Tourism in India
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The tourism industry of India is economically important and grows rapidly. The World Travel & Tourism Councilcalculated that tourism generated INR6.4 trillion or 6.6% of the nation's GDP in 2012. It supported 39.5 million jobs, 7.7% of its total employment. The sector is predicted to grow at an average annual rate of 7.9% from 2013 to 2023.[1] This gives India the third rank among countries with the fastest growing tourism industries over the next decade.[2] India has a large medical tourism sector which is expected to grow at an estimated rate of 30% annually to reach about ₹ 95 billion by 2015.
According to provisional statistics 6.29 million foreign tourists arrived in India in 2011, an increase of 8.9% from 5.78 million in 2010. This ranks India as the 38th country in the world in terms of foreign tourist arrivals. Domestic tourist visits to all states and Union Territories numbered 1,036.35 million in 2012, an increase of 16.5% from 2011.[3] The most represented countries are the United States (16%) and the United Kingdom (12.6%). In 2011 Maharashtra, Tamil Naduand Delhi were the most popular states for foreign tourists. Domestic tourists visited the states Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu most frequently.[4] Chennai, Delhi, Mumbai and Agra have been the four most visited cities of India by foreign tourists during the year 2011. Worldwide, Chennai is ranked 41 by the number of foreign tourists, whileDelhi is ranked at 50, Mumbai at 57 and Agra at 65 and Kolkata at 99.[5]
The Travel & Tourism Competitiveness Report 2013 ranks India 65th out of 144 countries overall. The report ranks the price competitiveness of India's tourism sector 20th out of 144 countries. It mentions that India has quite good air transport (ranked 39th), particularly given the country’s stage of development, and reasonable ground transport infrastructure (ranked 42nd). Some other aspects of its tourism infrastructure remain somewhat underdeveloped however. The nation has very few hotel rooms per capita by international comparison and low ATM penetration.[6] TheWorld Tourism Organization reported that India's receipts from tourism during 2012 ranked 16th in the world, and 7th among Asian and Pacific countries.[7]
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 the representatives of the private sector. Concerted efforts are being made to promote new forms of tourism such as rural, cruise, medical and eco-tourism.[8] The Ministry also maintains theIncredible India campaign.
India's rich history and its cultural and geographical diversity make its international tourism appeal large and diverse. It presents heritage and cultural tourism along with medical, business, educational and sports tourism.
Contents
[hide]- 1 Tourism by state
- 1.1 Andhra Pradesh
- 1.2 Arunachal Pradesh
- 1.3 Assam
- 1.4 Bihar
- 1.5 Chhattisgarh
- 1.6 Delhi
- 1.7 Goa
- 1.8 Gujarat
- 1.9 Haryana
- 1.10 Himachal Pradesh
- 1.11 Jammu and Kashmir
- 1.12 Karnataka
- 1.13 Kerala
- 1.14 Madhya Pradesh
- 1.15 Maharashtra
- 1.16 Manipur
- 1.17 Meghalaya
- 1.18 Mizoram
- 1.19 Odisha
- 1.20 Pondicherry
- 1.21 Punjab
- 1.22 Rajasthan
- 1.23 Sikkim
- 1.24 Tamil Nadu
- 1.25 Telangana
- 1.26 Tripura
- 1.27 Uttarakhand
- 1.28 Uttar Pradesh
- 1.29 West Bengal
- 2 Top 10 States of India in Tourism
- 3 Historic monuments
- 4 Nature tourism
- 5 World Heritage Sites
- 6 See also
- 7 References
- 8 Further reading
- 9 See also
- 10 External links
Tourism by state[edit]
Andhra Pradesh[edit]
Main article: Tourism in Andhra Pradesh
The state of Andhra Pradesh comprises like scenic hills, forests, beaches and temples. 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 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 second richest and most visited religious centre (of any faith) in the world. Srisailam, the abode of Sri Mallikarjuna, is one of twelve Jyothirlingalu in India. Amaravathi'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.
- 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 theKrishna river during the festival of Dusshera.[9]
- Mallikarjuna Swamy temple situated at Srisailam in the Nallamala Hills of Kurnool district,[10] is the abode of lord Mallikarjuna 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 Vijayanagara Empire built number of monuments, including the Srisailam and Lepakshi temples.
- The five ancient Hindu temples of Lord Shiva, known as Pancharama Kshetras, are located at - Amararama,Draksharama, Somarama, Ksheerarama and Kumararama. Other religious places include, Srikalahasti temple in Chittoor district, Raghavendra Swami Mutt in Mantralayam of Kurnool district, Lord Venkateswara temple in Dwaraka Tirumala ofWest Godavari District, Annavaram temple in East Godavari and Arasavalli Surya temple in Srikakulam District etc., are also religious places for divine worships in the state.
Famous Buddhist centres:
Amaravathi –
Guntur District
·
Nagarjuna Konda – Guntur District
·
Bhattiprolu - Guntur District
·
Ghantasala – Krishna District
·
Sankaram - Visakhapatnam District
·
Bavikonda- Visakhapatnam District
·
Thotlakonda- Visakhapatnam District
·
Ramatheertham- Vizianagaram District
·
Salihundam- Srikakulam District
·
Lingapalem – West Godavari District
Others are Pavurallakonda, Chandavaram, Guntupalli,
Adurru, Kummarilova, Kotturu Dhanadibbalu, Karukonda, kapavaram, Nandalur
Pilgrim centres and
temples:
·
Sri
Venkateswara Swami Temple – The abode of Lord Venkateswara, is
the richest and most visited religious centre (of any faith) in the world
situated in Tirupathi City
·
Kanaka Durga Temple –
One of the Shakti Peetam's situated in Vijayawada City
·
Sri
Mallikaruna Temple – One of the Jyothirlingam's situated in
Srisilam Town
·
Sri Varaha Lakshmi Narashima Temple – Situated
at Simhachalam near to Vizag City
·
Sri Kalashastiswara Temple – Situated at
Srikalahasti Town
·
Sri Venkateswara Swami Temple – known as
china Tirupathi located at Dwaraka Tirumala Town
·
Sri Amaralingeswara Swami Temple – One of
the Pancharama's located at Amaravathi Town
·
Sri Someswara Swami Temple – One of the
Pancharama's located at Bhimavaram Town
·
Sri Kshira Rama Lingeswara Swami Temple –
One of the Pancharama's located at Palakol town
·
Sri Bhimeswara Swami Temple – One of the
Pancharama's located at Rama Chandra Puram Town
·
Sri Satyanarayana Swami Temple – Located
at Annavaram near Rajahmundry city
·
Arasavali
Temple - Sun God's temple located 3 km away from
Srikakulam almost on the shore of Bay of Bengal
·
Srikurmam - Temple of Lord Vishnu in
Kurma Avataram also near Srikakulam on the Shore of Bay of Bengal
·
Rama Lingeswara Swamy Temple- One of the Lord
Shiva's temple suituated in Yanamalakuduru village near Vijayawada, Shiva
Rathri is well celebrated in this Temple
Thousand's of oldest
temples are situated in Andhra pradesh.
