhan, the Tomar ruler of Delhi and left it in charge of his deputy, Qutub-ud-din,
the man who built the Qutub Minar in Delhi. His rule was followed by that of the Khilji,
Tughlaq, Sayyid and Lodi dynasties. Known as the Sultanate of Delhi, it was during this
period that the Muslim rulers introduced Islamic concepts of society and governance to most
of the sub-continent, though the South remained largely untouched.
In 1525, Babur, a descendant of Timur, as well as Genghis Khan invaded Punjab and
eventually founded the Mughal empire in India. His rule was followed by that of his son
Humayun. Humayun was ousted by Afghan chieftain Sher Shah but resumed power after
Sher Shah's death. Sher Shah is, however, remembered as the one to build the Grand Trunk
road spanning from Peshawar to Patna. Humayun's reign was followed up by his son Akbar
who actually consolidated power and extended the empire across North India and parts of
South India. One of India 's wisest rulers and most able administrators, Akbar's reign is

9
considered to be one of the best the country has known. Akbar was succeeded by Jahangir,
followed by his son Shah Jahan - best known as the builder of the Taj Mahal, the Red Fort
and the Jama Masjid. Shah Jahan's reign was followed by Aurangzeb's. The death of
Aurangzeb saw the decline of the Mughal rule in India.

British Rule.
Over the centuries India had always been attractive to traders, and one of the first Europeans
to come to India was the Portuguese trader Vasco da Gama who landed at Calicut, sailing via
the Cape of Good Hope in 1498. The Portuguese established their colony in Goa in the 16th
Century but they did not expand it though their rule continued till 1961. Vasco da Gama was
followed by the French, the Dutch and the English, all of whom were lured by the
commercial interests that India offered. By the last quarter of the 18th century the English
established themselves as the dominant power in India and they set about making
revolutionary changes in the social, political and the economic life of the country.

10
 4. Visa policy of India.
India requires citizens of most countries to hold a valid passport and apply for a travel visa at
their local Indian embassy or consulate, before their visit. Travellers can apply directly by
mail or in person, or through their local travel services company. India has recently
implemented an online method for citizens of 40 countries to apply for an e-Tourist Visa.
Nationals of Bhutan, Maldives and Nepal do not require a travel visa to enter India. Citizens
of Afghanistan, Argentina, Bangladesh, DPR Korea, Jamaica, Maldives, Mauritius,
Mongolia, Nepal, South Africa and Uruguay are not required to pay a fee when obtaining an
Indian visa.
A Protected Area Permit (PAP) is required to enter the states of Nagaland and Sikkim and
some parts of the states of Arunachal Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir,
Manipur, Mizoram, Rajasthan and Uttaranchal. A Restricted Area Permit (RAP) is required
to enter the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and parts of Sikkim. Special permits are needed to
visit the Lakshadweep islands.

e-Tourist Visa.
As a measure to boost tourism, the Indian Government implemented a new visa policy in
November 2014, allowing tourists and business visitors to obtain a "visa on arrival" at sixteen
designated international airports, by acquiring an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA)
online before arrival, without having to visit an Indian consulate or visa centre.[21] In April
2015, the "visa on arrival" scheme was renamed "e-Tourist Visa" (or "e-TV") to avoid
confusion.
The e-Tourist Visa facility requires a tourist to apply online on a secure Government of India
website, at least four to thirty days before the date of travel. If approved, the visitor must print
and carry the approved visa with their travel documents. The visa allows holders of an ETA
to enter and stay anywhere in India for a period of thirty days; an ETA can be obtained twice
in a single calendar year.
India first introduced its "visa on arrival" facility on 27 November 2014, to citizens of the
following countries: Australia, Brazil, Cambodia, Cook Islands, Djibouti, Fiji, Finland,
Germany, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Kiribati, Laos, Luxembourg, Marshall
Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia, Myanmar, Nauru, New Zealand, Niue, Norway,
Oman, Palau, Palestine, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Russia, Samoa, Singapore, Solomon
Islands, South Korea, Thailand, Tonga, Tuvalu, UAE, Ukraine, USA, Vanuatu and
Vietnam. On 30 July 2015, the facility was extended to China, Macau and Hong Kong. On 15
August 2015, the facility was further extended to citizens of Andorra, Argentina, Armenia,
Aruba, Belgium, Bolivia, Colombia, Cuba, East Timor, Guatemala, Hungary, Ireland,
Jamaica, Malta, Malaysia, Mongolia, Monaco, Mozambique, the Netherlands, Panama, Peru,
Poland, Portugal, Seychelles, Slovenia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the
Grenadines, Surinam, Sweden, Taiwan, Tanzania, Turks and Caicos Islands, the United
Kingdom, Uruguay and Venezuela. The facility should eventually be expanded to about 180
countries.

11
As a result of the new visa policy, 56,477 tourists arrived on an e-Tourist Visa during
October 2015, compared with 2,705 tourist arrivals during October 2014 (just before the
facility was introduced), representing a 1987.9% increase. During the period from January to
October 2015, a total of 258,182 tourists arrived on an e-Tourist Visa, a 1073.8% increase on
the 21,995 tourist arrivals during the same period in 2014 (before the e-Tourist Visa was
available).

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 5. Foreign tourist arrivals in India.

About 8.9 million foreign tourists visited India in 2016, up 11 per cent from the previous
year, reveals a study by travel company ixigo.

"Most of these tourists have been found to originate from the US, Bangladesh and UK, which
account to about 40 per cent of the total count," the company said in a statement.

"India has quite evidently been witnessing a consistent rise of inward foreign tourism year on
year. This increase can be attributed to many factors such as more flexible government
policies, easy availability of e-visas to foreign tourists, developments in road & rail
infrastructure and much more," it said.
"While maximum tourists hit base in Delhi, Mumbai and Chennai in 2016, accounting to over
50 per cent of foreign arrivals, we have seen people travel around the country to visit popular
destinations such as Goa, Rajasthan, Kerala, etc. If government policies continue to remain
flexible, 2017 should prove to be an even better year for foreign tourism," said CEO Aloke
Bajpai.
Statistical data is an important tool for the planners and policy makers not only for planning/
policy formulation but also to monitor the progress of the schemes and evaluate their impact.
The Ministry of Tourism brings out an Annual Publication called "India Tourism Statistics "
every year giving details of international and domestic tourism, including details about the
classified hotels etc. In addition, a small brochure called “Tourism Statistics at a Glance” is
also brought out, giving updated and latest key statistical data. The Ministry also estimates
month wise Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs) figures and Foreign Exchange Earnings (FEE)
from tourism, and this is brought out within a time lag of just 4-5 days. A total of 18.78 lakh
foreigners visited India this year within the first 10 months on E-visa -- four times more than
the 4.47 lakh figure registered in 2015 and the highest so far. The maximum number of
visitors who availed of this facility were from the UK, the US, China, France and Germany.
A home ministry release said that arrivals between January and October, 2018 also broke last
year's record when 17 lakh foreigners visited India on E-visa or Electronic-visa, citing
liberalization of the visa regime by India as a reason for the spike in figures.
The fee collection this year till October 31 was $ 137,527,270 which was $ 105,558,496 in
2017.
The top five countries whose nationals availed E-visa services are the UK (2,921,432), the
US (2,213,393), China(1,270,224), France (1,071,855) and Germany (89,863).
Nationals of 166 countries can now enjoy these E-visa -- available for five categories such as
Tourist, Business, Medical, Conference and medical attendant -- facility at 26 airports and
five seaports, and can be availed three times in one year against twice a year earlier, said the
release.
The local Foreigner Regional Registration Office (FRRO) has been empowered now to
extend the duration of electronic visas beyond 60 days up to 90 days, said the release.

13
"With the E-visa facility, the foreigner does not have to interact with any Indian official till
his arrival at the immigration counter. For foreigners who are already in India and require any
consular or visa services like extension, conversion, exit permission or any of the total 27
visa-related services, an online e-FRRO facility has now been launched throughout the
country.
"The foreigners do not have to physically visit the offices of FRROs. They can apply as well
as receive consular or visa services online after making online payment," it said.
To promote cruise tourism, immigration facilities have been provided at five major seaports
where e-landing permits are granted to passengers for their onshore site-seeing.
"The condition of biometric enrolment for such tourists arriving at Mumbai, Cochin,
Mormugao, Chennai and New Mangalore ports has also been suspended till December 2020
to ensure faster immigration clearance so that cruise tourists can spend maximum time on
shore."
Foreign nationals who fall sick during their stay in India can now avail medical treatment
without converting their visa into medical visa, said the release. The Centre is also allowing
conversion of any category of visa of a foreigner who is married to an Indian citizen, person
of Indian origin or overseas citizen of India (OCI) card holder into an entry visa at any point
of time by the FRRO himself.
State governments or the FRROs can now take decision locally and grant Protected Area
Permit (PAP) or Restricted Area Permit (RAP) immediately to foreigners intending to visit
places which are not open for tourism. Such permits are granted only after a prior reference is
made by the concerned state or Union Territories to the Home Ministry.
Earlier, foreigners visiting Andaman and Nicobar Islands required a visa as well as a RAP.
With a view to promoting flow of tourism and investment, 30 Andaman and Nicobar Islands
have been excluded from the RAP regime, the release said. "Foreigners will also be allowed
to visit 11 uninhabited islands, to be notified by Andaman and Nicobar Islands, only for day
trips without any RAP."
The Ministry has also reduced minimum remuneration requirement from Rs 7.80 lakh to Rs
3.60 lakh per annum for grant of intern visa which is now available at any time during the
course of study.

14
Foreign tourist arrivals in India.
(1997–2017)

15
Foreign exchange earnings from tourism in India
(1997–2017)

16
Source countries for foreign tourist arrivals in India
in 2017.

17
 6. Incredible India.

Incredible India (styled as Incredible India) is the name of an international tourism campaign
maintained by the Government of India since 2002, to promote tourism in India to an
audience of global appeal.
The "Incredible India" title was officially branded and promoted by Amitabh Kant, the then
Joint Secretary under the Union Ministry of Tourism, in 2002.
In 2002, India's Ministry of Tourism launched a campaign to promote India as a popular
tourist destination. The phrase "Incredible India" was adopted as a slogan by the ministry.
Before 2002, the Indian government had regularly formulated policies and prepared
pamphlets and brochures for the promotion of tourism, however, it had not supported tourism
in a concerted fashion. In 2002, the tourism ministry made a conscious effort to bring in more
professionalism in its attempts to promote tourism. It formulated an integrated

18
communication strategy with the aim of promoting India as a destination of choice for the
discerning traveller. The tourism ministry engaged the services of advertising and marketing
firm Ogilvy & Mather (O&M) India to create a new campaign to increase tourist inflows into
the country.
The campaign portrayed India as an attractive tourist destination by showcasing different
aspects of Indian culture and history like yoga, spirituality, etc. The campaign was conducted
globally and received appreciation from tourism industry observers and travellers alike.
However, the campaign also attracted criticism from some quarters. Some observers felt that
it had failed to cover several aspects of India which would have been attractive to the average
tourist.
In 2008, the Ministry of Tourism launched a campaign targeted at the local population to
educate them regarding good behaviour and etiquette when dealing with foreign tourists.
Indian actor Aamir Khan was commissioned to endorse the campaign which was titled
"Atithidevo Bhava", Sanskrit for "Guests are like God". Atithidevo Bhava was aimed at
creating awareness about the effects of tourism and sensitising the local population about
preservation of India's heritage, culture, cleanliness and hospitality. It also attempted to instil
a sense of responsibility towards tourists and reinforce the confidence of foreign tourists
towards India as a preferred holiday destination. The concept was designed to complement
the Incredible India campaign.
In 2009, Minister of tourism, Kumari Selja unveiled plans to extend the Incredible India
campaign to the domestic tourism sector as well. US$12 million out of a total budget of
US$200 million was allocated in 2009 for the purpose of promoting domestic tourism.
In 2015, Aamir Khan, whose comments on perceived intolerance in the country had created a
controversy, ceased to be the mascot for the Incredible India campaign when the contract for
it expired. The new brand ambassador of Incredible India was Narendra Modi himself.
In 2017, veteran actor Amitabh Bachchan & actress Priyanka Chopra were chosen as the new
brand ambassadors for the Incredible India campaign.

6.1. Impact on Indian tourism.

According to spending data released by Visa Asia Pacific in March 2006, India has emerged
as the fastest growing market in the Asia-Pacific region in terms of international tourist
spending. The data revealed that international tourists spent US$372 million in India in the
fourth quarter (October–December) of 2005, 25% more than in the fourth quarter of 2004.
China, which came second in the region, managed to raise US$784 million from international
tourism in Q4 2005, a growth of 23% over its Q4 2004 figures. The tourist spending figures
for India would have satisfied the Indian tourism ministry, which had been targeting the high-
end market through its long running Incredible India communication campaign.

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Reception.

Indian travel industry analysts and tour operators were appreciative of the high standards of
the Incredible India campaign. "The promo campaign is making a powerful visual impact and
creating a perception of India being a magical place to visit," said Anne Morgaon Scully,
President, McCabe Bremer Travel, Virginia, U.S. Average travellers too appeared to find the
campaign interesting and informative, going by favourable comments on blogs on travel
websites. Although Incredible India was generally well received, industry observers differed
in their opinions on the positioning of India in the campaign. G.S.Murari, Director, Fidelis
Advertising and Marketing Private Ltd. stated that he was uncomfortable with the tagline
"Incredible India" and was of the opinion that since India was not a unidimensional country
like Singapore or the Maldives, using a word like 'incredible' to describe India as a whole was
not appropriate. In 2011, Arjun Sharma, Managing Director, Le Passage to India, stated that
the campaign had lived its life and needed to be reinvented. The Ministry of Tourism again
engaged Ogilvy & Mather for a period of three years, starting in 2012, to redefine the brand
and provide a strategic vision for the campaign.

In 2013, Incredible India, Ministry of Tourism partnered with WoNoBo.com to

launch Walking Tours, an online experience where users navigate and route their way
through cities based on a choice of themes.

Parvez Dewan Secretary, Ministry of Tourism launched a personalised itinerary planner

called Tripigator, a website aimed at providing all travel itineraries in one tab to reduce
travellers' efforts.

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 7. Types of Indian tourism.

7.1. Cultural tourism.

is the predominant factor behind India’s meteoric rise in the tourism segment in recent years,
because from time immemorial, India has been considered the land of ancient history,
heritage, and culture.

The government of India has set up the Ministry of Tourism and Culture to boost cultural
tourism in India. The ministry in recent years has launched the ‘Incredible India!’ campaign
and this has led to the growth of culture tourism in India.

India has had many rulers over the centuries and all of them made an impact on India's
culture. One can see the influence of various cultures in dance, music, festivities, architecture,
traditional customs, food, and languages. It is due to the influence of all these various cultures
that the heritage and culture of India is exhaustive and vibrant. This richness in culture goes a
long way in projecting India as the ultimate cultural tourism destination given boost to
tourism in culture in India.

