tourism in india history 11

8/7/2019 Tourism in India history 11

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Tourism in India

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

6.23% to the national GDP and 8.78% of the total employment in India.

India witnesses more than 5 million annual foreign tourist arrivals and

562 million domestic tourism visits. The tourism industry in India

generated about US$100 billion in 2008 and that is expected to increase

to US$275.5 billion by 2018 at a 9.4% annual growth rate. In the year

2009, 5.11 million foreign tourists visited India. Majority of foreign

tourists come from USA and UK and Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Delhi

and Uttar Pradesh were the top four states to receive inbound tourists.Domestic tourism in the same year was massive at 650 million. Andhra

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

visitors. Ministry of Tourism is the nodal agency to formulate national

policies and programmes for the development and promotion of tourism.

In the process, the Ministry consults and collaborates with other

stakeholders in the sector including various Central Ministries/agencies,

the State Governments/ union Territories and the representatives of theprivate sector. Concerted efforts are being made to promote new forms

of tourism such as rural, cruise, medical and eco-tourism. The Ministry

of Tourism is the nodal agency for the development and promotion of

tourism in India and maintains the Incredible India campaign.

According to World Travel and Tourism Council, India will be a tourism

hotspot from 20092018, having the highest 10-year growth potential.

The Travel & Tourism Competitiveness Report 2007 ranked tourism inIndia 6th in terms of price competitiveness and 39th in terms of safety

and security.indian grand prix to boost tourism from the year 2011.

Despite short- and medium-term setbacks, such as shortage of hotel

rooms, tourism revenues are expected to surge by 42% from 2007 to


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2017. Tourism in India need to be understood in the global context of

competing destinations. It may be thought of as multiple Indias with a

multitude of competing destinations Goa, Rajasthan,Kerela, Assam,

Kashmir under the India umbrella. India's 5000 years of history, itslength, breadth and the variety of geographic features make its tourism

basket large and varied. It presents heritage and cultural tourism along

with medical, business and sports tourism. India has a growing medical

tourism sector. The 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi are expected

to significantly boost tourism in India.


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Geography


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India is a land of lofty mountains and mighty rivers. Extensiveare its plains and no less wide are its plateaus. A vast land withsuch varied relief is inhabited by about 950 million people. Thecountry consists of three main physical divisions. They are theGreat Mountains of the North, the Great Plains of Northern India

and the Great Plateau of Peninsular India. The southern plateau isflanked by the narrow coastal strips which are a part and parcelof the peninsular land mass.

Great MountainsThe mountains extending between the Pamir Plateau and theIndus river in Kashmir are known as the Karakoram Mountains. Those between the Indus and theBrahmaputra are known as the Himalaya, meaning the 'abode ofsnow'. The eastern section of these mountains in ArunachalPradesh and Sikkim is known as the Eastern Himalaya.

The Karakoram Mountains in the northern part of Kashmir arethe north-western extension of the Himalaya. K-2, the world'ssecond highest mountain peak, belongs to this mountain range.The other important ranges of the Kashmir Himalaya are theLadakh, the Zanskar and the Pirpanjal. The northernmost rangeof the Himalaya proper is known as the Himadri. Loftiest Himalayan range contains the world'shighest peak with an elevation of 8,848 metres above sea level. Some of the other importantpeaks are Nanga Parbat, Nanda Devi, Dhaulagiri,Annapurna, Makalu, Manaslu and Kanchenjunga.

The Great PlainsTo the south of the Great Mountains of the north lie theplains of Northern India. This region is made up ofalluvium and is extremely level. It extends roughly about2500 km east to west.

The Great Plains consists of two river basins, namely,those of the Indus and the Ganga-Brahmaputra. The


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Indus, the Ganga and the Brahamaputra are the three most important rivers of the Indian sub-continent. The Indus basin is drained by the river Indus and its tributaries-the Jhelum, Chenab,Beas, Ravi and Sutlej. The river Ganga in its lower reaches is joined by the great Brahmaputra.Together they form the world's largest delta before their waters flow into the Bay of Bengal.