Attractions:
·
Kilash
giri – Mountain View along with beach side situated in Vizag
City
·
Bhimili
Beach – Beautiful Beach near to Vizag City
·
Araku Valley – known as Andhra Ooty near
to Vizag City
·
Borra Caves – caves formed 1 million
years ago situated near to Vizag City; belongs to Odisha
·
Bhavani
Islands - A unique tourism spot to stay and visit near
Vijayawada
·
Thimmamma Marrimanu -
The World's Largest Banyan Tree, and "Marrimanu" was recorded as the
biggest tree in the Guinness Book of World Records in 1989. Its branches spreads
over nearly 5 acres. (2.1 ha.). Located about 35 km from Kadiri, and
100 km from Anantapur.
·
Lepakshi - this is the largest monolithic
Nandi (Bull) in the world, (length 27 feet, height 15 feet), It is
15 km (9.3 mi) east of Hindupur, and 105 km from Anantapur, and
about 120 km (75 mi) north of Bangalore.
·
Prakasam Barrage - A famous bridge which
was constructed by the British Government in the remembrance of Tanguturi
Prakasam, is the best tourist spot to visit in Vijayawada
·
Kolleru Lake - A famous lake situated
between Krishna and West Godavari District.
·
Pulicat Lake is located at the
border of Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, Pulicat Lake covers an area of
500 km2. It is a brackish water lagoon, the second largest in
India, and is situated along the coast of Bay of Bengal. The lake encompasses
the Pulicat Lake Bird
Sanctuary attracts many migratory birds and also is a feeding
and nesting ground for aquatic and terrestrial birds such as flamigoes,
pelicans etc.
·
The Borra Caves in the Anatagiri Hills of
the Eastern Ghats, near Vishakapatnam at an altitude of about 800
to 1300 metres are famous for million-year-old stalactite and stalagmite
formations. They were discovered by British geologist William King George in
1807. The caves got the name from a formation inside the caves that looks like
the human brain, which in Telugu language is known as burra.
·
The Belum Caves in Kurnool District have a length of 3,229
metres (10,594 ft), making them the second largest natural caves on the
Indian subcontinent. The Belum Caves derive their name from Bilum,
the Sanskrit word for caves. The caves have
long passages, spacious chambers, freshwater galleries, and siphons. The caves
deepest point is 120 feet (37 m) from the entrance and is known as Patalganaga.
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
attractions such as the INS Karasura Submarine museum, 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 November through to
January. The monsoon season commences in June and ends in September, so travel
would not be advisable during this period.Rajahmundry is the hub for great
Engineering and Architectural monuments such as Godavari Bridge (Asia's second
largest Road cum Railway Bridge), Papi Hills, Iskon Temple, Tantikonda, Sir
Arthur Cotton Museum, Pushkar Ghat, Gowthami Ghat. A unique festival called
Pushkaram will be celebrated along the Godavari river for every 12 years
and Rajahmundry attracts 4-5 crore people during the tenure of the
festival.
Snowfall in Tawang
Arunachal finds mention
in the literature of Kalika 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. Arunachal Pradesh, a serene land tucked into the North Eastern tip of
India, invites you to relax in its picturesque hills and valleys, enjoy its
salubrious climate and meet its simple and hospitable people, with their
glorious heritage of arts and crafts and colourful festivals that reflect their
ancient faith in the inexorable power of nature.
The visitor has a wide
variety of options to pick from. There are places of worship and pilgrimage
such as Parasuramkund and 400 years old Tawang Monastery, or the sites of
archaeological excavations like Malinithan and Itanagar, the serene beauty of lakes such as
Ganga lake or Sela lake or the numerous variations of scenic beauty of the
snowclad silver mountain peaks and lush 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 where rare animals, birds
and plants will fascinate the visitor.
Nature has provided the
people with a deep sense of beauty which finds delightful expression in their
songs, dances and crafts. 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
considered to be the "nature's treasure trove"and home to orchids,
known for their exquisitely beautiful blooms, from one of the dominant taxa with
more than six hundred species, occurring in varying elevations and climatic
conditions throughout the state.
Main
article: Tourism in Assam
An Indian Rhinoceros
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 the Seven Sister States.
Assam boasts of famous 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, famous 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 theMadan Kamdev tourist can visit very
ancient temple Gopeswar Mandir situated in a village Deuduar near to Guwahati.
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 famous 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 took many initiatives to promote tourism in Assam
Main
article: Tourism in 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 Aryabhata, Great Ashoka, Chanakya, Mahavira, Guru Gobind Singh, Chandragupta Maurya, Vātsyāyana, Sher Shah Suri and many other great
historical figures.