The most popular states in India for cultural tourism are:

 Rajasthan
 Tamil Nadu
 Uttar Pradesh
 Uttaranchal
Among the various states for cultural tourism in India, Rajasthan is the most popular. The
reason for this is that Rajasthan is famous for its rich cultural heritage. The state is renowned
for many magnificent palaces and forts which showcase the rich cultural heritage of
Rajasthan. The various folk songs and music also reflect the cultural heritage of Rajasthan. A
large number of festivals and fairs are held in Rajasthan such as the camel festival, Marwar
festival, and Pushkar festival. All these attract many tourists to Rajasthan for they get to see
the rich culture of the state.

Tamil Nadu is also famous for cultural tourism in India, for it shows the Dravidian tradition
and culture. It has many temples which mirror the rich cultural heritage of India. Uttar
Pradesh has a lot of tourist places which also testify to the rich culture of the country. The
most famous monument is the Taj Mahal in Agra. Cities like Varanasi, Allahabad,
Vrindavan, and Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh also attract a large number of tourists for they
encapsulate beautiful vignettes of India.

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Uttaranchal is also famous for cultural tourism India. This state has the Himalaya mountains
which are called the abode of the Gods. Many ancient temples are found in the Kumaon and
Garhwal regions of the state.

Cultural tourism India has witnessed a lot of growth in recent years. For this growth to
continue, the government of India needs to take further pro-active steps and measures.

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 7.2. Religious tourism.

Religious tourism also referred as faith tourism is a type of tourism in which people may
travel individually or in groups for the purpose of pilgrimage, leisure or missionary.
Religious tours are not just travelling circuits to various holy temples but are believed to be
holy odysseys by highly religious people of India. For more than 4000 years, India has been
one among the highly spiritual place on earth. India being the spiritual capital of world with
its people and infrastructure allowing religions to thrive, prospers, and flourishes. If one
wishes to undergo painstaking journeys and carry out ultimate penance, they can definitely
hope for attaining salvation. Religious tourism in India is focus of Narendra Modi's national
tourism policy. Uttarakhand has been popular as a religious and adventure tourism hub.[1]
Mahesh Sharma said, "In view of religious tourism, Ramdevera and Tanot would also be
linked to a tourism circuit in western Rajasthan."[2]
Religious tourism has been one of the reasons of developing India. India is widely known for
its wonderful religious places which are nowhere seen in world. Many places like Kashi
Vishwanath, Omkareshwar, Mahakaleshwar, Gangotri, Yamunotri, Badrinath, Kedarnath of
lord Shiva are most visited places in India. Even people from USA and UK come to India to
visit these places.

Buddhist Pilgrimages.
In Northern India’s Gangetic Plains and South of Nepal, several Buddhist pilgrimage centres
are located. This area is situated between Rajgir and New Delhi. All these places reflect the
life of Gautam Buddha, the place where he lived, where he taught, where he preached
sermons, where he attained entitlement and where he attained Nirvana. These sites are
connected with Gautam Buddha’s life and not only Buddhists but also followers of other
religions visit these destinations. Besides India, there are many pilgrimage centres and shrines
located in different countries.

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Hindu Pilgrimage.
There are places of great religious significance in every religion about which there is firm
faith among the followers that the places are closely related with the gods, messengers of the
gods and deities they follow. The followers make a journey to those places in their lifetime
once or several times to achieve spiritual salvation. The journey to these religious places is
called pilgrimage and the person who goes to visit the places is called a pilgrim. The Sanskrit
and Hindi word for pilgrimage centre is tirtha, which literally means a river ford or crossing
place. Apart from the fact that pilgrimage centres are situated on riverbanks, they also have
metaphorical importance for transition to the other side of worldly troubles or beyond the
endless cycle of birth and death.
The term Hinduism Is derived from the word Hindu, which is a mispronounced form of
Sindhu, a river flowing in western part of India which included modern day Pakistan. The
civilization that grew around the river Sindhu in course of time came to be known as Hindu
Dharma or Sanatana Dharma which is recognized as the oldest religion of the
world. Hinduism is the third largest religion in the world after Christianity and Islam.
Several sacred places are attached with the religion and so Hindus make pilgrimage to these
places from faraway places.
The pilgrim locations of Hindus are located all around the country. Many times, these places
are located at the sites which have difficult terrains to be covered in order to reach the sites.
Therefore, a lot of devotion and determination is required among the pilgrims which act as a
motivation to reach to these far-off places of faith. The other motivation comes from the
belief that all the sins could be washed away if one pays the visit to the pilgrim places. As
evident from the fact that the places are situated at difficult terrains many times, the people
like to go in groups and so many times the pilgrimage is mostly undertaken in groups in a
certain part of the year. A Hindu, if he does not go to all the pilgrim places, must go to Char
Dhams and so they become the chief pilgrimage circuit of the Hindus.

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Jain Pilgrimages.
The country like India is melting pot of different cultures, faith-following, religions, beliefs
but still it boasts of unity among the vast diversity. From ancient times India has been the
productive ground for various religions such as Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism and Sikhism.
As true with other faiths, Jainism has also countless followers as this has become a truly
world religion.
Founded by Vardhaman who later came to be known as Mahaveer, Jainism preached the
lessons of non-violence and peace. For the expansion of the faith, Jain monks went to all the
corners of India and preached their basic tenets and principles. Till this date those monuments
and places of worship are conserved which has become in recent times the places of interests
and reverence for the believers and tourist.
There are two sects in Jain religion – Swetambaras and Digambaras. In both the sects,
pilgrimage is being taken by the followers, although such pilgrimages are not compulsorily
mentioned in the religion. The Jain pilgrims generally like to visit those places and temples
which are related with the lives, preaching’s and works of the Jain gurus or Tirthankaras.

Muslim Pilgrimages.
Muslims in India visit many religious places. There are many religious shrines, mosques and
holy places that are religiously significant for Indian Muslims. Some famous Muslim sites for
pilgrimages are- Ajmer Sharif, that is the final resting place of Moinuddin Chishti or
“Khwaja Gharib Nawaj” of Ajmer. Another popular place is Jama Masjid, located in Delhi.
This marvellous mosque is very famous not only for its religious importance but its

25
architectural significance. Located in sea’s middle is another mosque, Haji Ali in Mumbai.
One cannot forget Fatehpur Sikri, where in search of famous Sufi mystic, Emperor Akbar
came barefoot to seek his blessings.
Islam originated in India along with the invasion of Turks and Muslims during the mediaeval
period. They took over the country’s administration in their hands and soon Islam came into
existence here. Islam has had several impacts on India and natives. These impacts were
social, religious, cultural, artistic, political and philosophical contributions in the heritage,
history and life of Indians.
Since twelfth century, Islam gained a lot of prominence in the country. The Islam mystics,
Sufi saints preaching and awe-inspiring Mughal architecture visible in mosques and tombs
are some of the important features of this religion.
Holy places and artefacts related to Islam are spread all over the country but the most
important ones are located in Fatehpur Sikri, Agra, Jaipur, Delhi and Ajmer regions.
Jama Masjid, Humayun’s Tomb, Dargah of Nizamuddin Aulia, and Moti Masjid are some of
the famous Muslim pilgrimage centres in Delhi. Adhai-Din-Ka-Jhoparan Mosque and
Khawaja Moidudin Chisti Dargah are famous Muslim pilgrimage centres in Ajmer. People
come here from faraway places to seek Khwaja’s blessings. Stunning Taj Mahal is another
famous pilgrimage centre for Muslims. Etmad-Ud-Daulah's Tomb and Red Fort are other
worth visiting places. Each and every monument has a story to share. A fascinating legend
associated with these places make them more popular.
Spiritual senses enhance considerably when visiting these stunning places.

26
Sikh Pilgrimage.
The world is abode of many faiths, cultures and religions, which are kept live and lived
simultaneously by its followers. Chief among the religions of the world are Hinduism, Islam,
Christianity, Sikhism, Zoroastrism, Judaism and many more. One of the great religions is
Sikhism which is considered 5th largest religion in the world in terms of the followers.
Sikhism was founded during the medieval period by Guru Nanak Dev and the whole religion
is based on the preaching, teachings and sermons of Guru Nanak Dev and the nine gurus who
followed him one after another. The term Sikhism is rooted in the Sanskrit word Sishya
which means a follower to the teacher or a Guru. Thus, Sikh is a follower or disciple of the
discipline and the discipline itself came to be known as Sikhism. Today, the number of
followers of the religion is around 23 million. Sikh visits the Gurudwaras, which are a place
of worship for the Sikh people.
Numbers of gurudwaras are situated in different parts of the world, each gurudwara speaking
its own story about its importance. Like the followers of other religions, Sikh pilgrims from
distant places come in huge numbers to Gurudwaras to achieve solace, peace and for soul-
cleansing. A number of such pilgrimages are planned by Sikh devotees at time intervals and
the places are visited by them during some specific months every year. These pilgrimages are
carried by various means of communication like horse-chariots, motor-vehicles or even on
their foot.

27
 7.3. Ecotourism.

With more traveling comes bigger responsibility! The sooner we understand this, the better it
is for us and nature around. Ecotourism in India might not be a very popular terminology, but
those who care about it are doing their bit to conserve country’s natural heritage, even if it’s
one baby step at a time. Being aware of small changes, promoting the lesser developed areas,
and upholding the traditions and culture of the place are our responsibilities as a traveller.
Let’s begin with delving slightly deeper into how ecotourism in India is shaping up and
making its presence felt in popular as well as lesser explored destinations in India.
Ecotourism works towards the conservation of nature and biodiversity. It also promotes
responsible travel, which can be initiated by minimum destruction, environmental growth,
adventure, and preaching sustainable ways of living on the planet.
In the process, ecotourism glorifies offbeat places, their rich culture, and centuries-old
traditions. The advantages are many; we as a traveller get to live moments, and nature as a
whole gets to live!
Intentionally, nobody likes stressing nature while trying to destress themselves but a reality
check is much needed. Non-profit organizations are taking the lead in promoting the cause
and even the government contributes its bit by boosting city tours and adventure treks.
Volunteer travel programs are being designed to seek the attention of youngsters and nature
lovers; and Eco Sensitive Zones (ESZs) have been developed to put spotlight on India’s
wildlife sanctuaries, forest reserves, and biodiversity parks.
The constant threat of global warming and degradation of nature has brought the idea of
ecotourism in the limelight. Besides, promotion of fragile & undisturbed nature, and
connecting secluded environs with the mainstream are a few concerns that have been duly
addressed by ecotourism in India.

28
However, the reduction of carbon footprint is equally emphasized when we speak of
ecotourism. Today, there are a number of sprawling farms, resorts, homestays, and eco-
friendly hotels in India that offer a natural retreat in India’s popular tourist destinations.

7.4. Adventure tourism.

Due to a diverse topography, adventure tours in India are of different types. These will help
you get over the boredom induced by the unidimensional city life. Whenever you want a
unique and insightful vacation, go for such thrilling engagements as they will make you feel
joyous. You could enjoy them alone, with friends or like a fun family outing. There are many
adventure destinations in India, and you can go for sightseeing in and around them.

Adventure Destinations in India

Adventure trips can be taken to a number of destinations in the country, with each one being
famous for a particular activity.
 Ladakh: The rough terrain and natural beauty of Ladakh have made it an admirable
destination for adventure lovers. With an average elevation of over 10000 feet above
sea level, Ladakh has a cold arid climate.
 Rishikesh: This sacred place is located in the state of Uttarakhand, and is another
well-known spot to indulge in thrill-inducing sports like rafting, rock climbing,
rappelling and more. Rishikesh can be visited in any month as the weather here is
always pleasant.
 Lonavala: It is about 65 km from Pune, and is a popular hill town. With a moderate
altitude of approximately 2050 feet, the topography here is not too rugged, and the
weather does not become extreme. Hot air ballooning is popular here.
 Kamshet: This destination lies in the Sahyadri Ranges; hence its altitude is moderate.
Even in the peak of winters, the temperature rarely drops to below 10 degree Celsius,
making it a nice place to enjoy the season. Paragliding is done here from October to
April.
 Kolad: Another amazing place to relish thrilling sport of rafting, this little village lies
on the banks of the Kundalika River. Away from urban centres and immersed in
tranquillity, it is an ideal getaway if you want to relax.
 Goa: Those who want to have an exciting time along the seas should definitely come
to Goa. It is a perfect place to indulge in some fabulous and exciting water sports.
Apart from the above-mentioned places for adventure trips in India, there are hordes of other
sites too to plan thrilling expeditions.

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Adventure Activities in India
With a plethora of exciting engagements in the country, such excitement-developing sports
are bound to continue gaining admiration.
 Treks: You can trek at a number of destinations like Ladakh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim,
Himachal Pradesh and Kashmir.
 Motor Bike Expeditions: Biking trips on the Leh-Manali highway and through South
and West India are hosted by loads of travel agencies as they are highly admired.
 River Rafting: The state of Uttarakhand and the village of Kolad are two prime
destinations for rafting.
 Hot Air Ballooning: Jaipur in Rajasthan and Lonavala near Mumbai are the two most
sought-after places for hot air ballooning. Both these destinations have weather
conditions, which are favourable for the engagement.
 Scuba Diving: To see the underwater world from up close, travel to Andaman and
Nicobar Islands, the state of Goa or the town of Murudeshwar in Karnataka. You will
get scuba training from PADI certified instructors at all these sites before you head
out to the sea.
 Wildlife Safari: The country has loads of protected areas like Corbett, Bandhavgarh,
Kanha and Pench national parks, where wildlife safaris can be availed.
 Camping: You can camp wherever there are untouched environs like hills and forests.
There are many such places in Uttarakhand, West Bengal, Rajasthan, Karnataka and
Himachal Pradesh, which you can pick.

30
 Seasonality
The adventure tours in India you want to go on will determine the perfect season for
them.
 Treks: Summers are generally preferred for trekking because of the pleasant weather
high up in the mountains, except for the Chadar trek, which can only be done in
winters.
 Bike Expeditions: Biking in Ladakh should be done in summers while winters are
ideal for journeys through West and South India.
 Rafting: The rainy season is perfect for rafting on the Kundalika River, whereas the
time before and after the said season is when rafting is organised on the Ganga River.
 Hot Air Ballooning: The best season for this activity is between October and April
primarily and it is hosted at 5:30 am and 4:00 pm because of ideal wind speeds.
 Scuba Diving: You should scuba dive when the seas are calm, which is generally the
case in the non rainy season.
 Wildlife Safari: In India, wildlife safaris are only possible when it is not raining. Most
protected areas are closed during monsoons due to the damage caused to roads.
 Camping: As camping involves living in tents, you should always go for the
engagement when the weather is not too hot or not too cold.