The northern part of this Great Plateau is bounded by the Aravalli range in the west and theVindhya to its south. To the north-west of this plateau lies the Desert of Rajasthan. The westernedge of the Deccan Plateau is called the Western Ghat. These are formed by the Sahyadri, theNilgiri, The Annamalai and the Cardmom Hills. Overlooking the Arabian Sea, they run parallelto the coast. With an elevation of 2695 metres about sea level, Anai Mudi in Kerala is the highestpeak of peninsular India. The Eastern edge of the plateau is known as Eastern Ghats. BothWestern and Eastern Ghats converge at the Nilgiris.

The Deccan PlateauIt is flanked by a narrow coastal plain on the west. It isbroadest in the north where it includes the plain of

Gujarat. In Bombay & Marmagoa, it possesses two bestnatural harbours and lagoons and back waters in Kerala.The eastern coastal strip possesses the fertile deltas of theKaveri, Krishna, Godavari amd Mahanadi rivers. Thesouthern part of the east coast is known as the Coromandel Coast. The coastal strip in the northmerges with the delta of the Ganga Brahmaputra.

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India is one of the few countries in the world, today, in

which the social and religious structures, which define the

nation's identity, are intact for over 4000 years. There is

possibly no other country where religion is so inextricablyintertwined with every aspect of life. India was the birth

place of the two of the world's great religion (Hinduism &

Buddhism) and one of its smallest (Jainism). India's first

major civilization flourished for 1000 years from around

2500 BC along the Indus River valley. The origins of Hinduism can be traced all the way back to this early

civilization. The Aryans swept south from Central Asia between 1500 and 200 BC. It was during this


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period of transition (1500-1200 BC) that the Hindu sacred scriptures, the Vedas, were written.

Maurya's empire came to power in 321 BC. The empire reached its peak under Emperor Ashoka who

converted to Buddhism in 262 BC. Ashokan edicts and pillars can be seen in Delhi, Gujarat, Orissa,

Sarnath in Uttar Pradesh and at Sanchi in Madhya Pradesh. In 319 AD, Chandragupta II founded the

Gupta Empire. The arts flourished during this period, with some of the finest work being done at Ajanta,

Ellora, Sanchi and Sarnath.

Mughal Era - Muslim power first made itself strongly felt on the subcontinent with the raids of Mahmud

of Ghazni. In 1192, Mohammed Ghori, who had been expanding his powers across the Punjab, broke

into India and captured Ajmer. After Mohammed of Ghori was killed in 1206, Qutub-ud-din became the

first of the Sultans of Delhi. The invasion of Muslims continued until Mughals came into power and ruled

over northern India till the beginning of the 17th century. The six great Mughals were Babur, Humayun,

Akbar, Jehangir, Shah Jehan and Aurangzeb and their reigns were between 1527 until 1707. Some of the

wonderful monuments built during the Mughal reign are Taj Mahal, Fatehpur Sikri, Fort in Agra and Red

Fort and Humayun's Tomb in Delhi.

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British Raj- In 1612 British made their first permanent inroad into India when

they established a trading post in Gujarat and later at Madras in 1640, at

Bombay in 1668 and at Calcutta in 1690. In 1672 the French established

themselves at Pondicherry and stage was set for a rivalry between the British

and French for control of Indian trade. The British were able to capture most ofIndia by the early 19th century after defeating Sikhs in 1849. At the same time,

Hindusim began to resurge. The main protagonists in this revival were reformers

like Ram Mohan Roy, Ramakrishna and Swami Vivekananda. Other reformers

such as Sri Aurobindo, Annie Beasantowed a debt to these popularizers ofHindu

philosophy and mysticism. In 1915, Mohandas Gandhireturned from South

Africa where he had practiced as a lawyer and devoted himself to fight against

the racial discrimination, which the Indians had to face. He emerged as a new leader to fight his way to

independence by adopting a policy of passive resistance "satyagraha". By the time WW II was

concluded, independence was inevitable. In early 1946, India faced a major problem in terms of caste,

creed powers. The demand for a separate nation, to be ruled by Mohammed Ali Jinnah became a majorhurdle in declaring India as an "Independent Nation" by the British Empire. August 1946 witnessed

bloody clashes between the two communities in Calcutta. In February 1947, the newly appointed

viceroy Lord Louis Mountbatten made an attempt to convince the rival factions for a united

independent India. However, he failed in his attempt and finally India was divided in two parts - India

and Pakistan.


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History

The history of India is shrouded in antiquity. India is one of the cradles of civilization with ahistory dating back more than 9,000 years. Indian history begins with the birth of the Indus

Valley Civilization and the coming of the Aryans. We can summarize its vast and extensivehistory as below.