Attractions:
·
Patna – The capital of
Bihar, famous for its rich history and royal architecture
·
Gaya – Known for Bodh Gaya the place at which Gautama Buddha attained enlightenment
·
Muzaffarpur – Famous for its education
·
Kesariya – Location of the world's
largest Buddhist Stupa
·
Nalanda – Location of one of the world's
oldest university
·
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 –
One of the famous Sikh pilgrimage known for 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- One of the famous 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
Bihar is one of the most
sacred places of various religions such as Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism & Islam. Famous
Attraction includes Mahabodhi Temple,
aBuddhist shrine 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.
Main
article: Tourism in
Chhattisgarh
Chitrakot Waterfalls is the broadest
waterfall in India and also referred as 'Niagara Falls of India'
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.
Main attractions of
Chhattisgarh are Chitrakot Waterfalls,
Kutumsar Caves, Ramgarh and Sita Bengra, Bhoramdeo temple,Sirpur, Rajim, Ratanpur and Malhar.
Kakotal is also famous
for its beautiful waterfall.
Main
article: Tourism in Delhi
Delhi is
the capital state of India. A fine blend of old and new, ancient and modern,
Delhi is a melting pot of cultures and religions.[Main] Sir Derp Derpington
declared Delhi as contributing in fields of Architecture, landmarks, wide roads
etc.[Main] 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, and Safdarjung'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.
Palolem
Main
article: Tourism in Goa
Goa is
one of the most famous tourist destinations in
India. A former colony of Portugal, Goa is famous
for its excellent beaches, Portuguese churches, Hindu temples,
and wildlife sanctuaries. The Basilica of Bom Jesus, 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 colourful masks and floats, drums and reverberating music, and dance
performances.
Main
article: Tourism in Gujarat
The Palitana temple complexconsists of more than
863 temples located on the Shatrunjaya hills, exquisitely carved in
marble.
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.[11] Gujarat offers scenic beauty
from Great Rann of Kutch to
the hills of Satpura. Gujarat is the sole home of the pure Asiatic Lions and is considered to be one
of the most important protected areas in
Asia. 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,
Archeological & 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.
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:
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 complied 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
Panchkula- The beautiful place of Panchkula
offers the tourist with 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.
The Himalayan landscape of Himachal Pradesh
is ideal for outdoor activities such as skiing.
Himachal Pradesh is famous for its Himalayan landscapes and popular hill-stations. Many outdoor activities such as rock climbing, mountain biking, paragliding, ice-skating, and heli-skiing are popular tourist
attractions in Himachal Pradesh.[12]
Shimla, the state capital, is very popular among tourists.
The Kalka-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.
Main
article: Tourism in
Jammu and Kashmir
Jammu & Kashmir is known for its
scenic landscape
Gulmarg Gondola- The second highest cable car
in the world
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.
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.
Main
articles: Tourism in Karnataka and Times of India's list of seven Wonders of India
Karnataka has been ranked as fourth most
popular destination for tourism among states of India.[13] It has the highest number of
national protected monuments in India, at 507.
Kannada dynasties like Kadambas, Western Gangas, Chalukyas, Rashtrakutas, Hoysalas, Vijayanagaras and
theKingdom of Mysore ruled
from what is today Karnataka.[14][15] 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,Banavasi, 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, 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,
at Hampi and Pattadakal.Bellary one of the historical place, we
can see the forts which were built by the great Tipu Sultan for 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 forJog falls of Shimoga District is second highest
waterfalls in Asia. Karnataka has many beaches at Karwar, Gokarna,Murdeshwara, Surathkal. Karnataka is a rock climbers
paradise. Yana in Uttara
Kannada, Fort in Chitradurga, Ramnagara near Bengaluru district, Shivagange in Tumkur district and tekal in Kolar district
are a rock climbers heaven.[16] 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 inChikkamagaluru
District ; Biligiriranga Hills in Chamarajanagar
District and Kodagu district (also known as Coorg).[17]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 andMadhugiri.
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 inBankapura ; 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;[18] Adichunchanagiri Wildlife
Sanctuary;[19] Arabithittu Wildlife
Sanctuary ;[20]Biligiriranga Swamy
Temple Wildlife Sanctuary ; Bhadra Wildlife
Sanctuary; Brahmagiri
Wildlife Sanctuary ; Cauvery Wildlife
Sanctuary ; Melukote Temple Wildlife Sanctuary ;[21] 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 ; KaggaladuHeronry ; Kokkare Bellur ; Bankapura
Peacock Sanctuary and Bonal Bird Sanctuary
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 south-western India.
Nicknamed as one of the "10 paradises of the world" by National
Geographic,[22] 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 known for its tropical backwaters and pristine beaches such as Kovalam.
Munnar Hillscape
Popular attractions in
the state include the beaches at Kovalam, Kappad, Muzhuppilangad, Cherai and Varkala; the hill
stations of Munnar, Thekkady, 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 andEravikulam.
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 the Hill Palace, Mattancherry
Palace are also famous. Cities such as Kollam, Kochi, Thrissur, Kozhikode and Trivandrum 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.[23] 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.
The massive Bhedaghat
Falls
Main
article: Tourism in 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
erotic 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.
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 is known
for its natural beauty, and it is a 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.
Places of attraction are,
♦Khajuraho Temple
♦Kanha Kisli
♦Van Vihar
Mumbai is the most popular cosmopolitan city in India,
famous for its architecture, shopping, gastronomy, and Bollywood. Maharashtra accounts for largest
foreign tourists arrivals in India.[13]
Main
article: Tourism in
Maharashtra
See
also: Tourist
Attractions in Mumbai
Maharashtra is the most
visited state in India by foreign tourists,[13] with more than
5.1 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.
The sixth-century
paintings at theAjanta Caves in Aurangabad,
Maharashtra
Ajanta Caves, Ellora Caves and Chhatrapati
Shivaji Terminus are the three UNESCO World Heritage sites in
Maharashtra and are highly responsible for the development of Tourism in the state.
