Post on 08-Apr-2018
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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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