Mauryas Empire

Came to power in 321 BC. The empire reached its peak under Emperor Ashoka who convertedto Buddhism in 262 BC. Ashokan edicts and pillars can be seen in Delhi, Gujarat, Orissa,Sarnath in Uttar Pradesh and at Sanchi in Madhya Pradesh. In 319 AD, Chandragupta II foundedthe Gupta Empire. The arts flourished during this period, with some of the finest work beingdone at Ajanta, Ellora, Sanchi and Sarnath.

The Mughal Era

In India lasted from 1526 to 1858. The Mughal dynasty was established by able Muslim rulerswho came from the present day Uzbekistan. The Mughal rule in India saw the country beingunited as one single unit and being administered under one single powerful ruler. During theMughal period, art and architecture flourished and many beautiful monuments were constructed.The rulers were skillful warriors and admirers of art as well. Some of the wonderful monumentsbuilt during the Mughal reign are Taj Mahal, Fatehpur Sikri, Fort in Agra and Red Fort andHumayun's Tomb in Delhi.

British EmpireIt was in the 17th century that the Europeans came to India. Thiscoincided with the disintegration of the Mughal Empire, paving the way

for regional states. The British established its colony in 1757 in east ofIndia (Bengalen) after a war with the French. They expanded theirinfluence thereafter and controlled most of present day Indian Pakistan by1857. A rebellious outbreak in India in 1857 led to the transfer of allpowers from the East India Company to the Crown in England. In 1858,the Mogul rule finally breathed its last after which the Empire created British India and styled theEmpire of India as well. Although Britain ruled most of India but it also had local treaties withthe feudal local rulers. The first steps towards self-governance were taken by late 1800s by the


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British where they appointed Indian councilors to acts as advisories to the British Viceroy andaid in establishment of provincial councils with members in India.

IndependenceThe anti British struggle became truly a mass movement with the arrival

of Mahatma Gandhi (1869 - 1948). It was followed by numerousmovements against the British rule. With the passage of time andstubbornness of the Indians the British had come to realize that the daywas not far off when they will have to quit India. Successive campaignshad the effect of driving the British out of India in 1947. In the yearssince independence India has made huge progress and coped with greatproblems, and has developed its industry and its agriculture, and has

maintained a system of government which makes it the largest democracy in the world.

Tourism by state

Andhra Pradesh

Further information: Tourist attractions in Hyderabad


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Charminarin Hyderabad

Andhra Pradesh has a rich cultural heritage and a variety of tourist attractions.

The state of Andhra Pradesh comprises scenic hills, forests, beaches and

temples. Also known as The City of Nizams and 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 its unique character as a meeting

point for North and South India, and also its multilingual culture,

Andhra Pradesh is the home of many religious pilgrim centres:

Tirupati, the abode of Lord Venkateswara, is the richest and most visited

religious center (of any faith) in the world. Srisailam, the abode of SriMallikarjuna, is one of twelve Jyothirlingalu in India. Amaravati's Siva temple is

one of the Pancharamams, Vemulavada temple, one of the old abodes of Lord

Shiva, reputed as Dakshina Kashi - Benaras of South India. Vemulavada temple

is built by Chalukya Kings between AD 750 and 975. Yadagirigutta, the abode of

an avatara of Vishnu, Sri Lakshmi Narasimha.

The Ramappa Temple and Thousand Pillars Temple in Warangal are famous

tourist spots and depict the finest taste ofKakatiya dynasty for arts & culture and

temple carvings. Warangal Fort is also worth-visiting place.

Warangal is also home to Medaram - the Asia's largest tribal fair/festival

called "Sammakka Saralamma" Jatara. Festival happens once in every two

years. The festival is a 4-day festival and attracts devotees from all sections of

life from surrounding 5 states. In 4 days, the festival attracts mind-boggling 10


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million devotees. The next festival is expected to take place in the month of Jan,

2012.

Gnana Saraswati Temple, Basaris one of the only two Saraswati Temples im

India. Devotees from all over Andhra Pradesh and country visit Basara

forAkshara abhyasam - is a Hindu ceremony for children where they are

introduced to education in front of the Goddess Saraswathy.