Mumbai is the most popular cosmopolitan city in India,
and a great place to experience modern India. Mumbai is 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 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
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 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 and the city of Pune the
seat of the Maratha Empire and
the fantastic Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations
together contribute for the Tourism sector of Maharashtra.
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 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)
·
War cemeteries
·
Moreh
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.
Main
article: Tourism in Mizoram
Mizoram is considered by
many as a beautiful place due to its dramatic landscape and pleasant climate.
The state is rich in bird diversity, which has the potential to make it a major Birdwatching destination.,[24] Mizoram is a stronghold for Mrs. Hume's Pheasant Syrmaticus
humiae.[25] There is also a rare record of
the Wild water buffalo from
the state.[26] There have been several past
records of sightings of the Sumatran rhinoceros from
Mizoram, and Lushai hills.[27] A small population of wild
elephants can be seen in Ngengpui and Dampa Sanctuaries.[28] 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.[29]
A
panorama of Aizawl taken from Zemabawk.
Konark Sun Temple built by theEastern Ganga dynasty is
a UNESCO World
Heritage Site.
Main
article: Tourism in Odisha
Odisha 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 dance Odissi and ethnic dance forms like Chhau, Ghumura and 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 PoetJayadeva, 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 extict
species in the world), Botanical Garden, 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 world wide 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 toRamayana and Mahabharata is in Gajapati district.
Cuttack Barabati Fort
Majestic Entrance
Rajarani Temple at
Bhubaneswar
Shrikhetra Puri Jagannath
Temple, abode of Lord of Universe
Sites/Cities/Places of
Interest :
1. Bhubaneswar - Lingaraj Temple, Rajarani Temple, Dhauligiri, Khandagiri and Udaygiri, Nandankanan
Zoological Park.
2. Cuttack - Barabati Fort, Katak Chandi Temple,
Lalitgiri-Ratnagiri-Udaygiri, Dhabaleswar Temple.
3. Puri - Jagannath Temple, Chilika Lake, Konark Temple and Beach.
5. Berhampur - Gopalpur-on-Sea, Taptapani, Taratarini.
7. Similipal Biosphere Reserve
8. Dhenkanal - Kapilas, Saptasajya
9. Balasore - Chandipur-on-sea, Chandbali, Chandaneswar,
Panchlingeswar, Aradi (Lord
Akhandalamani).
Main
article: Tourism in
Pondicherry
The Matrimandir, a golden
metallic sphere in Auroville, Pondicherry
The Union Territory of Puducherry comprises four coastal regions
viz. Pondicherry, Karaikal, Mahe and Yanam. Pondicherry is the Capital of this
Union Territory and one of the most popular tourist destinations in South India. Pondicherry 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
ambiance.
The Harmandir Sahib (also known as the
Golden Temple) is the gurdwara of worship of Sikhs.
Main
article: Tourism in 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, Chandigarh, jalandhar, Patiala, Nabha andLudhiana. Nabha is
known for the combines made here while Patiala is known for the historical
forts. Punjab also has a richSikh 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 beautiful 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.
Umaid Bhawan Palace,
Rajasthan
Chandramahal in City Palace, Jaipur,
Rajasthan, built by Kachwaha Rajputs.
Main
article: Tourism in 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.
Attractions:
·
Jaipur – The capital of Rajasthan, famous for its rich
history and royal architecture
·
Jodhpur – Fortress-city at the edge of
the Thar Desert, famous for its blue homes and
architecture
·
Jaisalmer – Famous for its golden
fortress (one of the largest living fort), its magnificent palaces (Havelis),
lake, fossil park, desert sand dune safaris-camps, desert national parks, Jain
temples. The city is known as Golden city.
·
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 a popular hill station,
the highest peak in the Aravalli Range of Rajasthan, Guru Shikhar is located here
·
Pushkar – It has the first and one of the
very Brahma temples in the world
·
Nathdwara – This town near Udaipur hosts
the famous temple of Shrinathji
·
Sawai Madhopur – Famous for Ranthambore
National Park and historic Ranthambore Fort
·
Shekhawati - For traditional Havelis
·
Dhosi Hill - Vedic period Hill, Chyvan
Rishi Ashram
Kangchenjunga is the third highest
mountain in the world.
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. The popular sightseeing
places include Baba Mandir, Nathula Pass, Rumtek Monastery, Handicraft Shops,
Tsangpo Lake, Chardham, Buddha Park, Ridgepark, Flowershows (Internation
Flowershows) Samduptse, Tashi View point Tashiding, Pelling, Yuksom, Rabdentse,
Tibrtology, Ropeway. Mt.Kangchenjunga which
is famous for its scenic beauty. Sikkim is considered as the land of orchids,
mystic cultures and colourful traditions. Sikkim is well known among trekkers
and adventure lovers.
Main
article: Tourism in Tamil Nadu
The Nilgiri Mountain
Railway, aUNESCO World
Heritage Site provides a scenic view of hills throughout its
41 km journey between Mettupalayam and Ooty (7500 FT above ground
level).
Ooty hill
station
Archaeological sites with
civilisation dating back to 3800 years[30] are found in Tamil Nadu. The
state also holds the credit of having maximum number of UNESCO World
Heritage Sites (5) in India which includes Great Living
Chola Temples andMahabalipuram. The Big temple at thanjavur was
a classical example chola art and architecture.
With more than 34000
temples,[31] Tamil Nadu has some great
temples like Madurai
Meenakshi Amman Temple, Brihadeeswarar Temple, Sri
Ranganathaswamy Templeand Srilakshmi Golden Temple.[32]
The state also has
various bird sanctuaries including 13 established bird sanctuary among others
maintained by the state government. The state also has squirrel sanctuary,
protected areas for tiger, elephant, deer etc. Arignar Anna Zoological park is
the first public zoo in India which attracts millions of tourists worldwide.
This state is also known
for Medical tourism and houses some of Asia's largest hospitals. Super
speciality hosptials gives treatments to millions of people worldwide.[33][34]
Kanyakumari is the southernmost tip of
India provides scenic view of sunset and sunshine over the Indian ocean. Mathur
Totti Palam one of the biggest aqueducts, both in height and length, in Asia.
