Tourism by state and

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

2. Andhra Pradesh
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
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 spread 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 (a
bull, the mount of Shiva) 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 Visakhapatnam 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 onemillion-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.

3. Arunachal Pradesh
Tourism in North East India

Tawang Monastery in Arunachal Pradesh

Sela Pass in Arunachal Pradesh
Arunachal Pradesh 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 the Parasuramkund and the 400-year-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 snow clad 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.

4. Assam
An Indian rhinoceros grazing at the Kaziranga
National Park a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
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, DibruSaikhowa 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 the Madan Kamdev tourist
can visit very ancient temple Gopeswar Mandir
situated in a village Deuduar near to Guwahati.

Basudev Than is a more than 300 years old Satra

in Assam.
Assam has a rich cultural heritage going back to
the Ahom Kingdom, which governed the region for
many centuries before the British occupation.
Other notable features include the Brahmaputra
River, the mystery of the bird suicides in Jatinga,
numerous temples including Kamakhya Temple of
Tantric sect. 'Gurdwara Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur also
known as Damdama Sahib at Dhubri' This 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

5. Bihar
Mahabodhi Temple is a UNESCO World Heritage
Site.

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, Vatsyayana, Sher Shah Suri and many
other great historical figures.
On an average, 20 million domestic tourists and 1
million foreign tourists visits Bihar annually.[31]
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
Statue of Lord Vasupujya, Champapur
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
Champapuri- It is the one of the most sacred places
of Jainism. Lord Vasupujya, the 12th Jain
Tirthankara was born in Champapuri and it is the
place where all the five kalyanaks of Lord
Vasupujya took place. Location of 31 feet

monolitihic statue, the tallest statue of Lord

Vasupujya.

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

7. Chhattisgarh
Chitrakot Waterfalls is the broadest waterfall in
India and also referred as 'Niagara Falls of India'
are located in Chhattisgarh
Chhattisgarh is a new state but with an ancient
civilization , 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.

8. Delhi
Delhi is the capital union territory of India. A fine blend of old and new, ancient and
modern, Delhi is a melting pot of cultures and religions.Old Delhi has been the
capital of numerous empires that ruled India, making it rich in history. New Delhi, on
the other hand, is a modern city designed by Edwin Lutyens and Herbert Baker. The
different rulers left behind their trademark architectural styles. Delhi currently has
many renowned historic monuments and landmarks such as the Tughlaqabad fort,
Qutub Minar, Purana Quila, Lodhi Gardens, Jama Masjid, Humayun's tomb, Red Fort,
and Safdarjung's Tomb. Modern monuments include Jantar Mantar, India Gate,
Rashtrapati Bhavan, Laxminarayan Temple, Lotus temple 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.

a) Qutub Minar in Delhi

b)
c)
d)
e)
f)

Red Fort
India Gate
Akshardham Temple
Rashtrapati Bhavan
Lotus Temple

9. Goa
Goa is one of the most famous tourist destinations
in India. A former colony of Portugal, Goa is famous
for its excellent beaches, 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
colorful masks and floats, drums and reverberating
music, and dance performances.

10. Gujarat

The Palitana temple complex consists 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.[32] Gujarat offers scenic
beauty from Great Rann of Kutch to the hills of
Saputara. Gujarat is the sole home of the pure
Asiatic lions and is considered to be one of the
most important protected areas in Asia. Ancient
Dholavira, archaeological site in Kutch District and
Lothal,[33] archaeological site in Ahmedabad
district contains ruins of ancient Indus Valley
Civilization city, ruins of Dholavira is one of the
largest Harappan archaeological sites.
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.

a)
Kirti Mandir, Porbandar, birthplace of
Mahatma Gandhi
b)
Dwarkadhish Temple in Dwarka
c)Somnath Temple in Gujarat
d)
Laxmi Vilas Palace in Vadodara
e)
Dholavira, archaeological site contains
ruins of an ancient Indus Valley Civilization city
f) Asiatic lions are found only in Gir Forest
National Park

11. Haryana
The pilgrim places of Haryana are thronged by
devotees all over the year, who visit the important
religious places to seek divine blessings and
eternal happiness.

The state of Haryana has a long historical and

cultural tradition which is manifested in the
numerous religious places which fills the tourist
with an intense sense of satisfaction. Some of the
notable "Pilgrim Destinations" of Haryana are:

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
Khatushyam The holy place from the time of
Mahabharata.
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.

12. Himachal Pradesh

Himachal Pradesh is famous for its Himalayan

landscapes and popular hill-stations. Many outdoor
activities such as rock climbing, mountain biking,
paragliding, ice-skating, and heli-skiing are popular
tourist attractions in Himachal Pradesh.[35]
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.
The Ridge in is a large road in Shimla which is
centre for most of cultural activities of Shimla.