Bhadrachalam another temple town in Andhra Pradesh which has a great history

and significance in Andhrfa Pradesh because of a belief that Lord Rama stayed

in Bhadrachalam during exile along with wife Sita Devi and Younger Brother

Laxmana and also said to have visited Sabari during the period. It is said

that Kancherla Gopanna - better known as Bhakta Ramadasu, the Tehsildar of

the region built the temple without the knowledge of the ruling Nawab after

seeing the sorry state of the temple. Supposedly Gopanna had faced harsh

punishments from Nawab and it is widely believed that Lord Rama along with

Laxmana came under disguised identities and liberated Gopanna by re-paying

the amount utilized for temple rehabilitation.

The state has numerous Buddhist centres at Amaravati, Nagarjuna

Konda, Bhattiprolu, Mangalagiri, Ghantasala, Nelakondapalli, Dhulikatta,

Bavikonda, Thotlakonda, Shalihundam, Pavuralakonda, Sankaram, Phanigiri and

Kolanpaka.

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

at Borra, picturesque Araku Valley, hill resorts of Horsley Hills, river Godavari

racing through a narrow gorge at Papi Kondalu, waterfalls at Ettipotala, Kuntala

and rich bio-diversity at Talakona, are some of the natural attractions of the

state. Visakhapatnam is home to many tourist attactions such as the INS

Karasura Submarine museum (The only one of its kind in India), Yarada Beach,

Araku Valley, VUDA Park, Indira Gandhi Zoological Gardens. The weather in

Andhra Pradesh is mostly tropical and the best time to visit is in Novemberthrough to January. The monsoon season commences in June and ends in

September, so travel would not be advisable during this period. Also worth

visiting, the only Indian Buddhism Based Theme Park & Resorts on the

Vijayawada - Guntur Highway - Agrigold Haailand.


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Arunachal Pradesh

A view ofTawang monastery.

Arunachal Pradesh attracts tourists from many parts of the world. Tourist

attractions include Tawang, a beautiful town famous for its Buddhist

monastery,Ziro, famous for cultural festivals, the Namdapha tiger project

in Changlang district and Sela lake nearBomdila with its bamboo bridges

overhanging the river. Religious places of interest include Malinithan in

Lekhabali, Rukhmininagar nearRoing (the place where Rukmini, Lord Krishna's

wife in Hindu mythology, is said to have lived), and Parshuram Kund in Lohit

district (which is believed to be the lake where Parshuram washed away his

sins). Rafting and trekking are common activities. A visitor's permit from the

tourism department is required. Places like Tuting have wonderful, undiscoveredscenic beauty.

Assam

Main article: Tourism in Assam

Indian Rhinoceroses grazing at the Kaziranga National Park.

Assam is the central state in the North-East Region of India and serves as the

gateway to the rest of theSeven Sister States. Assam boasts of famous wildlife


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preserves the Kaziranga National Park, which is home to the Great Indian One-

Horned Rhinoceros and the Manas National Park and Pobitora Wildlife

Sanctuary (These first two parks are UNESCO World Heritage Site), the largest

river island Majuli, historicSivasagar, famous for the ancient monuments ofAhom

Kingdom, the city of eternal romance, Tezpurand tea-estates dating back to timeofBritish 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.

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 ofTantric sect. 'Gurdwara Sri

Guru Tegh Bahadur also known as Damdama Sahib at Dhubri '- This famousGurudwara is situated in the heart of the Dhubri Town on the bank of the 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 traveled from Dhaka to Assam, ruins of

palaces, etc. Guwahati, the capital city of Assam, boasts many bazaars, temples,

and wildlife sanctuaries.

Bihar

Main article: Tourism in Bihar


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Mahabodhi Temple is a UNESCO World Heritage Site

Biharis one of the oldest continuously inhabited places in the world with history

of 3000 years. The rich culture and heritage ofBiharis evident from theinnumerable ancientmonuments that are dotted all over this state in eastern

India. This is the place ofAryabhata, Great Ashoka, Chanakya and many other

great historical figures.

Attractions:

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

Golghar and Budha Smriti Park are famous lanmarks.

Gaya - Known for Bodh Gaya the place at which Gautam Buddha attainedenlightenment.Attraction for Buddhists across the globe.

Barauni - Petrochemical work for national level

Muzaffarpur- Famous for its education.

Kesariya - World's largest Buddhist Stupa located here.