Thiruvalluvar statue of the St Tamil poet, tallest statue of Asia[citation needed] and
ancient wooden palace of Marthandavarma (known as Padmanabapuram palace), Hill
stations like Yercaud, Kodaikanal, Ooty, Valparai, Yelagiri are widely visited. Water Falls like Hogenakkal Falls and Wildlife sanctuaries are
located across the state. Pichavaram the
world's second largest mangrove forest is located in the state.[35] The Nilgiri Mountain
Railway is a railway in Tamil Nadu, India,
built by the British in 1908,[36] and was initially operated by
the Madras Railway.
The railway still relies on its fleet of steam locomotives.[37] NMR comes under the
jurisdiction of the newly formed Salem Division. In July 2005, UNESCO added the Nilgiri Mountain Railway as an
extension to the World Heritage Site of Darjeeling
Himalayan Railway, the site then became known as "Mountain
Railways of India."[38] After it satisfied the
necessary criteria, thus forcing abandonment of the modernisation plans. For
the past several years diesel locomotives have taken over from steam on the
section between Coonoor andUdhagamandalam. Local people and tourists have
led a demand for steam locos to once again haul this section.[37]
·
Birla Mandir, on the Naubath Pahad is a Hindu
temple of Lord Venkateshwara, built entirely of white marble located in
Hyderabad
·
The Ramappa Temple and Thousand Pillar
Temple in Warangal are famous
tourist spots and depict the finest taste of Kakatiya dynasty for arts & culture
and temple carvings. Warangal is also
home to Medaram – the Asia's largest tribal
fair/festival called "Sammakka
Saralamma Jatara".
·
Gnana
Saraswati Temple, Basar is one of the famous Saraswati Temples in India
·
Sri Rajarajeshwara Temple - One of the famous and most
visited Lord Shiva temple located in Vemulawada
·
Vemulavada temple is built by Chalukya
Kings between AD 750 and 975. Yadagirigutta, the abode of an avatara of Vishnu,
Sri Lakshmi Narasimha.
Famous Buddhist centres:
·
Nelakondapalli – Khammam District
·
Dhulikatta – Karimnagar District
·
Phanigiri - Nalgonda District
Pilgrim centres and
temples:
·
Bhadrakali Temple - In the city of
Warangal
·
Ramappa Temple – Near to Warangal City
Attractions:
·
Charminar – Centre of the Hyderabad Old
City
·
Golkonda Fort – Largest and
400 years oldest fort
·
Ramoji Film City – Largest Film City in
the world situated in Hyderabad City
·
Warangal Fort - Oldest fort built by
Kakatiya before 13th century reflects the culture of Telugu people
·
Thousand Pillar
Temple - Built by King Rudra Deva in 1163 AD. The Thousand
Pillar Temple is a specimen of the Kakatiyan style of architecture of the 12th
century.
·
Surendrapuri – A unique Mythological
Awareness Centre near Yadagirigutta, 60 km from Hyderabad
Golkonda (Telugu: గోల్కొండ, Urdu: گولکوندا), a
ruined city of south-central India and capital of the medieval kingdom of
Golkonda (c. 1364 – 1512), is situated 11 km west of Hyderabad.
The most important
builder of Golkonda was a Kakatiya King. Ibrahim was following in the spirit of
his ancestors, the Qutub Shahi kings, a great family of builders who had ruled
the kingdom of Golkonda from 1512. Their first capital, the fortress citadel of
Golkonda, was rebuilt for defence from invading Mughals from the north. They
laid out Golkonda's splendid monuments, now in ruins, and designed a perfect
acoustical system by which a hand clap sounded at the fort's main gates, the
grand portico, was heard at the top of the citadel, situated on a 300-foot
(91 m)-high granite hill. This is one of the fascinating features of the
fort.
The small and beautiful
state of Tripura is tucked away on the Northeast India's boundary. To its north,
south and southeast, Tripura has an international boundary with Bangladesh while coming to its east it
shares a common boundary with its neighbouring states of Assam & Mizoram. This Panoramic tiny State is
inhabited by 19 ethenic tribes, Bengali, Tripuri Manipuri etc. community. Though the 3rd
smallest state of India but its unique. Its blessed with scenic beauty, ancient
places, temples, breathing taking verdants hills and bio-diversity treasure
trove of wildlife santuries. The state has a historical past and one can find
it across time from the Rajmalachronicles of kings
of Tripura. The state had 185 royal rulers. There is a reference to he rulers
of Bengali helping the Tripura kings in the 14th century as the kings of this
state had to face frequent Mughal invasion with varying success.[39] The belief through once upon a
time was that Tripura's boundary was once extended up to Bay of Bengal that was when rulers spread
powers from the Garo Hillsto Arakhan.
With that it's said that Tripura's name has been coined from two Tripuri words:Tui meaning
water and Pra means near. But different people has there way
of thinking, some also believed that the name Tripura derived from presiding
deity Tripurasundari. The deity is famous as one of the 51 Peethas important to
Hindu Pilgrimage.
HERITAGE AND
ARCHAEOLOGICAL TOURISM
·
Ujjayanta Palace - The gleaming
white Ujjayanta Palace located in the capital city of Agartala evokes the age of Tripura
Maharajas. It is a unique experience to witness living history and royal
splendour within the boundaries of the Palace. Constructed by the king of
Tripura Maharja Radha Kishor Manikya during the late 19th century and finished
off in 1901. The Indo-Saracenic building is set up in large Mughal-style garden
with two man-made lakes on its both sides. The palace is of two-storied mansion
and has three domes, each 86 feet high, stunning tile floor, curved wooden
ceiling and wonderful crafted door. Floodlights and light and sound fountain
has been set up in the palace.