KalkaShimla Railway is a mounatain railway in

Himachal Pradesh.

The Ridge, Shimla

Skiing in Manali

Rohtang Pass in Himachal Pradesh

13. Jammu and Kashmir

Jammu & Kashmir is known for its scenic landscape
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.

Tso Moriri Lake, Ladakh

Gulmarg Gondola- The second highest cable car in

the world

14.Jharkhand
Jharkhand is the eastern state of India formed in
2000. It is known for its forest cover and mine

reserves. One of the biggest tourist attraction in

Jharkhand is Vaidyanath jyotirlinga situated in
Deoghar district.
Shikarji temple at pararnath (Giridih) is known for
its serene beauty.
Denesly covered in forest, the state has many
wildlife sanctuaries including Topchanchi wildlife
sanctuary and Palamu wildlife sanctuary.

15. Karnataka
Karnataka has been ranked as fourth most popular
destination for tourism among states of India.[38]
It has the highest number of national protected
monuments in India, at 507.
Kannada dynasties like Kadambas, Western
Gangas, Chalukyas, Rashtrakutas, Hoysalas,
Vijayanagaras and the Kingdom of Mysore ruled
from what is today Karnataka.[39][40] 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, Raichur and other part of
the state. Gol Gumbaz at Bijapur, has the second
largest pre-modern dome in the world after the
Byzantine Hagia Sophia. Karnataka has two World
heritage sites, at Hampi and Pattadakal.Bellary one
of the historical place, we can see the forts which
were built by the great Tipu 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 for Jog falls of Shimoga District is second
highest waterfalls in Asia. Karnataka has many
beaches at Malpe, Kaup, Marvanthe, Karwar,
Gokarna, Murdeshwara, Surathkal. Karnataka is a
rock climbers paradise. Yana in Uttara Kannada,
Fort in Chitradurga, Ramnagara near Bengaluru
district, Shivagange in Tumkur district and tekal in

Kolar district are a rock climbers heaven.[41] Utsav

Rock Garden in Shiggaon, Uttar Kannada.

Shola Grasslands in Kudremukh, Karnataka.

Hill stations in Karnataka are generally unexplored
and more pristine than better known ones in South
India. Major hill stations in the state are Agumbe
and Kodachadri in Shimoga District; Baba
Budangiri, Kemmangundi, Kudremukh in
Chikkamagaluru District; Biligiriranga Hills in
Chamarajanagar District and Kodagu district (also
known as Coorg).[42] Other hilly town and regions
are Mullayanagiri, Pushpagiri(or Kumara Parvatha),
Nandi Hills, Chikkaballapur district, Kundadri,
Tadiandamol, Talakaveri, Male Mahadeshwara Hills,
Himavad Gopalaswamy Betta, Ambaragudda,
Antara Gange, Savandurga, Kurinja, Yedakumeri,
Siddara Betta, Bananthimari Betta, Skandagiri,
Devarayanadurga and Madhugiri.
Wildlife Sanctuaries & National Parks Karnataka has
several wildlife sanctuaries and national parks such
as, Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary, Dandeli;
Ghataprabha Bird Sanctuary; Daroji Sloth Bear
Sanctuary; Peacock sanctuary in Bankapura;

Ranebennur blackbuck sanctuary, Haveri district;

Deva Raya Wildlife Sanctuary, near Hampi; Attiveri
Bird Sanctuary, near Hubli-Dharwad, Uttara
Kannada; Anshi National Park, Uttara Kannada;
Magadi Bird Sanctuary, Shirahatti; Bhimgad Wildlife
Sanctuary;[43] Adichunchanagiri Wildlife
Sanctuary;[44] Arabithittu Wildlife Sanctuary ;[45]
Biligiriranga Swamy Temple Wildlife Sanctuary;
Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary; Brahmagiri Wildlife
Sanctuary; Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary; Melukote
Temple Wildlife Sanctuary ;[46] in Mandya district;
Mookambika Wildlife Sanctuary; Nugu Wildlife
Sanctuary; Pushpagiri Wildlife Sanctuary;
Sharavathi Valley Wildlife Sanctuary; Shettihalli
Wildlife Sanctuary; Someshwara Wildlife Sanctuary;
Talakaveri Wildlife Sanctuary; Gudavi Bird
Sanctuary; Mandagadde Bird Sanctuary; Kaggaladu
Heronry; Kokkare Bellur; Bankapura Peacock
Sanctuary and Bonal Bird Sanctuary

Vijayanagara, a UNESCO World Heritage Site

Hampi, a UNESCO World Heritage Site

Gol Gumbaz in Bijapur

Mysore Palace
Bangalore Palace

16. 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
south-western India. Nicknamed as one of the "10
paradises of the world" by National Geographic,
[47] 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