Nalanda - World's oldest university remains here.

Sasaram - Tomb of Sher Shah Suri, the great Emperor of Mughal age who

defeated Humayun.

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

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

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

Biharis one of the most sacred places of various religions such

as Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism & Islam. Famous Attraction

includes Mahabodhi Temple, a Buddhistshrine and UNESCO World Heritage

Site is also situated in Bihar, Barabar Caves the oldest rockcut caves in

India, Khuda Bakhsh Oriental Library the Oldest Library of India.


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Delhi

Lotus Temple

Main article: Tourism in Delhi

Delhi is the capital city of India. A fine blend of old and new, ancient and modern,Delhi is a melting pot of cultures, religions. Delhi has been the capital of

numerous empires that ruled India, making it rich in history. The rulers left behind

their trademark architectural styles. Delhi currently has many renowned historic

monuments and landmarks such as the Tughlaqabad fort, Qutub Minar, Purana

Quila, Lodhi Gardens, Jama Masjid, Humayun's tomb, Red Fort, andSafdarjung's

Tomb. Modern monuments include Jantar Mantar, India Gate, Rashtrapati

Bhavan, Laxminarayan Temple, Lotus temple and 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.

Goa

Goa is noted for its resorts and beaches.


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Main article: Tourism in Goa

Goa is one of the most famous tourist destinations in India. A former colony

ofPortugal, Goa is famous for its excellent beaches, Portuguese

churches,Hindu temples, and wildlife sanctuaries. The Basilica of BomJesus, Mangueshi Temple, Dudhsagar Falls, and Shantadurga 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 colorful masks and floats, drums

and reverberating music, and dance performances. The celebrations run three

days culminating in a carnival parade on fat Tuesday.

Himachal Pradesh

The Himalayan landscape of Himachal Pradesh is ideal for out-door activities such as skiing

Himachal Pradesh is famous for its Himalayan landscapes and popularhill-

stations. Many outdoor activities such as rock climbing, mountain

biking, paragliding, ice-skating, and heli-skiing are popular tourist attractions

inHimachal Pradesh.[12]

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 skiing attraction 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.


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Jammu and Kashmir

Main article: Tourism in Jammu and Kashmir

Jammu & Kashmiris known for its scenic landscape

Jammu and Kashmiris the northernmost state of India. Jammu is noted for itsscenic landscape, ancient temples, Hindu shrines, castles, gardens and forts.

The Hindu holy shrines ofAmarnath in kashmir attracts about .4 million Hindu

devotees every year . Vaishno Devi alsoattract tens of thousands of Hindu

devotees every year. Jammu's historic monuments feature a unique blend of

Islamic and Hindu architecture styles.

Tourism forms an integral part of the Kashmiri economy. Often dubbed "Paradise

on Earth", Kashmir's mountainous landscape has attracted tourists for centuries.

Notable places are Dal Lake, SrinagarPhalagam, Gulmarg, Yeusmarg andMughal Gardens etc. Kashmir's natural landscape has made it one of the popular

destinations for adventure tourism in South Asia.Marked by four distinct

seasons,Ski enthusiasts can enjoy the exotic himalayan powder during winters.

7000000 tourists arrived in kashmir in the months of April,May and June alone

In recent years, Ladakh has emerged as a major hub for adventure tourism. This

part of Greater Himalaya called "moon on earth" comprising of naked peaks and

deep gorges was once known for the silk route to High Asia from the

subcontinent. Leh is also a growing tourist spot.


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Karnataka

Mysore Palace, illuminated for the Dasarafestival. This receives 2.7 million tourists, second

highest in India

Main article: Tourism in Karnataka

Karnataka has been ranked as fourth most popular destination for tourism among

states of India. It has the second highest number of protected monuments in

India, at 507.

Kannada dynasties like Kadambas, Western

Gangas, Chalukyas, Rashtrakutas, Hoysalas and Vijayanagaras, ruled

Karnataka particularly North Karnataka.[13][14] They built great monuments to

Buddhism, Jainism, Shaivism. The monuments are still present

at Badami, Aihole, Pattadakal, Hampi,Lakshmeshwar, Sudi, Hooli, Mahadeva

Temple

(Itagi), Dambal, Lakkundi, Gadag, Hangal, Halasi, Galaganatha, Chaudayyadana

pura, Banavasi, Belur,Halebidu, Shravanabelagola, Sannati and many more.