7.5. Medical tourism.

Medical tourism is a growing sector in India. In October 2015, India's medical tourism sector
was estimated to be worth US$3 billion. It is projected to grow to $9 billion by 2020.
According to the Confederation of Indian Industries (CII), the primary reason that attracts
medical value travel to India is cost-effectiveness, and treatment from accredited facilities at
par with developed countries at much lower cost. The Medical Tourism Market Report: 2015
found that India was "one of the lowest costs and highest quality of all medical tourism
destinations, it offers wide variety of procedures at about one-tenth the cost of similar
procedures in the United States."
Foreign patients travelling to India to seek medical treatment in 2012, 2013 and 2014
numbered 171,021, 236,898, and 184,298 respectively. In October 2015, Bangladeshis and
Afghans accounted for 34% of foreign patients, the largest share, primarily due to their close
proximity with India and poor healthcare infrastructure. Russia and the Commonwealth of
Independent States (CIS) accounted for 30% share of foreign medical tourist arrivals. Other
major sources of patients include Africa and the Middle East, particularly the Persian Gulf
countries. In 2015, India became the top destination for Russians seeking medical treatment.
Chennai, Kolkata, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Bangalore and the National Capital Region received
the highest number of foreign patients primarily from South Eastern countries. In 2017 there
were 495,056, nearly half from Bangladesh.

31
Advantages of medical treatment in India include reduced costs, the availability of latest
medical technologies, and a growing compliance on international quality standards, Doctors
trained in western countries including US and UK, as well as English speaking personnel, due
to which foreigners are less likely to face language barrier in India. According to
the Confederation of Indian Industries (CII), the primary reason that attracts medical value
travel to India is cost-effectiveness, and treatment from accredited facilities at par with
developed countries at much lower cost. The Medical Tourism Market Report: 2015 found
that India was "one of the lowest costs and highest quality of all medical tourism destinations,
it offers wide variety of procedures at about one-tenth the cost of similar procedures in the
United States."
India has 33 JCI accredited hospitals. However, for a patient traveling to India, it is important
to find the optimal Doctor-Hospital combination. After the patient has been treated, the
patient has the option of either recuperating in the hospital or at a paid accommodation
nearby. Many hospitals also give the option of continuing the treatment through telemedicine.
The city of Chennai has been termed "India's health capital". Multi- and super-specialty
hospitals across the city bring in an estimated 150 international patients every
day. Chennai attracts about 45 percent of health tourists from abroad arriving in the country
and 30 to 40 percent of domestic health tourists. Factors behind the tourist’s inflow in the city
include low costs, little to no waiting period and facilities offered at the specialty hospitals in
the city. The city has an estimated 12,500 hospital beds, of which only half is used by the
city's population with the rest being shared by patients from other states of the country and
foreigners. Dental clinics have attracted dental care tourism to Chennai.
The government has removed visa restrictions on tourist visas that required a two-month gap
between consecutive visits for people from Gulf countries which is likely to boost medical
tourism. A visa-on-arrival scheme for tourists from select countries has been instituted which
allows foreign nationals to stay in India for 30 days for medical reasons. In 2016, citizens of
Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Maldives, Republic of Korea and Nigeria availed the most medical
visas.
Despite India's diversity of languages, English is an official language and is widely spoken by
most people and almost universally by medical professionals. In Noida, which is fast
emerging as a hotspot for medical tourism, a number of hospitals have hired language
translators to make patients from Balkan and African countries feel more comfortable while
at the same time helping in the facilitation of their treatment.
Advantages:
Costs of medical procedures in developed countries such as U.S., U.K., etc. are very high as
compared to India & other Medical Tourism spots. A person coming to India for his/her
medical treatment can save anywhere between 30 to 70 per cent, including the cost of tickets
& accommodation.
Some medical insurance policies do not cover full cost of medical treatment & the patient is
made to pay a fraction of the cost. Sometimes even this fraction of the cost becomes
unaffordable & Medical Tourism becomes the most feasible option. People with no medical
insurance are the ones who are highly involved in medical tourism.

32
Most estimates found that treatment costs in India start at around one-tenth of the price of
comparable treatment in the United States or the United Kingdom. The most popular
treatments sought in India by medical tourists are alternative medicine, bone-marrow
transplant, cardiac bypass, eye surgery and hip replacement. India is known in particular for
heart surgery, hip resurfacing and other areas of advanced medicine.

7.6. Business Tourism.

India beckons not only the leisure traveller, but the business traveller as well. With nonstop
flights from several U.S. cities, travel to India has never been easier, resulting in a business
tourism boom. Companies increasingly choose India for business meetings, and international
organizations select cities for convention sites, from cosmopolitan Mumbai on the coast, to
Delhi, India's capital city.
The tourism industry generally defines business tourism as trips that bring together groups for
four purposes---meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions, commonly known as
MICE. It also includes individual business travel. Business travel revenues include
expenditures for accommodation, meals, transportation and entertainment. As an emerging
market, India business tourism is "projected to become the fifth fastest growing business
travel destination from 2010-2019," according to TRIFAC, an Indian government-affiliated
state agency.
According to the World Travel and Tourism Council, an international tourism
trade organization, Indian business tourism will contribute over $14.2 billion to the economy
in 2011, representing a 7.8 percent increase over 2010. The sector employs thousands of
people in the hotel business, and contributes to other hospitality businesses like restaurants
and attractions. Business generated from the Indian domestic market generates most of the
revenue, but the industry also focuses on the international market, showcasing India to the
world.
Convention centres in several cities accommodate groups of up to 5,000. Delhi and
neighbouring Noida, long time convention gathering points, both feature expo centres, as
does Chennai on the east coast. India's centrally-located technology centre, Hyderabad,

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features a facility that targets the MICE market. Even much smaller Agra, home to
the Taj Mahal, entered the market with a new meetings facility, as has Cochin, a tropical city
bordered by the enchanting backwaters area of Kerala state.
While India's major convention centres and hotels meet business tourism requirements, the
biggest benefit to the buyer is India itself. MICE market travellers, as well as individual
business travellers, have the opportunity to explore diverse activities in conjunction with their
business agenda. Delhi offers a historical perspective---monuments to the past such as the
Red Fort---and a culinary feast of choices, especially vegetarian options. A side trip to Jaipur,
the "pink city" provides camel and elephant rides to ancient forts. And the majestic
Himalayas are only a few hours north featuring cool, pristine air and Buddhist temples. In the
south, business tourists ply the waters through jungle, visit colourful Christian churches and
watch fisherman catch fish with large nets. Both Mumbai and Chennai boast an ocean
waterfront.
While business tourism grows, the Indian hotel industry experiences difficulty keeping up
with demand, and coupled with leisure tourism expansion, occupancy rates are high. As a
result, room rates can be expensive and bookings for larger groups need to be made well in
advance of travel. In addition, large hotels outside the major centres can be difficult to find,
and may not meet international standards. Tourism officials work to expand facilities and
open new venues, such as facilities near remote game parks.

7.7. Sports tourism.

Sports tourism means to travel for the sake of either viewing or participating in sports event
staying a part from their usual environment.

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 Sports tourism in India has scored a high place for its self in Indian tourism industry. Sports
tourism is broadly defined by the adventure sports and game in India. There are indeed
several destinations in India offering sports tourism. There are varied sports activity that you
can indulge during your vacation.

Types of adventure sports Distinguished adventure sports: mountaineering, rock-

climbing, scuba diving, water rafting, kayaking, canoeing, sailing, surfing, water scooting.
Aero sports like: ballooning, paragliding, hand gliding.
These sports offer scope for sports lover and enthusiasts from all of the world.

Adventure hot sports in India Goa, Andaman and Nicobar, Kerala, Uttaranchal,
Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Jammu and Kashmir

Business and leisure Business tour combined with active sports are becoming highly
popular where business meets leisure and such kind of sports tourism on business tour is
global cooperate strategy for employee entertainment and wellbeing. Moreover, sports
tourism is nurture by professional sports person they have to travel extensively for their
carrier to participate in national and international championship like Cricket World Cup,
Soccer World Cup, Wimbledon so on and forth. Commonwealth Games 2010, Delhi is the
best example of sports tourism.

Future of sports tourism Scope and future of sports tourism is endless in India because of
its diverse topography and climatic condition. You can enjoy on land and water, under water
and in air whatsoever form of adventure sports in India. Future of sports tourism and
adventure sports in India is very bright.

7.8 Rural tourism.

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The development of infrastructure in rural areas having potential for tourism is being
supported under the existing scheme of destination development. The objective is to
showcase rural life, art, culture and heritage at rural locations and in villages, which have
core competence in art & craft, handloom, and textiles as also an asset base in the natural
environment. The intention is to benefit the local community economically and socially as
well as enable interaction between tourists and local population for a mutually enriching
experience. Under this scheme, the thrust is to promote village tourism as the primary tourism
product to spread tourism and its socio-economic benefits to rural and its new geographic
regions, thereby stopping the exodus from rural to urban areas. The Village Level Council
(VLC) is the interactive forum for local community participation in work plan
implementation, further supported by other community level institutions. For the visitor,
whose expenditure creates revenue for host community service providers, rural tourism adds
value through packaged programmes in art & craft imparted by skilled local artisans. Village
entertainment groups unveil local history and culture, natural and oral treasures. The visitor
thus comes face to face with India’s rural traditions. So far, 153 rural tourism projects in 28
States/Union Territories have been sanctioned by the Ministry of Tourism including 36 rural
sites where UNDP has supported for capacity building.
Globally recognized Incredible India brand, now supported by the Ministry’s new Explore
Rural India sub brand, is strengthening the visitors’ attraction to India as a multiple-interest,
all-season destination targeting higher visitor yields.
Community participation in rural tourism has been strengthened through the site artisans’
structured involvement in Dilli Haat, Mega Craft Mela in cities such as Bhubaneswar,
Aurangabad etc., India@60 roadshow in Singapore and Volvo Ocean Race in Cochin. Wide
media 28 Annual Report 2009-10 and trade focus were also given at the World Tourism Mart
(WTM) and International Tourism Bourse (ITB), the world’s principal tourism forums.
At the India@60 event in Singapore, as a unique first-time highlight, eight skilled artisans
from four of the Ministry’s UNDP-partnered rural tourism locations showcased their site
attraction through impressive on-site art & craft demonstration and display. The eight
participating artisans, many of those who travelled overseas for the first time, gained first-
hand exposure to international competitive, merchandising and promotional practices. This
enabled their extensive direct interface with the tourism trade, consumers, craft stores,
corporate organizations, and the media.
The artisans from 5 rural tourism sites participated in the Pacific Asia Travel Association
(PATA) Travel Mart held in September 2008 to showcase their arts & crafts.
Rural Eco-holidays: 15 rural tourism sites have been selected as rural eco-holidays sites for
Visit India Year 2009. Under this marketing campaign of Visit India Year 2009 foreign
tourists are offered one-night stay with breakfast on complimentary basis in any one of the
chosen rural eco-holiday sites. The booking can be done through the Tour Operators
approved by the Ministry of Tourism.
The project website www. exploreruralindia.org was upgraded, showcasing the first 29 sites
of the Project’s 36 sites which are now ready for marketing.

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7.9. Culinary tourism.
India is tough to package. Especially when it comes to food. Break it down State-wise for a
broad introduction. Delve into regions within the State, different communities that inhabit
these regions and interpretations of local dishes that change every 100 kilometres; and you
have a complex, dynamic menu that makes the thrill of discovery, for even the most non-
experimental diner, intense.
It’s an ideal setting for food tourism, a genre that is burgeoning as people travel the world
inspired by culinary shows, world’s top-restaurant lists, influencers and Instagram. It helps
that India’s culinary ambassadors, like Gaggan Anand, Manish Mehrotra and Vikas Khanna,
are packaging regional flavours innovatively, resulting in Indian food breaking free from the
greasy butter chicken and fiery roghan josh stereotype. Kolkata-born and Bangkok-based
chef Gaggan’s restaurant ranked number five on the recently announced ‘World’s 50 Best
Restaurants’ list in Bilbao, Spain.

And while India has always been a fixture on the route of writers and travel show hosts, over
the past few years, celebrities like Gordon Ramsay, Gary Mehigan, David Rocco, Andrew
Zimmern and, of course, the late Anthony Bourdain, began to explore, and celebrate,
different facets of the rapidly-changing country, instead of simply hunting for colourful
histories and trademark exotica.

On foot
Kaveri Sinhji, Cultural Anthropologist and Historian, Founder, Culture Rings, based in
Bengaluru, has been conducting food walks for international tourists for almost a decade
now. She says, “About 90% of the people writing in for a booking say that they do not want

37
spicy — spicy meaning chilli hot here. They love our cooking with spices though. They love
cinnamon and cardamom and appreciate the various benefits that come from these spices, but
chilli hot is not something they want.” She adds that international visitors are extremely
worried about things like the Delhi Belly, and some even ask for guarantees on not falling
sick. “So I tell them that I can’t give them a guarantee — just like they cannot give me one
for their country. If you go to Bangkok, you eat on the street, you are not used to the water —
and it is the water that can make you sick.”

“Most Indian diplomats will tell you that there are some brilliant Indian restaurants abroad,”
says Shiv Shankar Mukherjee, India’s former High Commissioner to the UK, “However,
there are also several Pakistani and Bangladeshi-owned Indian restaurants, and it is these that
define Indian food for thousands of international diners. The onus then should ideally be to
promote the right concept of Indian food.”

Image makeover
These perceptions are changing, thanks to restaurants like Gymkhana in London (modelled
after Indian gymkhana clubs), which got a Michelin in 2014. Or The Cinnamon Club, set in
the former Westminster Library, and serving modern Indian food.
Of course, given the build-up, once tourists land in India, they first want to hit the streets for
those promised samosas. Street food tends to raise questions on quality, hygiene and
provenance of ingredients. Aiming to change that is Food Safety and Standards Authority of
India (FSSAI), which has undertaken numerous projects towards ensuring food safety across
sectors. Project Clean Street Food, launched in 2016, aims to train 20,000 roadside vendors in

38
Delhi on health and hygiene, in phase one. Pawan Agarwal, CEO, FSSAI, says, “In
consideration is also a campaign on recognising responsible places to eat at. This will be for
restaurants as well as packaged food. Metrics to evaluate quality of produce used, hygiene,
reduced food wastage etc, are being developed, and those displaying sincere efforts will be
recognised, making it easier for visitors to make smart choices.”

As a food tour organiser, Sinhji believes that clear communication is also important. She
emphasises to her clients that if you are not sensible, you can get sick. This is why her tours
include home-dining experiences. The way India packages food is as important, says AD
Singh, Managing Director, Olive Bar & Kitchen. “Look at the work done by Karen Anand
with Dishoom in London,” Singh says. “Indian food in a café format was an eye-opener to a
majo
“I strongly believe that niche tours like this are the need of the hour and now one of the only
differentiating factors between DMCs offering tours to India, the sightseeing, routing and
good hotels have now become a simple expectation for tourists, the only differentiating factor
is what memories can be added to an itinerary. Such tours are a great way to learn and also
experience local flavour of a city. I believe India has a great potential to be a hub for culinary
tourism as we are country of so many cultures and each culture having its own food.”rity of
non-Indians who dined there.”