From the green scapes of Idukki to buzzing city of

Kochi Kerala has its vivid collection of tourist spots.
Popular attractions in the state include the beaches
at Kovalam, Kappad, Muzhuppilangad, Cherai and
Varkala; the hill stations of Munnar, Thekkady,
Ramakkalmedu Nelliampathi, Ponmudi and
Wayanad; forts like the Bekal Fort in Kanhangad
and St. Angelo's Fort in Kannur and the National
Parks/ Wildlife sanctuaries at Periyar and
Eravikulam. The "backwaters" regionan 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 Quilon, Cochin,
Trichur, Calicut 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.[48] Since
then it has become an annual shopping event
being conducted in the DecemberJanuary 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 minimize
the adverse effects of traditional tourism on the
natural environment, and enhance the cultural
integrity of local people.

17. Madhya Pradesh

Madhya Pradesh is called the "Heart of India"
because of its location in the Centre of the country.
It has been home to the cultural heritage of
Hinduism, Islam, Buddhism, Sikhism and Jainism.
Innumerable monuments, exquisitely carved
temples, stupas, forts and palaces are dotted all
over the state.
The temples of Khajuraho are world-famous for
their 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,

Wildlife Kanha National Park,[49] Bandhavgarh
National Park(website), Pench Tiger Reserve
Heritage Khajuraho Temple Group, Orchha,
Bhimbetka Rock Shelters Caves[50]
Worship UjjainUjjain,[51][52] Omkareshwar,
Maheshwar, Maihar, Sanchi
Water Bodies / Lakes/ Dams Bhojtal "Upper LakeBhopal", Gandhi Sagar Dam, Indirasagar Dam,
Pipliyapala, Reservoir, Bhedaghat

a)
Sanchi Stupa
b)
Orchha Palace
c)Gwalior Fort in Gwalior city
d)
Khajuraho Group of Monuments
e)
Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka, a UNESCO
World Heritage Site
f) Ancient temples of Amarkantak
g)
Marble Cliffs near the city of Jabalpur

h)
Bandhavgarh National Park have highest
known density of the tiger population

18. Maharashtra
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.[38]
Main article: Tourism in Maharashtra
See also: Tourist Attractions in Mumbai
See also: Tourism in Marathwada and Tourist
attractions in Aurangabad, Maharashtra
Maharashtra is the most visited state in India by
foreign tourists,[38] 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. Aurangabad is
the tourism capital of Maharashtra.[54][55]

The 6th-century paintings at the Ajanta Caves in

Aurangabad, Maharashtra

Ajanta Caves, Ellora Caves, Elephanta Caves and

Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus are the four UNESCO
World Heritage sites in Maharashtra and are highly
responsible for the development of Tourism in the
state.[56]
Mumbai is the most popular cosmopolitan city in
India, and a great place to experience modern
India. Mumbai is famous for Bollywood, the world's
largest film industry. In addition, Mumbai is famous
for its clubs, shopping, and upscale gastronomy.
The city is known for its architecture, from the
ancient Elephanta Caves, to the Islamic Haji Ali
Mosque, to the colonial architecture of Bombay
High Court and Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus.
Maharashtra also has numerous adventure tourism
destinations, including paragliding, rock climbing,
canoeing, kayaking, snorkelling, and scuba diving.
Maharashtra also has several 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. Mangi Tungi in Nashik is a
very important pilgrimage of the Jain community.
The 108ft tall Statue of Ahimsa at Mangi Tungi, the
tallest Jain Statue in the world is attracting Jain
devotees from around the world. This statue holds
the Guinness world record for the tallest Jain Idol.

19. Manipur
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 attraction.

20. Meghalaya
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.

21. 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.[58] Mizoram is a stronghold for Mrs.
Hume's pheasant (Syrmaticus humiae).[59] There
is also a rare record of the wild water buffalo from
the state.[60] There have been several past
records of sightings of the Sumatran rhinoceros
from Mizoram, and Lushai hills.[61] A small
population of wild elephants can be seen in
Ngengpui and Dampa Sanctuaries.[62] 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.[63]

A panorama of Aizawl taken from Zemabawk.

22. 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 .

23. 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.

24. Punjab
The state of Punjab is renowned for its cuisine,
culture and history. Punjab has a vast public
transportation and communication network. Some
of the main cities in Punjab are Amritsar, Jalandhar,
Patiala, Pathankot and Ludhiana. is known for the
combines made here while Patiala is known for the
historical forts. Punjab also has a rich Sikh religious
history. Tourism in Punjab is principally suited for
the tourists interested in culture, ancient
civilisation, spirituality and epic history. Some of
the villages in Punjab are also a must see for the
person who wants to see the true Punjab, with their
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 worlds 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.