Notable Islamic monuments are present at Bijapur, Bidar, Gulbarga, Raichurand

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, atHampi and Pattadakal, both are in North Karnataka.

Karnataka is famous for its waterfalls. Jog falls ofShimoga District is one of the

highest waterfalls in Asia. This state has 21 wildlife sanctuaries and five National

parks and is home to more than 500 species of birds. Karnataka has many

beaches at Karwar, Gokarna, Murdeshwara, Surathkal. Karnataka is a rock

climbers paradise. Yana in Uttara Kannada, Fort in Chitradurga, Ramnagara

nearBangalore district, Shivagange in Tumkurdistrict and tekal in Kolardistrict

are a rock climbers heaven.[citation needed]


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Kerala

Kerala, nicknamed as "God's own country," is famous for its houseboats.

Main article: Tourism in Kerala

Kerala is a state on the tropical Malabar Coast of southwestern India. Nicknamedas one of the "10 paradises of the world" by National Geographic, Kerala is

famous especially for its ecotourism 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 known for its tropical backwaters and pristine beaches such

as Kovalam.

Madhya Pradesh

Main article: Tourism in Madhya Pradesh

The temples ofKhajuraho are famous for theirerotic sculptures. The Khajuraho group of

monuments are a UNESCO World Heritage Site.


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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

ofHinduism, Islam, Buddhism, Sikhism, Jainism. Innumerable monuments,

exquisitely carved temples, stupas, forts and palaces are dotted all over the

State.

The temples ofKhajuraho are world-famous for their erotic sculptures, and are

a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Gwalioris famous for its forts, the Tomb of Rani

Lakshmibai, and the Palace of Tansen.

Madhya Pradesh is also known as Tiger State because of the tiger population.

Famous national parks like Kanha, Bandhavgadh, Shivpuri, Sanjay, Pench are

located in MP. Spectacular mountain ranges, meandering rivers and miles and

miles of dense forests offering a unique and exciting panorama of wildlife

insylvan surroundings.

Maharashtra

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

gastronomy, and Bollywood. Maharashtra accounts for second largest foreign tourists arrivals in

India.[15]

Main article: Tourism in Maharashtra

See also: Tourist Attractions in MumbaiandTourist attractions in Aurangabad

district

Maharashtra is the second most visited state in India by foreign tourists, [15] with

more than 2 million foreign tourists arrivals annually. 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.


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Ajanta Caves, Ellora Caves and Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus are the

three UNESCOWorld Heritage sites in Maharashtra and are highly responsible

for the development ofTourism in the state.

Mumbai is the most cosmopolitan city in India, and a great place to experience

modern India. Mumbai famous forBollywood, 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 ofBombay High

Court and Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus.

Maharashtra also has numerous adventure tourism destinations,

including paragliding, rock climbing, canoeing, kayaking, snorkeling, and scuba

diving in places like Kolad, Tarkarli, Koyna, Manor. Maharashtra also has several

pristine national parks and reserves, some of the best ones are Tadoba with

excellent accommodation and safari experiences besides little known by amazing

wildlife destinations like Koyna, Nagzira (very small with incredible sightings),

Melghat (disturbed with massive mining truck movement), Dajipur, Radhanagari

and of course the only national park within metropolic city limits in the world -

Sanjay Gandhi National Park. The Bibi Ka

Maqbara at Aurangabad the Mahalakshmi temple at Kolhapur, the cities

ofNashik, Trimbak famous for religious importance and the city ofPune the seat

of the Maratha Empire and the fantastic Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations togethercontribute for the Tourism sector of Mahrashtra.

Manipur

Loktak lake

Manipuras the name suggest is a land of jewels. Its rich culture excels in every

aspects as in martial arts, dance, theater and sculpture. The charm of the place


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is the greenery with the moderate climate making it a tourists' heaven. The

beautiful 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)

Churachandpur

Keibul Lamjao National Park

War cemeteries

Loktak Lake

Shree Govindajee Temple

MorehMeghalaya

Nohkalikai Falls

Meghalaya has some of the thickest surviving forests in the country and 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 and opportunity to encounter some rare animals

such as the slow loris, assorted deer and bear. The Umiam Lakehas a water

sports complex with facilities such as rowboats, paddleboats, sailing boats,

cruise-boats, water-scooters and speedboats.