·
Unakoti - means one less
than a crore. Located about 186 km from Agartala, Unokoti is
an important site of archaeological wonder. It is a Shaiva pilgrimage
attraction and dates back to 7th-9th century A.D. The site consists of several
huge vertical rocks-cut carvings on a hillside. The site shows strong evidence
ofBuddhist occupation but also has a
central Shiva head and imposing Ganesha figures having a height of 30 feet. The rocky
walls also have a carved images of Hindu pantheon like Durga and Vishnu. The unakoti rock-cut carving have the distinction
of being the largest bas-relief sculpture in India.
·
Bhubaneshwari Temple - Another temple of
eminence of Tripura is this temple. located 55 km from Agartala on the eastern fringe of Udaipur town by the bank of bank of river Gomati. The temple is now under the control of
the Archaeological
Survey of India. It was built by Maharaja Govinda Manikya (1660–1676).
The temple is immortalised in Rabindranath Tagore's
famous play known as Bisarjan and Rajarshi. Maharaja Govinda also features an
important character in Tagore's play. While approaching Bhubaneshwari Temple
one can find the ruins of the palace of the Maharaja. Down below the temple the
river Gomati flows.
·
Gunabati Group of Temples - From its name it
reveals that it was built in the name of her Highness Maharani Gunabati (wife
of Maharaja Govinda Manikya), in 1668 A.D. The two other tempel also bears
contemporary look but there actual history is still unveiled. Architecture of
these temples resembles other contemporary temples of Tripura except the top
most parts are without Stupa. Core-Chambers are marked by a presence of pitcher
circular core chamber and its vestibule which was large with Stupa like crown
is beautifully crafted like lotus[40]
·
Chabimura - A famous panel of
rock carving on the steep mountain walls on the banks of Gomati. There are huge images carved of Shiva, Vishnu, Kartika,Mahisasurmardini Durga
and other Gods and goddesses. These images date back to 15th - 16th century
A.D. Chabimura is 30 km away from Udaipur. It is situated in Amarpur
subdivision. Devatamura means God's peak and it a full range between Udaipur
and Amarpur Subdivision. Its famous for a lot of idols of gods and goddess.
These beautiful images are carved with a lot of dexterity on the rocky faces of
Devtamura which is steep at 90-degree. The hill ranges are covered with thick
jungles and one cab reach this adobe of gods only after trekking through these
jungles.
·
Boxanagar - Recently after
denudation of a nature forest area, ruins of a brick built building emerged in
the northwestern part of Sonamura Sub-Division
on the edge of the border with Bangalasesh. The local people initially
attribute the remains to the ancient temple of Manasa- the goddess of Snake. Attention was drawn to the
Archaeological Survey of India and they took over the site. There an idol of Lord Buddha was discovered and it was
confirmed that once upon a time it was a Buddhist Temple i.e. a Monastery. More than excavation of the site
will unearth the hidden story.[41]
·
Pilak - a famous place of
attraction for its archaeological remains of 8th-9th centuries. Pilak is
situated at a distance of 144 km from Agartala. The place is a
treasure house of Buddhist and
Sculpture in the Hindu Sculptures.
There runs a hilly rivulet near the place which is known as Pilak stream. Its
an attractive with scenic beauty. Few temples with plaques of terracotta and
stone images can be found here. Huge sculptures made of stones of Avalokiteśvara in the 9th century[42] A.D. and Narasimha image of the 12th century A.D.
were found here. Both of there are now preserved in the Museum of Agartala. Even now one can find many
sculptures of Goddess in Pilak as Lord Durga,
Lord Ganesha, Lord Suriya, etc.[43] There is image of a God
holding a lotus which is of 10 feet high. There are terracotta images of
Kinnars. Two bronze statue of Buddhas were discovered in Rishyamukh near Pilak.
All these lead to establish that the place was once under the rule of Buddhist kings
followed by Hindu rulein subsequent years. Pilak, the treasure-trove of
archaeological riches has close association with Mynamoti and Paharpur[disambiguation needed] in
Bangladesh. It is believed that the area has more hidden treasures and as such
recently further excavation drive has been taken up by Archaeological
Survey of India. Tourist may find it delighted to explore the
history of this lovely destination.
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. Char-dhams, the four most sacred and revered Hindu
temples: Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamunotriare nestled in the Himalayas. 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.[44] It has some old hill-stations
developed during British era like Mussoorie, Almora, Dwarahat, Ranikhet and Nainital.
Main
article: Tourism in Uttar Pradesh
Situated in the northern
part of India, border with the capital of India New Delhi, Uttar Pradesh is the
most popular tourist destination in India. Uttar Pradesh is important with its
wealth of historical 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 visitedTaj 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 dances, originated from Uttar Pradesh. Uttar Pradesh is at
the heart of India, so popular with another name The
Heartland of India. Cuisine of Uttar
Pradesh like Awadhi cuisine, Mughlai cuisine, Kumauni cuisine are very famous in entire
India and abroad.
Uttar Pradesh has much to offer.
Places of interest in include:
·
Varanasi-The origin of Hinduism and world's
one of the oldest cities. Also known as City of temples it is Most popular holy
place of lord Shiva devotees. Some of the finest
Textiles are produced here.
A
view of the Ghat of Varanasi from the River Ganges.
·
Allahabad or Prayag -Kumbh Mela-The place where Indian national
river Ganges and Yamuna and Saraswati rivers meet. A mass Hindu
pilgrimage in whichHindus gather at the Ganges river. Akbar forts.
One of the most popular religious centres of ancient and modern India for
Hinduism. Uttar Pradesh's
administrative and education capital.
·
Bithoor-This is the historical capital of Uttar Pradesh from where the Hindu god
Brahma created the universe. It is situated about 10 km from Kanpur.
Main Ghat of Bithoor
·
Kanpur – Uttar Pradesh's important Industrial town and
largest city of the state. It is the most cosmopolitan city of the state. Has
several historical places like-Bithoor and Allen Forest Zoo. It is the second largest
metropolitan city of North India with various Historical and British Architectural
buildings. The Kanpur
Memoria Church or All Souls Memorial Churchof Gothic architecture was built
by Walter
Granville on memory of those who died in Siege of Cawnpore.