7.10. Seasonal tourism

The weather in India varies dramatically. While the southern tip of India is being lashed
by tropical monsoon rain, the north will be blanketed in thick snow. Therefore, the best time
to travel to India depends greatly on the destinations to be visited and the climate experienced
there.

Based on temperature and rainfall, the Indian Meteorological Service has classified the
country into an incredible seven different climatic regions. These are the Himalayas, Assam
and West Bengal, the Indo-Gangetic Plain/North Indian Plain (a huge section of north-central
India), the Western Ghats and coast (south-western India), the Deccan Plateau (south-central
India), and the Eastern Ghats and coast. In general, the north of India is cooler, the center is
hot and dry, and the south has a tropical climate.

Indian weather itself is divided into three distinct seasons -- winter, summer, and the
monsoon. Generally, the best time to visit India is during the winter, when the weather in
most places is relatively cool and pleasant.

Summer (March to May)

India starts heating up from around the end of February, first in the northern plains and then
the rest of the country. By April, many places experience daily temperatures exceeding 40 C
(105 F). It stays cooler in the southern parts of the country, with temperatures reaching

39
around 35 C (95 F), although it’s a lot more humid. In late May, signs of the approaching
monsoon start appearing. Humidity levels build, and there are thunderstorms and dust storms.

The most tiring thing about summer in India is that the heat is so relentless. Day after day the
weather doesn’t change -- it’s always extremely hot, sunny, and dry.

Where to Visit During the Summer Season

While the summer can be very uncomfortable and draining in most parts of India, it’s the
perfect time for visiting the mountains and hill stations. The air there is fresh and
soothing. Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand are popular destinations. If you're into seeing
wildlife and spotting tigers in their natural environment, the summer is also the best time to
visit India's national parks as the animals all come out of the thickets in search for water in
the heat.

Do keep in mind that Indian summer school holidays extend from May to mid-June, making
this peak travel time to India's cooler destinations. Beach destinations such as Goa are also
busy.

Monsoon (June to October)

India actually has two monsoons –- the southwest monsoon and the northeast monsoon. The
southwest monsoon, which is the main monsoon, comes in from the sea and starts making its
way up India’s west coast in early June. By mid-July, most of the country is covered in rain.
This gradually starts clearing from most places in northwest India by October. October is a

40
peak month in the Indian festival season and many Indian families travel during Diwali
holidays, pushing up demand for transport and accommodations.

The northeast monsoon affects India’s east coast during November and December. It’s a short
but intense monsoon. The states of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Kerala receive most of their
rainfall from the northeast monsoon, while the rest of the country receives most of its rainfall
from the southwest monsoon.

The monsoon doesn’t appear all at once. Its onset is characterized by intermittent
thunderstorms and rain over a number of days, eventually culminating in a huge and lengthy
downpour. India during the monsoon doesn't receive rain all the time, although it usually
rains for a heavy period every day, followed by pleasant sunshine. The rain brings some
respite from the searing heat. Conditions become very humid and muddy though, while still
remaining quite hot.

The monsoon, while welcomed by farmers, can be an extremely challenging time in India. It
produces widespread destruction and flooding. Frustratingly, the rain also appears out of
nowhere. It can be a beautiful clear day one minute, and the next it’s pouring.

It’s difficult to travel throughout most of India during monsoon time as the rain often disrupts
transport services. However, it’s the best time to get an Ayurvedic treatment in Kerala and
visit high altitude places such as Leh and Ladakh and the Spiti Valley in the far north. You'll
get heavily discounted accommodations in beach locations such as Goa.

The disappearance of the monsoon marks the start of clear sunny skies, as well as the start of
the tourist season, for most of India. December and January are the busiest months. Daytime
winter temperatures are comfortable, although often quite chilly at night. In the south, it
never gets cold. This is in complete contrast to the freezing temperatures experienced in
India’s far north, around the Himalaya region.

Winter Season

Winter is the best time to hit the beach. India's far south (Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala)
is also best enjoyed in winter, with December to February being the only really comfortable

41
months to travel there. The rest of the time it’s either too hot and humid, or wet. It's also a
good idea to travel to the desert state of Rajasthan during the winter, to avoid the searing
summer temperatures. Unless you want to go skiing (which is possible in India!), anywhere
around the Himalaya mountains should be avoided in winter because of the snow.

7.11. Fairs and Festivals tourism

India - an alluring land of colourful diversity and grandeur shines with countless fairs and
festivals that reflect the vivid culture and unique cultural traditions of this charismatic country.
A tour to India cannot be termed complete without immersing yourself in its colourful fairs and
festivals that showcase the beauty of its traditional arts and crafts. Packed with endless joy and
excitement, the festivals are a time to rejoice, celebrate life and cherish the memorable
experience.
Celebrated with great enthusiasm and happiness, the fairs and festivals offer magnificent
experiences to cherish forever. From the desert festivals of Rajasthan, to the Durga Puja festival
of West Bengal, to the Goa Carnival, to the Ganapati in Maharashtra, to the snake boat fair in
Kerala, a tour to India, especially during the fairs and festivals will certainly mesmerize you
with its charm.
On your India trip, be a part of India's vibrant fairs and festivals to witness the true essence of
its culture, traditions and customs in full vigour. Held at different towns, cities and villages
from time to time, these fairs and festivals are an absolute treat for the soul. Pushkar Camel

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Festival, Holi in Mathura, Kumbh Mela, Eid, International Kite Festival, Surajkund Crafs
Mela, Elephant Festival, Baisakhi, Rath Yatra and many more, all these festivals and fairs
provide a memorable holiday experience.
Every month of the year is packed with various fairs and festivals, with each one celebrated in
a different fashion. Many festivals like Baisakhi which marks the onset of the harvesting
season, Christmas, Independence Day and Republic Day are celebrated with joy and gaiety.
Apart from these, Goa Carnival is an event that attracts plenty of tourists from various parts of
the world. It is an energetic and colorful festival of fancy dresses, songs and music that provides
ultimate pleasure and entertainment.
The annual five day long eye-catching Pushkar Fair of Rajasthan has thousands of visitors
every year! It is essentially a fair that not only is a feast for the eyes, but also brings livestock,
villagers, traders and buyers together. Besides the trading of animals like camels, cows, goats
and sheep’s, the folk dance, puppet shows and traditional music make a lively spectacle that
remains engraved in the heart forever.
Diwali, also known as the 'Festival of Light', is one such festival that is celebrated with great
fervour all over India. Twinkling lights, diyas and candles light up the entire country as people
worship Lord Ganesha and Goddess Laxmi to seek their blessings and exchange presents and
sweets. Similarly, Holi, the festival of colours is another festival that is celebrated all across
India. It is an exuberant ritual where people put on bright colours of gulal, splash each other
with water colours, dance and enjoy mouth-watering sweets.
These are just some of the fairs and festivals that are celebrated in various regions of India and
there are many more that are equally splendid and beautiful. Be a part of these festivals and
fairs, mingle with the friendly locals and do not miss the opportunity to explore the vibrant
culture of India. There are simply no words to describe the feeling of excitement, delight and
happiness of being part of the festivals.
So, be a part of the dazzling fairs and festivals and discover the vivid life of India in a very
special way.

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7.12. Rail tourism
India by rail offers a fascinating odyssey through time and space, cultures and history
offering glimpses of unity amidst diversity, shrouded in enchanting mystery, colours that
captures the heart while soothing the soul. No one offers the multi-dimensional magic of the
real India more excitingly than the Indian Railways - the second largest railway system in the
world covering 64,500 km. of track laid across around 7,000 stations, running around 16,000
trains every day. The convenient, well connected routes offer to the passengers’ hassle-free
tours to some of the most exotic places in the world. Segments of Rail Tourism Luxury
Tourist Trains Palace on Wheels - An extraordinary train for the extraordinary people. A train
with historic charm and modern conveniences. A royal train beckoning you to step aboard for
a week of splendour. It takes you on a royal odyssey. Bringing alive the luxury of princely
travel of the age of the Raj, the Palace-on-Wheels has also been designed to suit the modern
needs with central air-conditioning, soothing four channel music, interconnected telephone
system in the train, a separate pantry and lounge in each coach, comfortable with privacy of
attached bathrooms, two specialty restaurants -”Maharaja” and “Maharani”, serving exotic
Indian, Continental and Rajasthani cuisine, a well-stocked bar, a reading and relaxing coach
and friendly smiling attendants serving you round the clock.
The 14 coaches of the Palace-on-Wheels with rich decor that evoke the age of Rajput
chivalry, are named after former Rajput States-Kota, Jaipur, Udaipur, Jaisalmer, Jodhpur,
Bikaner, Alwar, Sirohi, Kishangarh, Bundi, Dungarpur, Bharatpur, Jhalawar and Dholpur. As
most of the traveling is done at night, your days are left free - for discovering the delights of
Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh covering the itinerary of Delhi- JaipurSawai Madhopur-
Chittaurgarh-Udaipur-Jaisalmer-Jodhpur-Bharatpur-Agra-Delhi.

Royal Rajasthan on Wheels After successfully running Palace on Wheels for more than
two and a half decades, the Indian Railways in association with Rajasthan Tourism
Development Corporation Ltd. launched a new train “Royal Rajasthan on Wheels” with
added facilities compared to Palace on Wheels which itself is the bench mark in its segment,
on the itinerary of Delhi, Jodhpur, Udaipur, Chittaurgarh, Sawai Madhopur, Jaipur,
Khajuraho, Varanasi and Agra.

The Deccan Odyssey is more than a mere luxury train cruise. A lavishly decorated train
that transports its guests on an unforgettable sojourn of a land shining in legions’ grandeur,
serene beaches, magnificent forts and palaces, and experiencing heavenly tales etched in
colossal rocks in Mumbai- Kudal -Karmali-Verna-Madgaon-Vasco-Kolhapur-Pune-
DaulatabadAurangabad-Bhusawal-Deolali-Mumbai. Facilities onboard include

channel music, intercom, cd/mp3 player, wall-to-wall carpeting, money exchange/ credit
card facility, safety & security arrangements, health spa, bar, conference equipment. The
journey is also available on the itinerary of Mumbai, Chalisgaon Bhusawal, Udaipur, Sawai
Madhopur, Jaipur, Bharatpur, Agra, Delhi and Back.

The Golden Chariot The lands once ridden by formidable armies is now traversed by the
world’s unique luxury train. The Golden Chariot beckons you to discover worlds that are
enriched with history and culture. Recline and relax as the magnificent scenery unfolds
outside your window with luxury on the inside, thus far reserved for royalty. We present the
Golden Chariot - a fine balance between a glorious yesterday and on omnipresent tomorrow
in a magical land... Karnataka, Goa, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry on the following

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itineraries. Itinerary I - Bangalore, Mysore, Hassan, Hospet, Badami, Goa, Bangalore.
Itinerary II - Bangalore, Chennai, Puducherry, Tanjavur, Madurai, Nagercoil, Trivandrum,
Ernakulam, Bangalore.

Maharajas' Express an Experience Extraordinaire - The Maharajas’ Express is a Luxury

Offering from Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation Ltd., New Delhi. A design
marvel, the train offers several unique features from having most spacious cabins to having
personal valets attached to each cabin to take care of the guests. State of the art facilities like
live TV, Wi-Fi internet, individual temperature control in each cabin, environment friendly
toilet systems, CCTV cameras in public areas to ensure security, direct dialing telephones to
make international calls, make the experience all the more enjoyable. With hair dryers,
electronic safe deposit boxes in each room, bath tubs and mini bars (in suites and presidential
suite), the train offers almost everything that one would imagine to travel in luxury. Savoring
the culinary delights, sitting in either of the two restaurants - Mayur Mahal and Rang Mahal,
one can have a glimpse of the picturesque hinterland from the large windows specially
created for the Maharajas’ Express. The guests can relax in the Safari Bar or the Rajah Club
and choose from our selection of choicest wines and liquors. With 4 categories of
accommodation to choose from, guests can select the cabin they would wish to spend their
sojourn - all with en suite facilities. The train can accommodate 88 guests. There are 14 guest
carriages featuring 43 cabins in total, which include 20 Deluxe Cabins, 18 Junior Suites, 4
Suites and one truly classical Presidential Suite. It operates on a number of itineraries, mainly
1. Delhi- Agra-Sawai Madhopur-Jaipur- Bikaner-Jodhpur-Udaipur- Mumbai 2.Mumbai-
Bhusawal-Udaipur-Jodhpur-Bikaner-Jaipur-Sawai MadhopurFatehpur Sikri-Agra-Delhi
3.Delhi-Jaipur-Sawai Madhopur-Fatehpur SikriAgra-Gwalior-Khajuraho-Varanasi-Lucknow-
Delhi 4. Delhi- Agra-Sawai Madhopur-Jaipur-Delhi (Operates on Wednesday) 5. Delhi-
Agra-Sawai Madhopur-Delhi (Operates on Sunday) A lifetime experience, the journey on
Maharajas’ Express brings one closer to bygone era of imperial India.

Steam Train

Indian Railways proudly offer a unique two days all-inclusive package by combining thrills,
romance and wildlife and heritage on a steam train.

Special Feature:

● Exciting journey on board a steam train

● Stay at Hotel Tiger den

● Safari in Tiger sanctuary

● Steam train is also available for charter trips

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8. Indian states tourism

Tourism in India is economically important and is growing rapidly. The World Travel &
Tourism Council calculated that tourism generated ₹14.02 lakh crore (US$200 billion) or
9.6% of the nation's GDP in 2016 and supported 40.343 million jobs, 9.3% of its total
employment. The sector is predicted to grow at an annual rate of 6.8% to ₹28.49 lakh
crore (US$400 billion) by 2027 (10% of GDP). Various states and union territories of
India attract tourists due to diversity among them.

8.1. Andaman and Nicobar Islands

Tourism is the major revenue generating industry in Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
According to official estimates, the flow of tourists in the Andamans was doubled to nearly
300,000 in 2012 from 130,000 in 2008–09. The Andamans is an archipelago of over 570
tropical islands, of which only 36 are inhabited. Radhanagar beach at Havelock Island was
bestowed with the title of ‘Asia’s Best Beach’ in 2004 by the TIME magazine. It is also listed
as world’s 7th most spectacular beach in the world on magazine list. Barren Island which is
about 135 km (84 mi) north-east of the territory's capital, Port Blair, is the only
confirmed active volcano in South Asia. Historic Cellular Jail in Port Blair was used by
the British to exile political prisoners during the struggle for India's independence to the
remote archipelago. Presently, the jail complex serves as a national memorial monument.

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8.2. Andhra Pradesh
A study in 2014 published by The Economic Times said that undivided Andhra Pradesh had
emerged as the "most-preferred" tourist destination for domestic travellers with about 20 per
cent share in the total domestic tourist visits across India in 2012.