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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 kilometer long road, connects Cherrapunjee

with Shillong.

The popular waterfalls in the state are the Elephant Falls, Shadthum Falls,

Weinia falls, Bishop Falls, Nohkalikai Falls, Langshiang Falls and Sweet Falls.

The hot springs at Jakrem near Mawsynram are believed to have curative and

medicinal properties.

Orissa

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

Orissa

Main article: Tourism in Kosal

has been a preferred destination from ancient days for people who have an

interest in spirituality, religion, culture, art and natural beauty. Ancient and

medieval architecture, pristine sea beaches, the classical and ethnic dance forms

and a variety of festivals. Orissa has kept the religion ofBuddhism alive. Rock-

edicts that have challenged time stand huge and over-powering by the banks of

the river Daya. The torch of Buddhism is still ablaze in the sublime triangle at

Udayagiri, Lalitagiri and Ratnagiri, on the banks of river Birupa. Preciousfragments 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 ofAshoka. Orissa is also famous for its well-

preserved Hindu Temples, especially the Konark Sun Temple and The Leaning

Temple of Huma.[16]


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

to the multicultural and multilingual character of the state. Their handicrafts,

different dance forms, jungle products and their unique life style blended with

their healing practices have got world wide attention. The Sitalsasthi Carnival is a

must see for everyone who wants to see a glimpse of the art and culture ofOdisha at one place.

Puducherry

Main article: Tourism in Puducherry

The Matrimandir, a golden metallic sphere in auroville, Puducherry

The Union Territory ofPuducherry comprises four coastal regions viz-

Puducherry, Karaikal, Mahe and Yanam. Puducherry is the Capital of this UnionTerritory and one of the most popular tourist destinations in South India.

Puducherry has been described by National Geographic as "a glowing highlight

of subcontinental sojourn". The city has many beautiful colonial buildings,

churches, temples, and statues, which, combined with the systematic town

planning and the well planned French style avenues, still preserve much of the

colonial ambience.

Punjab

Main article: Tourism in Punjab (India)


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Harimandir Sahib or "The Golden Temple"

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, Chandigarh, and Ludhiana. Punjab also has a rich religioushistory incorporating Sikhism and Hinduism. Tourism in Punjab is principally

suited for the tourists interested in culture, ancient civilization, spirituality and epic

history. Some of the villages in Punjab are also a must see for the person who

wants to see the true Punjab, with their beautiful traditional Indian homes, farms

and temples, this is a must see for any visitor that goes to Punjab. India-Pakistan

border at Wagha is also a popular tourist attraction.

Rajasthan

Umaid Bhawan Palace

Main article: Tourism in Rajasthan

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

tourist destinations in Northern India. The vast sand dunes of the Thar

Desert attract millions of tourists from around the globe every year.


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Attractions:

Jaipur- The capital of Rajasthan, famous for its rich history and royal

architecture and motidungari lord ganesha temple.

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

Udaipur- Known as the "Venice" of India.

Jaisalmer- Famous for its golden fortress.

Barmer- Barmer and surrounding areas offer perfect picture of typical

Rajasthani villages.

Bikaner- Famous for its medieval history as a trade route outpost.

Mount Abu - Is the highest peak in the Aravalli Range ofRajasthan.

Pushkar- It has the first and one of the very Brahma temples in the world. Keoladeo Bird Sanctuary - A UNESCO world heritage site

Nathdwara - This town near Udaipur hosts the famous temple ofShrinathji.

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

largest and most famous national parks in India.

Sikkim

Kangchenjunga is the third highestmountain in the world.

Originally known as Suk-Heem, which in the local language means "peacefulhome", 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 kilometers from New Jalpaiguri, the nearest railway station to

Sikkim. Although, an airport is under construction at Dekiling in East Sikkim, the

nearest airport to Sikkim would be Bagdogra.the important places to visit are;


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1.Baba Mandir 2.Nathula Pass 3.Rumtek Monastry 4.Handicraft Shops

5.Tsangpo Lake Sikkim is considered as the land of Orchids and mystic cultures

and colorful traditions. Sikkim is well known among trekkers and adventure

lovers, as West Sikkim has a lot to give them.