·
Lucknow-The capital of Uttar Pradesh. Most planned city of Uttar
Pradesh. It has Several historical places Mughal, British and modern architecture. The
cuisine and chikan dresses of Lucknow is famous worldwide.
·
Jhansi-Historical place. City was centr of Rani Lakshmibai's battlefield against British
·
Sarnath-Gautama Buddha first taught the Dharma, the Buddha as one of the four places of pilgrimage
which his devout followers should visit. The birthplace of Shreyansanath, the eleventh Jain Tirthankar of
the Jainism.
·
Kushinagar- It is an important Buddhist
pilgrimage site, where Gautama Buddha is believed to have
attained Parinirvanaafter his
death
·
Chunar-It's the centre of clay art. Chunar has a
6th-century fort constructed by Chandragupta
Vikramaditya. The fort itself had through rulers like Humayun, Sher Shah Suri and was gateway of Mauryan
empire. It has beautiful waterfalls and natural spots.
·
Fatehpur Sikri-Historical place for Mughal
Empire's palaces and forts
·
Meerut-The historical place of the Sepoy Mutiny of 1857 or
the First War
of Indian Independence. Indian Historical place from Mahabharata period of ancient India to
Modern India's one of the fastest growing city of Uttar Pradesh.
·
Mirzapur Division-The hub of world's finest
carpet Industries, and very popular tourist destination for its natural
beauties and one of the fastest growing region ofUttar Pradesh. It consists of vindhyachal
shaktipeeth.
·
Ghaziabad: Historical places from ancient
India to modern India and India's fastest growing Industrial city. See Buddh
International Circuit
·
Noida and Greater Noida: IT, electronics and education hub of Northern India. India's
biggest city with a planned and high-tech residential area.
·
Gorakhpur: The city was home to Buddhist, Hindu, Muslim, Jain and Sikh saints.
The birthplace of Paramhansa Yogananda,
great Hindu emperor Chandragupta Maurya.
·
Jaunpur:Historical
city was founded by the Sultan of Delhi Feroz Shah Tughlaq and
named in memory of his father, Muhammad bin Tughluq as Jaunpur Sultanate. Mughals, Lodis and
Islamic ruler's Forts and ancient history of India.
·
Dudhwa National Park –
Dudhwa Tiger Reserve, Birds Sanctuary, Frog Temple at Oyal, Surat Bhawan
Palace, Elephant Rides
·
Rehar:Several major tourist
attractions can be mentioned in the town’s surroundings, like Jim Corbett
National Park about 24 km, Nainital about 69 km
Uttar Pradesh is the historical heart
land of India. Where each part of the state is attached with ancient history,
civilisation, religions and culture.
|
Must Sees of Kanpur
Central Museum · Jajmau · Moti Jheel · IIT Kanpur · Phool Bagh · Bithoor · Kanpur Memorial Church · Green Park Stadium · Allen Forest Zoo · Nanarao Park · ISKON Temple · Gora Cemetery · Kanpur University · Kanpur Zoo · Christ Church · J K Temple · Glass Temple · Z Square Mall · Bhitargaon Temple · Gandhi Hall · Civil Lines Central Church · Kanpur Central · Ganga Barrage · Massacre Ghat. |
Main
articles: Tourism in West
Bengal and Tourist
attractions in West Bengal
See
also: Places of
interest in Kolkata
The famous Durga idol
from the Durga Puja at Bagbazar, which was
started in the year 1918
Kolkata (formerly Calcutta), is the
capital of West Bengal has
been nicknamed the Cultural Capital of India, 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. The city has lost much of its glory now but has never
lost its effervescence. 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 Hinduarchitecture
of Bishnupurin terracotta
and laterite sandstone are renowned world over. Towards the British colonial periodcame the architecture
of Murshidabad and Coochbehar. Darjeeling is a famous Himalayan city in
the state of West Bengal.Darjeeling tea is
world famous because of its attractive smell. Other than Darjeeling there are
notable hill stations likeKalimpong, Lava, Lolegaon, Rishop,
etc. There are some wonderful trek routes also, like Sandakfu, Falut etc.
Beside hill stations West Bengal has some beautiful sea beaches also, like Digha, Shankarpur, Mandarmoni, Bakkhali etc. West Bengal is home to six
national parks[45] — 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 The Royal Bengal
Tiger, although the forest hosts many other endangered species, such
as the Gangetic dolphin,
river terrapin and estuarine crocodile.
|
Notable sites of West Bengal
Cooch Behar · Darjeeling · Jalpaiguri · Kalimpong · Kurseong · Dooars · Digha ·Bishnupur · Malda · Mayapur · Mukutmanipur · Ajodhya Hills · Murshidabad · Siliguri. |
Places of Worship
Dakshineswar Kali Temple · Kalighat Temple · Birla Mandir · Belur Math · Tipu Sultan Mosque · Nakhoda Masjid · St. Paul's Cathedral · St. John's Church · Parsi Fire Temples ·Japanese Buddhist Temple · Calcutta Jain Temple · Tarakeswar · Tarapith · Furfura Sharif |
|
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·
The Taj Mahal is one of India's
best-known sites and one of the best architectural achievements in India,
located in Agra, Uttar Pradesh. It was built between 1631
and 1653 by Emperor Shah Jahan in
honour of his wife, Arjumand Banu, more popularly known as Mumtaz Mahal. The Taj Mahal serves as her
tomb.
·
Fatehpur Sikri It was the first
planned city of the Mughals and also the first one designed in Mughal
architecture, an amalgamation of Indian architecture, Persian and Islamic
architecture and was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1986
·
The Mahabodhi Temple is a 2000-year-old
temple dedicated to Gautam Buddha in Bodh Gaya, Bihar. It is a UNESCO World
Heritage Site.