Andhra Pradesh is the home of many religious pilgrim centres:

 Tirumala Tirupati, the abode of Lord Venkateswara, is the second richest and most
visited religious centre (of any faith) in the world. This temple is also one among
the 108divyadesam dedicated to Lord Vishnu. Brahmotsavams will be held every year
and as many as 5,00,000 devotees will throng to the hill for seeking blessings of the
lord.

 Kanaka Durga Temple of goddess Durga is situated on the Indrakeeladri Hill in the
city of Vijayawada on the banks of Krishna River. A large number of pilgrims attend
the colourful celebrations of Tepotsavam and for holy dip in the Krishna river during
the festival of Dusshera.
 Mallikarjuna Swamy temple situated at Srisailam in the Nallamala Hills of Kurnool
district, is the abode of lord Shiva and is one of the twelve Jyotirlinga shrines in
India. Lord Rama himself installed the Sahasralinga, while the Pandavas lodged
the Panchapandava lingas in the temple courtyard.
 The Kodandarama temple, Vontimitta, Kadapa district is a 16th-century temple
dedicated to Lord Sri Rama is of great significance in the history of Andhra Pradesh.

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 The five ancient Hindu temples of Lord Shiva, known as Pancharama Kshetras, are
located
at – Amararama (Amaravathi), Draksharama, Somarama (Bhimavaram), Ksheerarama
(Palakollu) and Kumararama (Samalkota).
 Srikalahasteeswara temple located on the banks of river Swarnamukhi, Srikalahasti,
Chittoor district is one among the panchabhoota lingas which represents Vaayu, hence
forth the Linga is also called Vaayu linga. The rest four lingas are present in Tamil
Nadu.
 There are 9 temples dedicated to Lord Narasimha. 8 temples are located in Andhra
Pradesh, they
are Simhachalam, Antarvedi, Vedadri, Mangalagiri, Penchalakona, Ahobilam,
Yaganti and Kadiri. Ahobilam is one among the 108divyadesams dedicated to Lord
Vishnu and Mangalagiri is one among the 8 swayambhu kshetras of lord Vishnu. The
other one is Yadagirigutta, also known as Yadadri of Telangana state.
 As per the astadasha shakti peetha sloka 3 shakti peethas are situated in Andhra
Pradesh state. They are Draksharamam (originally known as
Daksharamam), Pithapuram and Srisailam.
 The lord Veerabhadra swamy temple, right in the middle of Godavari river near
to Pattiseema village is a famous temple referred in puranas. Legend says that, Lord
Veerabhadra washed his blooded sword after destructing NiShiva yaga held at
Draksharamam by king Daksha, father of Uma Devi.
 Lord Hanuman temple at Ponnur, Guntur district is a famous temple.[citation needed] The
height of Hanuman statue is more than 23 metres and also there is a temple
for Garuda right opposite to Hanuman's temple in the same premises.
 Ainavilli, located at a distance of 12 km from Amalapuram and Kanipakam, Chittoor
district are known for lord Vighneshwara temples.
 Trikutaparvatam, well known as Kotappakonda, is a sacred pilgrim place
near Narasaraopet of Guntur district. Maha Shivaratri is a festival done here.
Approximately 7 - 8 lakhs of devotees’ throng to the temple for Lord almighty's
blessings.
 Other religious places include, Raghavendra Swami Mutt in Mantralayam of Kurnool
district, Lord Venkateswara temple in Dwaraka Tirumala of West Godavari
District, Annavaram temple in East Godavari and Arasavalli Surya
temple, srikurmam and Srimukhalingam temples of Srikakulam District etc., are also
religious places for divine worships in the state.

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8.3. Arunachal Pradesh
Arunachal Pradesh finds mention in the literature of Kalka Purana and Mahabharata. This
place is supposed to be the Prabhu Mountains of the Puranas. It was here that sage
Parashuram washed away his sin, sage Vyasa meditated, King Bhishmaka founded his
kingdom and Lord Krishna married his consort Rukmini. The widely scattered archaeological
remains at different places in Arunachal bears testimony to its rich cultural heritage.
There are places of worship and pilgrimage such as the Parasuramkund and the
400-year-old Tawang Monastery, or the sites of archaeological excavations
like Malinithan and Itanagar, the natural environment of lakes such as Ganga lake or Sela
lake or the numerous variations of the snow clad silver mountain peaks and green meadows
where thousands of species of flora and fauna prosper. In addition, the state provides
abundant scope for angling, boating, rafting, trekking and hiking. Besides, there are a number
of wild life sanctuaries and national parks with rare animals, birds and plants.
The climate varies from hot and humid to heavy rainfall in the Shivalik range. It becomes
progressively cold as one moves northwards to higher altitudes. Trees of great size, plentiful
climbers and abundance of cane and bamboo make Arunachal evergreen. Arunachal Pradesh
is home to more than six hundred species of orchids, occurring in varying elevations and
climatic conditions throughout the state.

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8.4. Assam
Assam is the central state in the North-East Region of India and serves as the gateway to the
rest of the Seven Sister States. Assam has a number of wildlife preserves – the Kaziranga
National Park, which is home to the great Indian one-horned rhinoceros, the Manas National
Park, Dibru-Saikhowa National Park, Nameri National Park and Pobitora Wildlife
Sanctuary (These first two parks are UNESCO World Heritage Site); the largest river
island Majuli, known for its Vaishnavite Sattras; historic Sivasagar, known for the ancient
monuments of Ahom Kingdom; the city of eternal romance, Tezpur and the scenic tea-estates
dating back to time of British Raj. The weather is mostly sub-tropical. Assam experiences the
Indian monsoon and has one of the highest forest densities in India. The winter months
(October end half to first half of April) are the best time to visit. The heritage of Madan
Kamdev is same as Khajuraho which is located just 30 km away from Guwahati. Along with
the Madan Kamdev tourist can visit very ancient temple Gopeswar Mandir situated in a
village Deuduar near to Guwahati. Basudev Than is a more than 300 years old Satra in
Assam.
Assam has a rich cultural heritage going back to the Ahom Kingdom, which governed the
region for many centuries before the British occupation. Other notable features include
the Brahmaputra River, the mystery of the bird suicides in Jatinga, numerous temples
including Kamakhya Temple of Tantric sect. 'Gurdwara Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur also known
as Damdama Sahib at Dhubri' – This Gurudwara is situated in the heart of the Dhubri Town
on the bank of the mighty Brahmaputra river in far north-east India. Guru Teg Bahadur the
holy Sikh Guru visited this place in 1505 and met Srimanta Sankardeva (the founder of the
Mahapuruxiya Dharma) as the Guru travelled from Dhaka to Assam, ruins of palaces,
etc. Guwahati, the capital city of Assam, boasts many bazaars, temples, and wildlife
sanctuaries. The government are taking many initiatives to promote tourism in Assam.

50
8.5. Bihar
Bihar is one of the oldest continuously inhabited places in the world with history of 3000
years. The rich culture and heritage of Bihar is evident from the
innumerable ancient monuments that are dotted all over this state in eastern India. This is the
place of Mahavira, the 24th and last Tirthankara, Aryabhata, Great
Ashoka, Chanakya, Gautama Buddha, Mahavira, Guru Gobind Singh, Chandragupta
Maurya, Vātsyāyana, Sher Shah Suri, Maa Tara Chandi Temple, and many other great
historical figures.
On an average, 20 million domestic tourists and 1 million foreign tourists visits Bihar
annually.
Attractions:
 Pawapuri - Mahavira, the last of the twenty-four Tirthankara attained Nirvana or
moksha (liberation). He was cremated at Pawapuri. There was a great rush to collect
his ashes, with the result that so much soil was removed from the place of his
cremation that a pond was created.
 Patna – The capital of Bihar, known for its rich history and royal architecture
 Gaya – Known for Bodh Gaya the place at which Gautama Buddha attained
enlightenment

 Muzaffarpur – Known for its education Garibnath Mandir, Sikandarpur mann, Devi
Mandir, Banglamukhi Mandir, Jai Mata Di Mandir, Jubba Sahani park[citation needed]
 Kesariya – Location of the world's largest Buddhist Stupa
 Nalanda – Location of one of the world's oldest university

51
 Sasaram – Tomb of Sher Shah Suri, the great emperor of medieval India

 Sonepur Cattle Fair – The Sonepur cattle fair or Sonepur Mela, it is the biggest cattle
fair of Asia and stretches on from fifteen days to one month
 Takht Sri Patna Sahib – A Sikh pilgrimage known as the birthplace of Sikh's Tenth
Guru Sri Guru Gobind Singh Sahib
 Darbhanga – It is among the oldest cities of Bihar. Famous for the Maharaja forts and
Kali Mandir.
 Munger – Home to the only Yoga University in the world, Bihar School of Yoga.
Religious places such as Shakti Peethas.
 Deoghar – A Hindu pilgrimage known for the Satsang Ashram of Sri Sri Thakur
Anukul Chandra situated at Satsang Nagar
 Vaishali – Lord Mahavir was born on the outskirts of this ancient city, and lived in
Vaishali till he was 22

 Champapuri- It is the one of the most sacred places of Jainism. Lord Vasupujya, the
12th Jain Tirthankara was born in Champapuri and it is the place where all the five
kalyanaks of Lord Vasupujya took place. Location of 31 feet monolitihic statue, the
tallest statue of Lord Vasupujya.

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8.6. Chandigarh
Chandigarh is a city located on the foothills of Himalayas and is the capital of two
states – Punjab and Haryana. Chandigarh is also called The City Beautiful with various
tourist attractions like Nek Chand Rock Garden, Zakir Hussain Rose Garden, Sukhna
lake, Open Hand Monument etc. This place was recorded as the Cleanest city of
India by Ministry of Urban Development, Government of India. A majestic view of
the Shivalik Hills including Kasauli is visible from here.

Rock Garden made of scrap material in Chandigarh

8.7. Chhattisgarh
Chhattisgarh is a new state but with an ancient civilisation, which can be felt by visiting the
historical remains in the state. The state is blessed by nature with magnificent water falls,
mountains, forests and wildlife. The Green State of Chhattisgarh has 41.33% of its area under
forests and is one of the richest bio-diversity areas in the country. There are many tourist
attractions worth seeing. It is India's 10th largest state and situated in the heart of India, is
endowed with a rich cultural heritage and attractive natural diversity. The state has many
ancient monuments, rare wildlife, exquisitely carved temples, Buddhist sites, palaces, water
falls, caves, rock paintings and hill plateaus. Most of these sites are untouched and
unexplored and offer a unique and alternate experience to tourists, compared to traditional
destinations which have become overcrowded.

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8.8 Delhi
Delhi is the capital union territory of India. A fine blend of old and new, ancient and modern,
Delhi is a melting pot of cultures and religions. Old Delhi has been the capital of
numerous empires that ruled India, making it rich in history. New Delhi, on the other hand, is
a modern city designed by Edwin Lutyens and Herbert Baker. The different rulers left behind
their trademark architectural styles. Delhi currently has many renowned historic monuments
and landmarks such as the Tughlaqabad fort, Qutub Minar, Purana Quila, Lodhi
Gardens, Jama Masjid, Humayun's tomb, Red Fort, and Safdarjung's Tomb. Modern
monuments include Jantar Mantar, India Gate, Rashtrapati Bhavan, Laxminarayan
Temple, Lotus temple, Lal Mandir and Akshardham Temple.
New Delhi is famous for its British colonial architecture, wide roads, and tree-lined
boulevards. Delhi is home to numerous political landmarks, national museums, Islamic
shrines, Hindu temples, green parks, and trendy malls. Connaught Place also known as CP is
a business and commercial centre with hotels, shopping complexes, and offices. Tourist
attractions include Hanuman Mandir, an ancient temple with a mention in Guinness Book of
Record, Jantar Mantar, an astronomical observatory from the 18th century, Maharaja Agrasen
ki Baoli and State Emporiums which houses a collection of ethnic specialties of the states.
Connaught Place is divided into two circles, called the inner and outer Connaught circle.
Janpath, an open-air shopping complex, lies on the road connecting the inner and outer circle
with Palika Bazaar, a landmark market in underground maze below Connaught Place.

INDIA GATE

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8.9 Goa
Goa is one of the most famous tourist destinations in India. A former colony of Portugal, Goa
is famous for its excellent beaches, amazing nightlife, Yogas, spas & massage, Flea markets
& shopping, water sports activities like cruising, Portuguese churches, Hindu temples, and
wildlife sanctuaries. The Basilica of Bom Jesus, Basilica of Se Cathedral, Mangueshi
Temple, Dudhsagar Falls, Shantadurga, Anjuna Beach, Aguada Fort, and Chapora Fort are
famous attractions in Goa. Recently a Wax 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 colourful masks and floats, drums and
reverberating music, and dance performances.

Goa is definitely the best tourist place for India. "The pearl of the east," Goa is known for its
Gothic churches, crumbling forts, palm-fringed beaches, coconut groves, ferry rides, bubbly
folk music… the list is endless! With its 131-km-long coastline, Goa is an important locale in
every tourist's itinerary. Sun, sand and sea being the major attractions, Goa trip is a perfect
heaven for the ones who need and want relaxation. Goa Beach Resorts always add to the fun.
Christian Pilgrimage tours to Goa are extremely popular. Besides pilgrimages Goa is famous
for honeymoons also Goa, Honeymoon Packages are extremely popular with Indians. Goa,
honeymoon packages cater to the needs of the tourists with varying budgets. The all-inclusive
Goa, honeymoon packages tour too make interesting options.
Goa has been a key destination for Christian Pilgrimage tours in India. Goa was a part of the
Mauryan Empire, around 3rd century BC. The Satvahanas of Kolhapur, and later the
Chalukyas of Badami, took over the governance. Other dynasties followed, including a short-
lived Muslim invasion, until the Vijaynagar Empire established itself for almost a century.
This era, too, ended with the arrival of the Sultans of Gulbarga, from whom the rule passed
on to the Adil Shah of Bijapur. Soon, the Dutch, English, French and Portuguese, all began
struggling for its possession. Ultimately, in 1510, the Portuguese conquered Goa, with
Alfonso de Albuquerque leading the invasion. Having ruled for around four centuries, in
1961, fourteen years after the country's independence, the Portuguese had to leave Goa.