Places near Sikkim include Darjeeling also known as the Queen of hills

and Kalimpong. Darjeeling, other than its world famous "Darjeeling tea" is also

famous for its refined "Prep schools" founded during the British Raj. Kalimpong is

also famous for its flora cultivation and is home to many internationally known

Nurseries.

Tamil Nadu

Main article: Tourism in Tamil Nadu

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

through out its 41 km journey between Mettupalayam and Ooty (7500 FT above ground level).

Tamil Nadu is the top state in attracting the maximum number of foreign tourists

in India [1]. Tamil Nadu. Marina Beach, Carnatic music, Bharata Natyamdance

and country's largest Shopping locality [2].This city is also famous for Medical

tourism and houses Asia's largest hospital [3][4]. Archaeological sites with

civilisation dating back to 3800 years [5] are found in Tamil Nadu.

With more than 34000 temples [6] this state also holds the credit of havingmaximum number of UNESCO heritage sites (5) in India which includes Great

Living Chola Temples and Mahabalipuram.Country's largest

temple srirangam[7] and Pichavaram the world's Second largest Mangrove

forest are located in this state [8].


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Tamilnadu has some great temples like Madurai Meenakshi Amman Temple,

Thanjavur Brihadeeswarar Temple, Srirangam Ranganathaswamy Temple and

all the above mentioned temples has world class architecture that really

mesmerize everyone.

Kanyakumari is the southernmost tip of India provides sceneic view of sunset

and sunshine over the Indian ocean.Hill stations

like Yercaud, Kodaikanal, Ooty,Valparai, Yelagiri are widely visited. Velankanni

Church and Nagoor Dharga are visited by people of all religion.Water

Falls and Wildlife sanctuaries are located across the state.

Uttarakhand

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

Uttarakhand, the 27th state of the Republic of India, is called "the abode of the

Gods". It contains glaciers, snow-clad mountains, valley of flowers, skiing slopes

and dense forests, and many shrines and places of pilgrimage. Char-dhams, the

four most sacred and revered Hindu

temples: Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamunotri are nestled in the

Himalayas. Haridwarwhich means Gateway to Godis 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 afterKanchenjunga (28160 Ft). Dunagiri, Neelkanth, Chaukhamba,

Panchachuli, Trisul are other peaks above 23000 Ft. It is considered the abode

ofDevtas, Yakashyas, Kinners, Fairies and Sages.[citation needed] It boasts of some

old hill-stations developed during British era like Mussoorie,Almora and Nainital.


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Glaciers

Pindari Glacier, Milam Glacier, Gangotri

Glacier, Bunder Punch Glacier, Khatling

Glacier, Doonagiri Glacier,Dokrani

Glacier, Kaphini Glacier, Ralam Glacier

Wildlife Reserves

Corbett National Park, Rajaji National

Park, Asan Conservation Reserve, Nanda

Devi National Park, Govind Wildlife

Sanctuary, Askot Musk Deer

Sanctuary (Askot),Valley of Flowers

Skiing

at Muss

Uttar Pradesh

Main article: Tourism in Uttar Pradesh

Diwan-i-Khas Hall of Private Audience at Fatehpur Sikri

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

monuments and religious fervour. Geographically, Uttar Pradesh is very diverse,

with Himalayan foothills in the extreme north and the Gangetic Plain in the

centre. It is also home of India's most visited site, the Taj Mahal, and Hinduism's

holiest city, Varanasi. The most populous state of the Indian Union also has a

rich cultural heritage, and at the heart ofNorth India, Uttar Pradeshhas much to

offer. Places of interest

include Varanasi, Agra, Allahabad, Kanpur, Lucknow, Mathura, Jhansi, Prayag, S

arnath, Ayodhya, Dudhwa National Park and Fatehpur Sikri.

West Bengal


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Victoria Memorial in Kolkata

Kolkata, one of the many cities in the state ofWest Bengal has

been nicknamed the City of Palaces. This comes from the numerous palatialmansions built all over the city. Unlike many north Indian cities, whose

construction stresses minimalism, the layout of much of the architectural variety

in Kolkata owes its origins to European styles and tastes imported by the British

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, anouveau 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.

From historical point of view, the story of West Bengal begins

from Gourand Pandua situated close to the present district town ofMalda. 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 ofBishnupurinterracotta and lateritesandstone are

renowned world over. Towards the British colonial period came the architecture

ofMurshidabad and Coochbehar.


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tourism in india history 11

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