·
The Nalanda is located in the
Indian State of Bihar, was a Buddhist centre of learning from 427 C.E
to 1197 C.E partly under the Pala Empire.[46][47] It has been called "one
of the first great universities in recorded history."[47]
According to historical
studies the University of Nalanda was established 450 C.E under the patronage
of the Gupta emperors, notably Kumaragupta.[46]
The Victoria Memorial in Kolkata is built in memory of Queen Victoria by the British.
·
The Brihadishwara Temple in Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu built by the Cholas. The temple is one of India's most prized
architectural sites.
·
The Shore Temple, along with the
collection of other monuments in Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu have been declared
as UNESCO World
Heritage Sites
·
The Harmandir Sahib is one of the most
respected gurudwara in India and the most sacred place for Sikhs. The gurudwara
is located in Amritsar, Punjab, India.
·
The Bahá'í temple in Delhi,
was completed in 1986 and serves as the Mother Temple of the Indian
Subcontinent. It has won numerous architectural awards and been featured in
hundreds of newspaper and magazine articles. (It is also known as the Lotus Temple.)
The Chhatrapati
Shivaji Terminus (formerly Victoria Terminus) in Mumbai
is a train station built in Gothic architecture in honour of Golden
Jubilee of Queen Victoria.
India has geographical
diversity, which resulted in varieties of nature tourism.
·
Water falls in Western Ghats & Himalayas including Jog falls (highest in India)
·
Lakes
·
Deserts
India has the largest
wild population of tigers in the world.
The wild population of
the endangered Asiatic lions is
restricted to the Gir Forest
National Park in western India.
Main
article: Fauna of India
India is home to several
well-known large mammals including the Asian Elephant, Bengal Tiger, Asiatic Lion, Leopard andIndian Rhinoceros, often engrained culturally
and religiously often being associated with deities. Some other well-known
large Indian mammals are ungulates such as the domestic Asian
Water buffalo, wild Asian Water
buffalo, Nilgai, Gaur and
several species of deer and antelope. Some members of the dog family such as
the Indian Wolf, Bengal Fox, Golden Jackal and theDhole or
Wild Dogs are also widely distributed. It is also home to the Striped Hyaena, Macaques, Langurs and Mongoosespecies.
India also
has a large variety of protected wildlife. The country's protected forest
consists of 75 National parks of
India and 421 sanctuaries, of which 19 fall under the purview
of Project Tiger. Its
climatic and geographic diversity makes it the home of over 350 mammals and
1200 bird species, many of which are unique to the subcontinent.
Some well known national
wildlife sanctuaries include Bharatpur, Raiganj, Corbett, Kanha, Kaziranga, Periyar, Ranthambore,Manas and Sariska.
The world's largest
mangrove forest Sundarbans is
located in southern West Bengal. The Kaziranga National
Park, Manas National Park, Sundarbans and Keoladeo National
Park are UNESCO World Heritage
Site.
A summer view of Khajjiar, a hill station in Himachal Pradesh.
One of the finest
hill-stations inIndia.
Main
article: List of Indian
hill stations
Several hill stations
served as summer capitals of Indian provinces, princely states, or, in the case of Shimla, of British Indiaitself. Since Indian
Independence, the role of these hill stations as summer capitals has largely
ended, but many hill stations remain popular summer resorts. Most famous hill
stations are:
·
Mount Abu, Rajasthan
·
Pachmarhi, Madhya Pradesh
·
Shillong in Meghalaya
·
Darjeeling in
West Bengal
·
Nainital in Uttarakhand
·
Gangtok in Sikkim
·
Mussoorie in Uttarakhand
·
Manali in
Himachal Pradesh
·
Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh
·
Mahabaleshwar in Maharashtra
·
Haflong in Assam
·
Araku, Andhra Pradesh
·
Munnar in Kerala
·
Ooty, Yercaud and Kodaikanal in Tamil Nadu
·
Jampui Hills in Tripura
·
Khajiyar in Himachal Pradesh
·
Coorg in Karnataka
In addition to the
bustling hill stations and summer capitals of yore, there are several serene
and peaceful nature retreats and places of interest to visit for a nature
lover. These range from the stunning moonscapes of Leh and Ladhak, to small, exclusive nature retreats such as Dunagiri, Binsar, Mukteshwar in the Himalayas, to rolling
vistas of Western Ghats to numerous private retreats in the rolling hills of
Kerala.
View of Lake Tsongmo, Sikkim
Main
article: List of lakes in
India
·
Dal Lake
·
Bhojtal
Main
article: List of beaches in
India
Elephants and camel rides
are common on Indian beaches. Shown here is Havelock Island, part of theAndaman and
Nicobar Islands.
India offers a wide range
of tropical beaches with silver/golden sand to coral beaches of Lakshadweep. States like Kerala and Goa have
exploited the potential of beaches to the fullest. However, there are a lot
many unexploited beaches in the states of Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharastra, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. These states have very high
potential to develop them as future destinations for prospective tourists. Some
of the famous tourist beaches are:
·
Beaches of Vizag,
Andhra Pradesh
·
Beaches of Digha,
West Bengal
·
Beaches of Goa
·
Kovalam Beach, Kerala
·
City Beach, Pondicherry
·
Beaches of Mahabalipuram
·
Beaches in Mumbai
·
Beaches of Diu
·
Beaches of Midnapore, West Bengal
·
Beaches of Andaman and
Nicobar Islands
·
Beaches of Lakshadweep Islands
Skiing in Manali, Himachal
Pradesh
Due to its diverse
geography and a myriad of cultures, coupled with the popularity of adventure
sports adventure tourism in India has become quite popular. Backpacking, or
light travel, is a popular way to explore India. Many of those who have
previously visit will describe the visit as not having been a holiday but an
adventure.[48]
·
Rock climbing in Madhya Pradesh
·
Boat racing in Bhopal
·
Paragliding in Maharashtra
Main
article: List
of World Heritage Sites in India
Location of World Heritage Sites within India (
·
v
·
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·
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)
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