55
8.10 Gujarat
the seventh largest state in India, located in the western part of India with a coastline of
1600 km (longest in India). It is the tenth most popular state in the country for tourists with
annual footfall of 18.9 million tourists.[13] Gujarat's natural environment varies from Great
Rann of Kutch to the hills of Saputara. Gujarat is the sole home of the pure Asiatic lions and
is considered to be one of the most important protected areas in Asia.
Ancient Dholavira, archaeological site in Kutch District and Lothal,[14] archaeological
site in Ahmedabad district contains ruins of ancient Indus Valley Civilization city, ruins
of Dholavira is one of the largest Harappanarchaeological sites.[15]
During the Sultanate reign, Hindu craftsmanship mix with Islamic architecture, giving rise to
the Indo-Saracenic style. Many structures in the state are built in this fashion. It is also the
birthplace of Mahatma Gandhi & Sardar Vallabhai Patel, the great iconic figures during
India's Independence movement. Gujarat offers many types of tourism like Business
Tourism, Archaeological & Heritage Tourism, Cultural Tourism, Religious Tourism, Wildlife
Tourism, Medical Tourism and much more. Amitabh Bachchan is currently the brand
ambassador of Gujarat Tourism. Ahmedabad is considered an ideal hub to cover all the
destinations across Gujarat.

8.11 Haryana
The pilgrim places of Haryana are thronged by devotees all over the year, who visit the
important religious places to seek divine blessings and eternal happiness.
The state of Haryana has a long historical and cultural tradition which is manifested in the
numerous religious places which fills the tourist with an intense sense of satisfaction. Some
of the notable "Pilgrim Destinations" of Haryana are:

56
Lord Krishna and Arjuna

Kurukshetra- The historical place of "Kurukshetra" is the cradle of Hindu civilisation. The
fierce battle field of the holy land of "Kurukhshetra" is a witness to the discourse between the
mighty and valiant ruler "Arjuna" and his divine charioteer "Lord Krishna".
Jyotisar- The ancient place of "Jyotisar" is the nurturing ground of the values and principles
that guide the oldest religion of the world, the "Hindu" religion. The significance of the place
lies in the fact that the holy religious text of the "Hindus", the "Bhagwad Gita" was compiled
in this sacred place
Thanesar- The sacred place of "Thanesar" has two important religious temples of the
"Sthanesvar Mahadev Temple" and the "Ma Bhadra Kali Temple" that draws several
devotees throughout the year
Pehowa- The holy land of "Pehowa" is an important religious place among the Hindus, who
pray to the deceased member of their family and offer "Pind Daan" to release them from the
cycle of birth and rebirth
Khatushyam The holy place from the time of Mahabharata.
Panchkula- Panchkula has numerous places of religious and historical importance, including
"Morni hills" and "Tikkar Taal".
Dhosi Hill – A hill near Narnaul, having Vedic period Rishi, Chaywan's Ashram. Famous for
preparation of Chyawanprash, and other herbal preparations.
Pharal- Phalgu Tirth is an Indian pilgrimage site, where pilgrimages are undertaken by the
Hindus during the Shraadhs. It is located in Pharal village in the Pundri sub-tehsil of Kaithal
district in Haryana state. Pharal village is located between Pundri and Dhand in Kaithal
district 24 kilometres (15 mi) away from district headquarter Kaithal and is 34 kilometres
(21 mi) to Kurukshetra city

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8.12. 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-
skiingare popular tourist attractions in Himachal Pradesh.
Shimla, the state capital, is very popular among tourists. The Kalka-Shimla Railway is
a mountain railway which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Shimla is also a
famous skiingattraction in India. Other popular hill stations include Manali and Kasauli.
Dharamshala, home of the Dalai Lama, is known for its Tibetan monasteries and Buddhist
temples. Many trekking expeditions also begin here.
The Ridge is a large and open road in Shimla which is centre for most of cultural activities of
Shimla.
Tattapani is a beautiful destination in the middle of Himalayas near sutlej lake with natural
hot sulphur springs on its bank. Tattapani is also famous for Rafting, boating, camping and
ayurvedic & naturopathic treatments.

8.13. Jammu and Kashmir

Jammu and Kashmir is the northernmost state of India. Jammu is noted for its scenic
landscape, ancient temples and mosques, Hindu and Muslim shrines, castles, gardens and
forts. The Hindu holy shrines of Amarnath in Kashmir Valley attracts about .4 million Hindu
devotees every year. Vaishno Devi also attract millions of Hindu devotees every year.
Jammu's historic monuments feature a unique blend of Islamic and Hindu architecture styles.

58
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 Pahalgam, Gulmarg, Yeusmarg and Mughal Gardens etc. Kashmir's natural
landscape has made it one of the popular destinations for adventure tourism in South Asia.
In recent years, Ladakh has emerged as a major hub for adventure tourism. This part of
Greater Himalaya called "moon on earth" consists of naked peaks and deep gorges. Leh, the
capital, is also a growing tourist spot.

8.14 Jharkhand

Jal Mandir at Shikharji

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Jharkhand is the eastern state of India formed in 2000. It is known for its forest cover and
mine reserves. One of the biggest tourist attractions in Jharkhand is Vaidyanath jyotirlinga
situated in Deoghar district.
Shikharji temple at parasnath (Giridih) is known for its serene beauty.
Densely covered in forest, the state has many wildlife sanctuaries including Topchanchi
wildlife sanctuary and Palamu wildlife sanctuary.

8.15 Karnataka
Karnataka has been ranked as fourth most popular destination for tourism among states of
India. It has the highest number of national protected monuments in India, at 507.

1000 Pillar Temple, Moodabidri

Kannada dynasties like Kadambas, Western

Gangas, Chalukyas, Rashtrakutas, Hoysalas, Vijayanagaras and the Kingdom of
Mysore ruled from what is today Karnataka. They built great monuments to Buddhism,
Jainism and Hinduism. These monuments are preserved
at Badami, Aihole, Pattadakal, Mahakuta, Hampi, Lakshmeshwar, Sudi, Hooli, Mahadeva
Temple
(Itagi), Dambal, Lakkundi, Gadag, Hangal, Halasi, Galaganatha, Chaudayyadanapura, Banav
asi, Belur, Halebidu, Sringeri, Shravanabelagola, Sannati, Nanjangud, Mysore, Nandi
Hills, Kolar, Mudabidri, Gokarna, Bagali, Kuruvatti and many more.
Notable Islamic monuments are present at Bijapur, Bidar, Gulbarga, Raichur and other part 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 World heritage sites,
at Hampi and Pattadakal. Bellary one of the historical place, we can see the forts which were
built by the great Tipu Sultanfor protection.
Karnataka state has several palaces such as Bangalore Palace, Mysore Palace (also known
as Ambavilas Palace), Tipu Sultan's Summer Palace, Nalknad Palace, Rajendra
Vilas, Jaganmohan Palace, Jayalakshmi Vilas Mansion, Lalitha Mahal, Rajendra Vilas,
Cheluvamba Mansion, Shivappa Nayaka Palace and Daria Daulat Bagh. Karnataka is famous
for Jog falls of Shimoga District is second highest waterfalls in Asia. Karnataka has many
beaches at Malpe, Kaup, Marvanthe, Karwar, Gokarna, Murdeshwara, Surathkal. Karnataka
is a rock climbers paradise. Yana in Uttara Kannada, Fort in Chitradurga, Ramnagara

60
near Bengaluru district, Shivagange in Tumkur district and tekal in Kolar district are a rock
climbers heaven. Utsav Rock Garden in Shiggaon, Uttar Kannada.

Shola Grasslands in Kudremukh, Karnataka.

Hill stations in Karnataka are generally unexplored and more pristine than better known ones
in South India. Major hill stations in the state are Agumbe and Kodachadri in Shimoga
District; Baba Budangiri, Kemmangundi, Kudremukh in Chikkamagaluru
District; Biligiriranga Hills in Chamarajanagar District and Kodagu district (also known as
Coorg). Other hilly town and regions are Mullayanagiri, Pushpagiri (or Kumara
Parvatha), Nandi Hills, Chikkaballapur district, Kundadri, Tadiandamol, Talakaveri, Male
Mahadeshwara Hills, Himavad Gopalaswamy Betta, Ambaragudda, Antara
Gange, Savandurga, Kurinja, Yedakumeri, Siddara Betta, Bananthimari
Betta, Skandagiri, Devarayanadurga and Madhugiri.
Wildlife Sanctuaries & National Parks Karnataka has several wildlife sanctuaries and
national parks such as, Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary, Dandeli; Ghataprabha Bird
Sanctuary; Daroji Sloth Bear Sanctuary; Peacock sanctuary
in Bankapura; Ranebennur blackbuck sanctuary, Haveri district; Deva Raya Wildlife
Sanctuary, near Hampi; Attiveri Bird Sanctuary, near Hubli-Dharwad, Uttara Kannada; Anshi
National Park, Uttara Kannada; Magadi Bird Sanctuary, Shirahatti; Bhimgad Wildlife
Sanctuary;[24] Adichunchanagiri Wildlife Sanctuary; Arabithittu Wildlife
Sanctuary ;[26] Biligiriranga Swamy Temple Wildlife Sanctuary; Bhadra Wildlife
Sanctuary; Brahmagiri Wildlife Sanctuary; Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary; Melukote Temple
Wildlife Sanctuary ;[27] in Mandya district; Mookambika Wildlife Sanctuary; Nugu Wildlife
Sanctuary; Pushpagiri Wildlife Sanctuary; Sharavathi Valley Wildlife Sanctuary; Shettihalli
Wildlife Sanctuary; Someshwara Wildlife Sanctuary; Talakaveri Wildlife Sanctuary; Gudavi
Bird Sanctuary; Mandagadde Bird Sanctuary; Kaggaladu Heronry; Kokkare
Bellur; Bankapura Peacock Sanctuary and Bonal Bird Sanctuary.

8.16. Kerala
Kerala is a state on the tropical Malabar Coast of south-western India. Nicknamed as one of
the "10 paradises of the world" by National Geographic, Kerala is famous especially for
its Eco-tourism initiatives. Its unique culture and traditions, 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 tourism industry significantly contributes to the state's economy. Kerala is

61
known for its tropical backwaters and pristine beaches in Trivandrum such
as Kovalam and Varkala.

Munnar Hillscape

From the green scapes of Idukki to the buzzing cities like Trivandrum and Kochi, Kerala has
its vivid collection of tourist spots. Popular attractions in the state include the beaches
at Kovalam, Kappad, Muzhuppilangad, Cherai and Varkala; the hill stations
of Munnar, Thekkady, Ramakkalmedu Nelliampathi, Ponmudi and Wayanad; forts like
the Bekal Fort in Kanhangad and St. Angelo's Fort in Kannur and the National Parks/
Wildlife sanctuaries at Periyar and Eravikulam. The "backwaters" region—an extensive
network of interlocking rivers, lakes, and canals that centre on Alleppey, Kumarakom, and
Punnamada also see heavy tourist traffic. Heritage sites, such as East Fort, Kuthira Malika,
Hill Palace, Mattancherry Palace are also famous. Cities such
as Trivandrum, Cochin, Trichur, Calicut and Quilon are popular centres for shopping and
traditional theatrical performance. The Grand Kerala Shopping Festival (GKSF) claimed to
be Asia's largest shopping festival was started in the year 2007. Since then it has become an
annual shopping event being conducted in the December–January period. During this period
stores and shops registered under the GKSF offer wide range of discounts, vat refunds etc.
Along with the guaranteed shopping experience, shoppers are provided with gift coupons for
a fixed worth of purchase entering them into weekly and mega lucky draws. As compared to
shopping festivals being held in other countries, this Festival converts the entire state of
Kerala into a giant shopping mall, incorporating not just the big players, but also the small
and medium scale industries. The state's tourism agenda promotes ecologically sustained
tourism, which focuses on the local culture, wilderness adventures, volunteering and personal
growth of the local population. Efforts are taken to minimise the adverse effects of traditional
tourism on the natural environment, and enhance the cultural integrity of local people.

8.17. Madhya Pradesh

Madhya Pradesh is called the "Heart of India" because of its location in the centre of the
country. It has been home to the cultural heritage of
Hinduism, Islam, Buddhism, Sikhism and Jainism. Innumerable monuments, exquisitely
carved temples, stupas, forts and palaces are dotted all over the state.
The temples of Khajuraho are world-famous for their aphrodisiac sculptures, and are
a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Gwalior is famous for its fort, Jai Vilas Palace, the Tomb of
Rani Lakshmibai, Md. Ghaus & Tansen.

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The massive Bhedaghat Falls

Madhya Pradesh is also known as Tiger State because of the tiger population. Famous
national parks like Kanha National Park, Bandhavgadh, Madhav National Park, Shivpuri,
Pench are located in Madhya Pradesh. Kuno Palpur national park is getting African cheetas
and is expected to become only reserve having four species of big cats (lion, tiger, leopord
and cheetah). Spectacular mountain ranges, meandering rivers and miles and miles of dense
forests offering a unique and exciting panorama of wildlife in sylvan surroundings. Madhya
pradesh is very much known for Narmada river, is the oldest known holiest and worshiped as
a river goddess in Hindu religion. Narmada originates from Amarkantak, a wild reserve and
pilgrimage centre for Hindus. Another great tourist destination is Bhedaghat Falls in Jabalpur.
The river Narmada takes the form of massive falls here. The place is surrounded by marble of
various colours. The sight is a visual treat in itself. The prime attraction includes boating in
the river with amusing commentary by the rower.

8.18. Maharashtra
foreign tourist arrivals in 2014. Maharashtra boasts of a large number of popular and revered
religious venues that are heavily frequented by locals as well as out-of-state
visitors. Aurangabad is the tourism capital of Maharashtra.

The 6th-century paintings at the Ajanta Caves in Aurangabad, Maharashtra

Ajanta Caves, Ellora Caves, Elephanta Caves and Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus are the
four UNESCO World Heritage sites in Maharashtra and are highly responsible for the
development of Tourism in the state.

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Mumbai, its capital, is the most popular cosmopolitan city in India, and a great place to
experience modern India. Mumbai is 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 the Islamic Haji Ali Mosque,
to the colonial architecture of Bombay High Court and Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus.
Maharashtra also has numerous adventure tourism destinations, including paragliding, rock
climbing, canoeing, kayaking, snorkelling, and scuba diving. Maharashtra also has several
national parks and reserves, including Tadoba with accommodation and safari experiences
besides little known by wildlife destinations like Koyna, Nagzira, Melghat (disturbed with
massive mining truck movement), Dajipur, Radhanagari and of course the only national park
within metropolis city limits in the world – Sanjay Gandhi National Park. The Bibi Ka
Maqbara at Aurangabad, the Mahalakshmi temple at Kolhapur, the cities
of Nashik, Trimbak famous for religious importance, the city of Pune the seat of the Maratha
Empire and the fantastic Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations together contribute for the Tourism
sector of Maharashtra. Mangi Tungi in Nashik is a very important pilgrimage of the Jain
community. The 108 ft tall Statue of Ahimsa at Mangi Tungi, the tallest Jain Statue in the
world is attracting Jain devotees from around the world. This statue holds the Guinness world
record for the tallest Jain Idol.

8.19. Manipur

Loktak lake

Manipur as the name suggest is a land of jewels. Its rich culture excels in every aspects as in
martial arts, dance, theatre and sculpture. The charm of the place is the greenery with the
moderate climate making it a tourists' heaven. The and seasonal Shirui lily at Ukhrul
district, sangai(brow antlered deer) 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:
 Imphal (Capital) Imphal (Capital)
 Churachandpur
 Keibul Lamjao National Park
 Loktak Lake

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8.20 Meghalaya

Nohkalikai Falls

Meghalaya, translates to the 'home of clouds', where 'megh' means 'clouds' and 'alaya' means
'home'.Meghalaya has some of the thickest surviving forests in the country. Therefore,
constitutes one of the most important ecotourism circuits in the country 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 state offers several trekking routes
some of which also afford an opportunity to encounter 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 needs little publicity. A rather
scenic, 50-kilometre-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 and medicinal properties. It is a very good
place to visit.

8.21. Mizoram
Mizoram has a dramatic landscape and pleasant climate. The state is rich in bird diversity,
which has the potential to make it a major birdwatching destination. Mizoram is a stronghold
for Mrs. Hume's pheasant (Syrmaticus humiae). There is also a rare record of the wild water
buffalo from the state. There have been several past records of sightings of the Sumatran
rhinoceros from Mizoram, and Lushai hills. A small population of wild elephants can be seen
in Ngengpui and Dampa Sanctuaries. Other interesting sites are Mizo Poets' Square also
known as Mizo Hlakungpui Mual in Mizo and the Great Megaliths locally known as
'Kawtchhuah Ropui'. Pu Ziona, who lives in Baktawng near Aizawl, also has lot of visitors
due to his fame as having the largest Family in the World.

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A panorama of Aizawl taken from Zemabawk.

8.22. Odisha

Konark Sun Temple built by the Eastern Ganga dynasty is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Odisha has been a preferred destination from ancient days for people who have an interest in
spirituality, religion, culture, art and the natural environment. Ancient and medieval
architecture, pristine sea beaches, the classical dance Odissi and ethnic dance forms
like Chhau, Ghumuraand Sambalpuri and a variety of festivals. Odisha has kept the religion
of Buddhism alive. Research suggests about evidences of Gautama Buddha's birth in Odisha.
Rock-edicts that have challenged time stand huge and over-powering by the banks of
the Daya River. The torch of Buddhism is still ablaze in the sublime triangle
at Udayagiri, Lalitgiri as well as 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.
Odisha is famous for the world-famous Jagannath Temple (Puri), UNESCO World Heritage
Site Konark Sun Temple and The Leaning Temple of Huma. Out of total 4 Chausathi Yogini
temples all over India, 2 are in Odisha, in Hirapur and Ranipur Jharial. Famous Oriya
Sanskrit Poet Jayadeva, who wrote famous Gita Govinda, a poem of divine love between
Lord Krishna and Radha with other Gopis, dedicated to Lord Jagannatha, was born here
in Kenduli Sasan village near Khurda.
Rajarani Temple(name derived from the sandstone in which it is made), is an architectural
marvel like Khajuraho located in Bhubaneswar (The Temple City of India), containing more
than 500 ancient temples. Lord Lingaraja Temple (a 12th-century AD temple), Kedaragauri
Temple, Ananta Vasudeva Temple, Brahmeswara Temple are some of the many magnificent
Temples in the capital. Bhubaneswar has State Museum, Regional Museum of Natural
History (having one of the two eggs of an extinct species in the world), Botanical Garden,

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Jain centres like Udayagiri and Khandagiri Caves, Pathani Samanta
Planetarium, Dhauli White Pagoda where Chandashoka became Dharmashoka.
Odisha 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 with their healing practices have got
worldwide attention. The well-known Ratha-Yatra of Lord Jagannath in Puri and Sitalsasthi
Carnival of Lord Shiva in Sambalpur are must see for anyone who want to see a glimpse of
the art and culture of Odisha at one place.
The Indian Revolutionary saying "Give me Blood, I will give you Freedom", Netaji Subhas
Chandra Bose was born in Cuttack, whose House (Janakinath Bhavan) is now a museum,
well equipped to provide details of his life-history. The medieval capital, Cuttack has a
treasure to share with you, the Barabati fort (witnessing Gangas, Marathas and British), the
silver filigree works, Katak Chandi Temple, Barabati Stadium, Qadam-I-Rasul and
Dhabaleswar temple (having longest rope-bridge in India succeeded by Lakshman Jhula in
Rishikesh). Eastern Ghats' highest peak, Mahendragiri, where Lord Parshuram is still in
meditation, according to Ramayana and Mahabharata is in Gajapati district.

8.23. Puducherry

The Union Territory of Puducherry comprises four coastal regions viz. Puducherry, Karaikal,
Mahe and Yanam. Puducherry is the Capital of this Union Territory 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 colonial
buildings, churches, temples, and statues, which, combined with the systematic town
planning and the well-planned French-style avenues, still preserve much of the colonial
ambiance.

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8.24. Punjab

The state of Punjab is renowned for its cuisine, culture and history. Punjab has a vast public
transportation and communication network. Some of the main cities in Punjab
are Amritsar, Jalandhar, Patiala, Pathankot and Ludhiana. Nabha is famous as a
manufacturing hub of combine harvesters and other manufacturing units, while Patiala is
known for the historical forts. Punjab also has a rich Sikh religious history. Tourism in
Punjab is principally suited for the tourists interested in culture, ancient civilisation,
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 traditional Indian homes, farms and temples, this
is a must see for any visitor that goes to India. Lonely Planet Bluelist 2008 has voted
the Harmandir Sahib as one of the world’s best spiritual sites with over 100,000 pilgrims and
tourists visiting on a daily basis. Since Amritsar is a big tourist spot, a lot of five star hotels
are getting attracted to open up properties here. Hotel Ista has become very popular with
nonresident Indian (NRI) community. New properties by Radisson and Taj are coming up in
this city
Another main tourist destination is religious and historic city of Sri Anandpur Sahib where
large number of tourists come to see the Virasat-e-Khalsa (Khalsa Heritage Memorial
Complex) and also take part in Hola Mohalla festival. Kila Raipur Sports Festival is also
popular tourist attraction in Kila Raipur near Ludhiana.[45][46][47] Shahpur kandi fort, Ranjit
sagar lake and Muktsar Temple also popular attractions in Pathankot.

Panorama of Harminder Sahib Gurudwara or Golden Temple

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8.25. Rajasthan
Rajasthan, literally meaning "Land of the Kings", is one of the most attractive tourist
destinations in Western India. The vast sand dunes of the Thar Desert attract millions of
tourists from around the globe every year

Umaid Bhawan Palace, Rajasthan

8.26. Sikkim
Originally known as Suk-Heem, which in the local language means "peaceful
home". Sikkim was an independent kingdom till the year 1974, when it became a part of the
Republic of India. The capital of Sikkim is Gangtok, located approximately 105 kilometres
from New Jalpaiguri, the nearest railway station to Sikkim. Although, Pakyong Airport is
under construction in East Sikkim, the nearest airport to Sikkim is Bagdogra Airport.
Sightseeing places include Baba Mandir, Nathula Pass, Rumtek Monastery, Handicraft
Shops, Tsangpo Lake, Chardham, Buddha Park, Ridgepark, Flowershows (International
Flowershows) Samduptse, Tashi View point Tashiding, Pelling, Yuksom, Rabdentse,
Tibrtology, Ropeway and Mt. Kangchenjunga. Sikkim is considered as the land of orchids,
mystic cultures and colourful traditions. Sikkim is well known among trekkers and adventure
lovers. The treks to Dzongri, Goechala are very popular. To get more details regarding the
treks one need to contact a local tour operator registered and recognised by the Department of
Tourism, Government of Sikkim. Tsozum Tours, Treks and Expeditions is a local tour
operator and handles such treks in Sikkim.

Gurudongmar Lake, Sikkim

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8.27. Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu was the most visited tourist destination by both Indian and International tourists
in 2014 with over 320 million domestic visits and 4.6 million foreign visits. It has places of
historical, cultural and architectural significance. Tourism in Tamil Nadu is promoted by
Ministry of Tourism by the state government with a logo enchanting Tamil Nadu. TTDC
promotes tourism in the state by arranging various functions and events. The capital city of
Tamil Nadu -Chennai- is the only place in India to be listed in "52 places to go around the
world" by "The New York Times". Marina beach in Chennai is the second longest beach in
the world and Chennai is home to numerous historic temples and parks. Chennai is also
nicknamed as the Gateway of South India.
Temples
The state has three UNESCO World Heritage Sites which include the Great Living Chola
Temples and Mahabalipuram. Archaeological sites with civilisation dating back to 3800
years have been discovered in Tamil Nadu. UNESCO World Heritage Sites Mahabalipuram
sea shore templeswere built by rulers of Pallava dynasty and depicts remarkable art and
architecture. The Brihadeeswarar Temple in Thanjavur was built in 1010 A.D. Other major
temples include Madurai Meenakshi Amman Temple, Sri Ranganathaswamy
Temple and Arunachaleswara Temple All these temples showcase Dravidian
architecture which prevailed during the ancient period. The six abodes of Lord Murugan are
situated in Tamil Nadu.

Sanctuaries and National parks

Marina Beach in Chennai as seen from Light house

The Western Ghats is one of the eight hottest biodiversity hotspots in the world and
a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The mangrove forests of Pichavaram are the second largest
in the world and the Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve covers an area of 10,500 km2 of
ocean, islands and the adjoining coastline including coral reefs, salt marshes, mangroves and
is home to Endangered aquatic species including dolphins, dugongs, whales and sea
cucumbers. The wetlands attract numerous migratory birds from Europe and America. The
state government has established 13 bird sanctuaries to protect the birds from poaching and
hunting. The state also has various bird sanctuaries including 13 established bird
sanctuaries The state is home to one of the largest populations of endangered Indian
elephant and Bengal Tiger. The region is home to one-third of the tiger population and more
than half of the elephant population of India. There are 4 Project Tiger reserves and 4 Project
Elephant reserves in the state which
include Anamalai, Mudumalai, Sathyamangalam and Kalakkad-Mundanthurai. Other

70
threatened and endangered species found in the region include Grizzled giant squirrel, Grey
slender loris, Sloth bear, Nilgiri tahr, Nilgiri langur, Lion-tailed macaque, and Indian
leopard.[70] Kanyakumari is the southernmost tip of mainland India provides scenic view of
sunset and sunshine over the Indian Ocean. Water Falls like Hogenakkal Falls and Wildlife
sanctuaries are located across the state.

Hill stations

Brihadeeswarar Temple at Thanjavur, UNESCOWorld Heritage Site

Ooty, Kodaikanal and Yercaud are well-known hill stations. The Nilgiri Mountain Railway is
a mountain railway built in 1908, and operated by a fleet of steam locomotives In July
2005, UNESCO added the Nilgiri Mountain Railway as an extension to the World Heritage
Site Mountain Railways of India.
Medical tourism
The state is a popular destination for medical tourism and the cities
of Chennai and Coimbatore house some of Asia's premier hospitals

8.28. Telangana

Golkonda, Hyderabad, India

Telangana, a state with rich historic and cultural heritage is one of the most frequented tourist
places in South India. Also known as The City of Pearls, Hyderabad is today one of the most
developed cities in the country and a modern hub of information technology, ITES, and
biotechnology. Hyderabad is known for its rich history, culture and architecture representing

71
its unique character as a meeting point for North and South India, and also its multilingual
culture.
Hyderabad ranked second best place in the world that one should see in 2015 which is
published in the annual guide of 'Traveller' magazine of National Geographic.

8.29. Uttarakhand
Uttarakhand, the 27th state of the Republic of India, is called "the abode of the Gods" or
referred as the "Heaven on Earth". It contains glaciers, snow-clad mountains, valley of
flowers, skiing slopes and dense forests, and many shrines and places of pilgrimage. Chota
Char Dhams, the minor pilgrimage of the four most sacred and revered Hindu
temples: Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamunotri are nestled in the Himalayas, of
which Badrinath is part of Char Dham, major pilgrimage of four highly sacred Hindu
temples. Haridwar which means Gateway 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 abode of Devtas, Yakashyas, Kinners, Fairies
and Sages. It has some old hill-stations developed during British era
like Mussoorie, Almora, Dwarahat, Ranikhet and Nainital.

The Valley of Flowers and Nanda Devi National Parks are UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

8.30. Uttar Pradesh

Situated in the northern part of India, border with the capital of India New Delhi, Uttar
Pradesh is one of the most popular tourist destinations in India. Uttar Pradesh is important
with its wealth of historical monuments and religious fervour. It is the home of Taj Mahal,
and Hinduism's holiest city, Varanasi. The most populous state of the Indian Union also has a
rich cultural heritage. Kathak one of the eight forms of Indian classical dance, originated
from Uttar Pradesh. Uttar Pradesh is known as The Heartland of India. Cuisine of Uttar
Pradesh like Awadhi cuisine, Mughlai cuisine, Kumauni cuisine are very famous in entire
India and abroad.
Places of interest in include

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A view of the Ghats in Varanasi from the Ganges

8.31. West Bengal

Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, a UNESCO World Heritage Site

Kolkata (formerly Calcutta), is the capital of West Bengal has been nicknamed the City of
Palaces, City of Joy, etc. This comes from the numerous palatial mansions built all over the
city. Unlike many north Indian cities, whose construction stresses minimalism, the layout of
much of the|right| architectural variety in Kolkata owes its origins to European styles and
tastes imported by the British as it was the capital of British India from 1772 to 1911 and, to a
much lesser extent, the Portuguese and French. The buildings were designed and inspired by
the tastes of the English gentleman around and the aspiring Bengali Babu (literally,
a nouveau riche Bengali who aspired to cultivation of English etiquette, manners and custom,
as such practices were favourable to monetary gains 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 and several buildings have been declared as heritage structures. Long known as
the "Cultural Capital of India" for its vibrant culture which has led India from the forefront
from the 18th century onwards in all fronts ranging from culture to arts, literature to sciences,
sports to politics, theatre to films. Home to the famous Bengal Renaissance which boasts of a
host of luminaries like Raja Rammohan Roy, Ishwar Chandra
Vidyasagar, Ramakrishna, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, Bankim Chandra
Chattopadhyay, Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose, Rabindranath Tagore, Swami
Vivekananda, Khudiram, Chittaranjan Das, Sri Aurobindo, Sarat Chandra
Chattopadhyay, Bagha Jatin, Bidhan Chandra Roy, and countless others. West Bengal is also
known for the famous The Sunderbans.
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 medieval cities had
been sacked at least once by changing powers in the 15th century. However, ruins from the
period still remain, and several architectural specimens still retain the glory and shin of those
times. The Hindu architecture of Bishnupurin terracotta and laterite sandstone are renowned
world over. Towards the British colonial period came the architecture
of Murshidabad and Coochbehar. Darjeeling is a famous Himalayan city in the state of West

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Bengal. Darjeeling tea is world-famous because of its attractive smell. Other than Darjeeling
there are notable hill stations like Kalimpong, Lava, Lolegaon, Rishyap, etc. There are some
wonderful trek routes also, like Sandakfu, Falut, etc. Beside hill stations West Bengal has
some beaches like Digha, Shankarpur, Mandarmoni, Bakkhali etc. West Bengal is home to
six national parks — Sundarbans National Park, Buxa Tiger Reserve, Gorumara National
Park, Neora Valley National Park, Jaldapara National Park, and Singalila National Park.
Extant wildlife include Indian rhinoceroses, Indian elephants, deer, bison, leopards, gaur, and
crocodiles, as well as many bird species. Migratory birds come to the state during the winter.
The high-altitude forests of Singalila National Park shelter barking deer, red
panda, chinkara, takin, serow, pangolin, minivet and kalij pheasants. Additionally, the
Sundarbans are noted for a reserve project conserving the endangered royal Bengal tiger,
although the forest hosts many other endangered species, such as the Gangetic dolphin,
river terrapin and estuarine crocodile.

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9. Tourism and Job of People

In many countries, tourism acts as an engine for development through foreign exchange
earnings and the creation of direct and indirect employment. Tourism contributes 5% of the
world’s GDP. It accounts for 6% of the world’s exports in services being the fourth largest
export sector after fuels, chemicals and automotive products. Tourism is responsible for 235
million jobs or one in every 12 jobs worldwide. Tourism in many developing and least
developed countries is the most viable and sustainable economic development option, and in
some countries, the main source of foreign exchange earnings. Part of this income trickles
down to different groups of the society and, if tourism is managed with a strong focus on
poverty alleviation, it can directly benefit the poorer groups through employment of local
people in tourism enterprises, goods and services provided to tourists, or the running of small
and community-based enterprises, etc, having positive impacts on reducing poverty levels.
Tourism is a relatively labour-intensive sector and is traditionally made up of small and micro
enterprises. Many activities in tourism are particularly suited to women, young people and
disadvantaged groups such as ethnic minority populations. Many tourism jobs are potentially
quite accessible to the poor as they require relatively few skills and little investment. Some
may also be part time and used to supplement income from other activities. As so many
different activities and inputs make up the tourism product, which has a large and diversified
supply chain, spending by tourists can benefit a wide range of sectors such as agriculture,
handicrafts, transport and other services. Additional rounds of spending by those people
whose income is supported by tourism spread the economic benefit further (the multiplier
effect). Tourism, unusually, is an activity which brings the consumers to the producers. The
interaction between tourists and poor communities can provide a number of intangible and
practical benefits. These can range from increased awareness of cultural, environmental, and
economic issues and values, on both sides, to mutual benefits from improved local
investment in infrastructure.

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10. Indian Ministry of Tourism

The Ministry of Tourism, a branch of the Government of India, is the apex body for
formulation and administration of the rules, regulations and laws relating to the development
and promotion of tourism in India. The head of the ministry is Minister of Tourism,
a Minister of State(Independent Charge), held by Alphons Kannanthanam Since September
2017. To promote the GDP of the country indirectly and to have friendly relations with them,
The Government of India announced officially a Visa on Arrival status/facility for
International Visitors to enter/visit India from 43 countries including United
States, Australia, Vietnam, Thailand, Vanuatu, Singapore, Israel, Jordan, Kenya, Russian
Federation, Brazil, Finland, Germany, Japan, Myanmar on 27 November 2014
The potential for tourism in India was first recognized with the setting up of a Tourist Traffic
Committee, an ad-hoc body, in 1948, to suggest ways and means to promote tourism in India.
Based on its recommendations, a tourist traffic branch was set up the following year, with
regional offices in Delhi and Mumbai, and in 1951, in Kolkata and Chennai. A separate
department of tourism under the government was first created on 1 March 1958, that was put
under the ambit of Ministry of Transport and Communications. It was headed by a Director
General in the rank of joint secretary. Simultaneously, Tourism Development Council, an
advisory body, was constituted and was chaired by the minister in charge of tourism.
After a fall in the number of tourists entering India in 1961 from the preceding year, the
government constituted a committee headed by Lakshmi Kant Jha, then secretary in the
Department of Economic Affairs, under the Ministry of Finance, to find and examine the
reasons. The committee attributed it to the Chinese aggression in the backdrop of the Sino-
Indian War that year. Subsequently, as per the committee's recommendations, visa norms
were liberalized, and the India Tourism Development Corporation was established in 1966 as
a functional agency of the Department of Tourism. Further, Prime Minister Indira
Gandhi convened a conference in October that year, the deliberations of which resulted in the
creation of the Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation. Karan Singh was appointed the first
minister.
Despite his skills as an orator and scholarly knowledge in the Sanskrit language, Singh failed
to take tourism on a growing path during the initial years, owing mostly to failure in getting
funds for the promotion and infrastructure of tourism. He subsequently persuaded Air India to
get their officers involved in promotion of tourism to India. Region-wise targets for arrivals
were given and Air India chiefs were given powers to oversee the working of overseas tourist
offices of India; 'Operation Europe' for the said region was later extended to other areas. Air
India's failure to take this forward owing to losses in revenue "collision" of "egos of tourist
officers" led to slump in growth of tourism. Prime minister Rajiv Gandhi later took charge of
the ministry before quitting in favour of other ministers who, Pran Nath Seth in Successful
Tourism wrote, "felt that the tourism portfolio was a demotion", as Civil Aviation was
separated from the ministry. During this time, the Tourism was tied with Commerce Ministry,
and later under V. P. Singh's ministry, in 1991 with Agriculture, when it was headed
by Chaudhary Devi Lal. It was again tied with Civil Aviation that year, headed
by Madhavrao Scindia, before the Deve Gowda government in 1996 attached it with the
Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs.

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11. What are the basic tourism problems in India?

● Infrastructure: - The first problem in the way of achieving mass tourism is the lack of
adequate infrastructure. Most tourists arrive in big cities but want to travel around. The
necessary infrastructure is missing in terms of good connecting roads, flights, railway
transportation that is safe and reliable to their chosen destinations. Small airports have to be
upgraded and big airports decongested by having more security check facilities.

● Safety: - Another problem is the big gap in the requirements of tourists and the availability
of hotel rooms at reasonable prices. The demand clearly exceeds supply and the private sector
has pitched in with a growing number of alternatives like budget guest houses and Bed and
Breakfast hotels. Tourist spots like Goa attract many foreign tourists. The case of an Irish-
British woman’s murder on a Goa beach has created a very bad impression and recently The
Guardian (UK) carried an article on the Goa murder quoting damaging statistics regarding the
safety of tourists in Goa. According to the article, 245 tourists died under mysterious
circumstances in four local districts of Goa in the past 12 years. Guaranteeing safety to
women tourists is very important for clearing the air regarding the perception of India being
an unsafe place for women. Molestations and rapes of foreign women tourists are indeed a
big stigma that India has to strive hard to get rid of.

● Lack of ecological tourism: - The old-fashioned concept of showcasing only India’s

historical heritage and monuments is changing and people around the world are more
interested in ecotourism where they want to see the local flora and fauna. Increasing tourism
in the Sundarbans area in West Bengal, for example, is an attractive proposition. The region
contains the biggest mangrove forest in the world and exotic flora and fauna and the Royal
Bengal Tiger. But for ecotourism purposes, only high-end tourism and not mass tourism
should be encouraged to prevent further ecological damage to the area.

● Environmental damage: - Mass tourism is also not a good idea for many secluded areas in
the Himalayan region because these remote places are facing problems of maintaining
ecological balance. Tons of waste from tourists can be found in the mountains, which spoil
the pristine beauty of the Himalayas. Plastic bags clog beautiful streams and piles of filth can
be found en route to many tourist destinations like Shimla.

● Cultural tourism: - is also important because many foreigners want to experience life in
Indian villages, but India’s villages are not open to tourism.
● Corruption in the medical system: - Medical tourism is a new and lucrative area and
increasing numbers from neighbouring countries are coming to India for medical
treatment especially from Bangladesh and Afghanistan. Hence care should be taken that there
are no cases of malpractice in the private hospitals and Indian healthcare remains inexpensive
and reliable.

● Lack of neighbourhood visitors: -Currently, India receives the maximum number of tourists
from the US, followed by Bangladesh, while regionally, Western Europe and North America

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make up for a large chunk of the country’s foreign tourists — at 23.42% and 18.62% in 2015,
respectively. South Asia tops the list with 24.25%. What is of concern though is that other
regions that are expected to send tomorrow’s tourists don’t seem to have India on their
radar. In 2015, only 8.72% of India’s foreign tourists were from South-East Asia while East
Asia made up 6.92%, West Asia 5.20%, Eastern Europe 4.12%, Australasia 3.89%, Africa
3.66% and Central and South America, 0.88%.

● Security: - India is in a constant state of tension with its fellow nuclear neighbour, Pakistan,
and the U.S. government has long warned travellers to avoid the restive border areas,
especially in Kashmir. The threat of terrorism to tourists hit in the 2008 Mumbai attacks,
when gunmen fired on a train station platform, cafes and luxury hotels; the victims
included 28 foreigners from 10 countries. Since then, smaller-scale bombings conducted by
Islamic extremist and insurgent groups have continued against some public places frequented
by Westerners.

● Lack of overseas marketing and engagement: - India has only 14 tourism promotion offices
abroad, located in countries which are its principal sources of revenue. The world over, it is a
country’s network of embassies and consulates that acts as the permanent promoter of
external interests. In global reach through such a diplomatic network, India ranks 12th,
with 180 embassies and high commissions, permanent missions and consulates. They can do
more to market India as a tourism destination.
A well-managed tourism industry is truly a magic bullet. Besides its earnings and jobs, it
builds a positive image for the country.

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12. Problem faced by tourist in India

Hygiene

About hygiene, ordinary Indian people are not much concerned about keeping the
surroundings clean and as well as themselves. For the reason, you can blame on the large
number of populations here, and among them, the larger part is still illiterate. It’s not the
same in reputed hotels or similar luxurious places.
But, if you want to find out the real India, you have to be accustomed to the bad sense of
hygiene in the public places like trains, local transports, cheap hotels or public toilets. Almost
all cities in India are crowded with slums, where the residents can think about nothing but to
survive in congested areas and work from sunrise to sunset. The foreign people who come
from the places where hygiene is a great concern for everyone.

Dining and Food

About food, sometimes it’s a big challenge for foreigners to consume the spicy local foods in
India. Mainly the street foods are so much oily and spicy that it can create digestion problems
if you are not accustomed with that food habit. Though the luxurious restaurants will provide
you your desired food, and also you can find out international eateries like KFC, McDonald’s
in all the big cities in India, be aware in selecting foods if you are planning to save money on
food by using local options.

Local Transports

In case of local transport, taxi or auto-rickshaw drivers always try to fool tourists, especially
foreigners for gaining extra fare from them. If you are unaware of the local fares, in most of
the cases you may end up spending more than the fair prices. Not only that, some takes
longer routes than the usual, just for running the meter for a long time. Also, sometimes these
dishonest people can get you in trouble and try to rob you if you are alone, especially in late
nights. Nightlife in India is not safe as many other foreign countries, so be aware of that.
Before taking the private drives in India, be cautious to do a little research on your own and
be safe.

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Also, if you prefer to make your own meal, you may not find out all the ingredients in local
markets. Language is also a big barrier here. Though English is one of the national languages
in India, the accent is the main problem here for both the ends. When you explore a new
country like India with so much diversity, you can’t expect everything to go smoothly, but
you will always get people who will be happy to help you in every aspect.

And even some problems like

• Facilities and services are poor in many sites.

• There exists inadequate transportation to reach and continue the journey.
• Infrastructure facility is very poor.
• There is limited availability of tourism information at limited places.
• There are regional conflicts due to which tourisms getting affected in some areas
• Global economic meltdown, terror attack, uncertainties in fuel prices, heavy road taxes
have made India an overpriced destination.
• Fierce competition particularly among neighbouring countries who are offering challenging
tariff which we are not in a position to match
• Loads of taxes in tourism sector is ruining its growth needs immediate action to keep it
moving with tax incentives
• There is a lack of adequate security in some areas of the country which makes the tourists
feel insecure

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13. OVERCOMING CHALLENGES OF INDIAN TOURISM

 Every city or place of tourist attraction should have a committee of local citizens who
are ready to volunteer for tourism promotion of their own city instead of Government
handling everything. This committee should be the contact point for all information
and help in case of any need.
 Every policy/ guideline which relates tourists should be prominently displayed for
information of the tourists.
 Local police should also be involved to handle cases relating to tourists on priority.
 ITDC have to be enriched so that it can provide adequate facilities at tourist sites like
good environment, tourism information, etc.
 The Central and state Governments, must have special attention and invest in large to
develop the infrastructure for utilising the tourist spots.
 Tourism information must be updated often. The websites must give enriched
information’s with catchy phrases.
 Specific toll-free numbers can be used for easy access of information by tourists

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14. Conclusion

Conclusion India’s travel and tourism sector ranks 7th in the world in terms of its total
contribution to the country’s GDP, according to a new report of the World Travel and
Tourism Council (WTTC). According to data, the travel and tourism sector generated Rs 14.1
trillion (USD208.9 billion) in 2016, which is world’s 7th largest in terms of absolute size; the
sum is equivalent to 9.6% of India’s GDP. Additionally, the sector created 40.3 million jobs
in 2016, which ranks India 2nd in the world in terms of total employment generated. The
sector accounts for 9.3% of the country’s total jobs. India’s Travel and Tourism sector was
also the fastest growing amongst the G20 countries, growing by 8.5% in 2016. A further
6.7% growth is forecast for 2017. As travel and tourism marketing has shifted online,
destinations have increasingly found themselves competing in a global marketplace. Over the
past six decades, almost without interruption, the volume of cross-border travel has increased
year-on-year, and today travellers are able to access their chosen destinations more easily. In
order to stand out, those responsible for destination marketing have sought to make their
destinations attractive to emerging consumer segments, particularly those segments of the
market that are perceived to travel more frequently and exhibit higher levels of spending than
others. Tourism is very sensitive to economic, environmental, and socio-political events
affecting tourists‟ willingness to travel. In the absence of insurance cover and social security,
the poor can be particularly vulnerable to sudden downswings in demand. However, tourism
demand often bounces back quickly when circumstances change. If the Indian government is
continuing to adopt policies that encourage travellers, such as the new visa regime, enable
investment in vital infrastructure, and allow companies to do business. India is a beautiful and
diverse tourism destination, with the right policies in place it will no doubt continue to grow
towards ranking even higher in terms of its tourism economy.”

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15. BIBLIOGRAPHY

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tourism

https://www.quora.com/What-is-tourism

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tourism_in_India

https://www.quora.com/What-is-the-introduction-for-tourism-in-India

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tourism_in_India_by_state

http://www.discoveredindia.com/religious-tourism-in-india/

https://www.wttc.org/-/media/files/reports/economic-impact-research/countries-
2017/india2017.pdf

AACH-Aug-2018%20(1).pdf

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