25. Rajasthan
Rajasthan, literally meaning "Land of the Kings", is
one of the most attractive tourist destinations in
Western India. The vast sand dunes of the Thar
Desert attract millions of tourists from around the
globe every year.
Attractions:
a)
Jaipur The capital of Rajasthan, famous
for its rich history and royal architecture
b)
Jodhpur Fortress-city at the edge of the
Thar Desert, famous for its blue homes and
architecture
c)Udaipur Known as the "Venice" of India

d)
Bikaner Famous for its medieval history
as a trade route outpost
e)
Mount Abu Is a popular hill station, the
highest peak in the Aravalli Range of
Rajasthan, Guru Shikhar is located here
f) Ranakpur Large Jain Temple complex, with
around 1444 pillars and exquisite marble
carvings
g)
Pushkar It has the first and one of the
very Brahma temples in the world
h)
Keoladeo National Park A UNESCO World
Heritage Site
i) Nathdwara This town near Udaipur hosts the
famous temple of Shrinathji
j) Sawai Madhopur Famous for Ranthambore
National Park and historic Ranthambore Fort
k)Shekhawati For traditional Havelis
l) Dhosi Hill Vedic period Hill, Chyvan Rishi
Ashram
m)
Hawa Mahal in Jaipur
n)
Mehrangarh Fort in Jodhpur
o)
Jag Mandir Palace in Udaipur

26. Sikkim
Originally known as Suk-Heem, which in the local
language means "peaceful home". Sikkim was an
independent kingdom till the year 1974, when it
became a part of the Republic of India. The capital

of Sikkim is Gangtok, located approximately 105

kilometres from New Jalpaiguri, the nearest railway
station to Sikkim. Although, Pakyong Airport is
under construction in East Sikkim, the nearest
airport to Sikkim is Bagdogra Airport. The popular
sightseeing places include Baba Mandir, Nathula
Pass, Rumtek Monastery, Handicraft Shops,
Tsangpo Lake, Chardham, Buddha Park, Ridgepark,
Flowershows (International Flowershows)
Samduptse, Tashi View point Tashiding, Pelling,
Yuksom, Rabdentse, Tibrtology, Ropeway. 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.

27. Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu is one of the preferred tourist
destinations by both Indian and International
tourists. It has places of historical, cultural and
architectural significance. Tourism in Tamil Nadu is
promoted by Ministry of Tourism by the state
government with a logo enchanting Tamil Nadu.
TTDC promotes tourism in the state by arranging
various functions and events. The capital city of
Tamil Nadu is Chennai is the only place in India to

be listed in "52 places to go around the world" by

"The New York Times". Marina beach in Chennai is
the second largest beach in the world and Chennai
is home to historic temples and parks.
Sanctuaries and National parks
The Western Ghats is one of the eight hottest
biodiversity hotspots in the world and a UNESCO
World Heritage Site.The mangrove forests of
Pichavaram are the second largest in the world[70]
and the Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve covers
an area of 10,500 km of ocean, islands and the
adjoining coastline including coral reefs, salt
marshes, mangroves and is home to Endangered
aquatic species including dolphins, dugongs,
whales and sea cucumbers. The wetlands attract
numerous migratory birds from Europe and
America. The state government has established 13
bird sanctuaries to protect the birds from poaching
and hunting. The state also has various bird
sanctuaries including 13 established bird
sanctuaries The state is home to one of the largest
populations of endangered Indian elephant and
Bengal Tiger.The region is home to one-third of the
tiger population and more than half of the elephant
population of India

28. Telangana
Telangana,the state with rich historic and cultural
heritage is one of the most frequented tourist
places in South India.Also known as The City of
Pearls, Hyderabad is today one of the most
developed cities in the country and a modern hub
of information technology, ITES, and biotechnology.
Hyderabad is known for its rich history, culture and
architecture representing its unique character as a
meeting point for North and South India, and also
its multilingual culture.
Hyderabad ranked second best place in the world
that one should see in 2015 which is published in
the annual guide of 'Traveler' magazine of National
Geographic.[91]
Birla Mandir, Hyderabad is a white marble Hindu
temple of Lord Venkateshwara on the Naubath
Pahad in Hyderabad.

29. Tripura
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 manmade lakes on its both sides. The palace is of twostoried 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.
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 (16601676). 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.

30. Uttarakhand

The Valley of Flowers and Nanda Devi National

Parks are UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Uttarakhand, the 27th state of the Republic of
India, is called "the abode of the Gods" or referred
as the "Heaven on Earth". It contains glaciers,
snow-clad mountains, valley of flowers, skiing
slopes and dense forests, and many shrines and
places of pilgrimage. Chota Char Dhams, the minor
pilgrimage of the four most sacred and revered
Hindu temples: Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri and
Yamunotri are nestled in the Himalayas, of which
Badrinath is part of Char Dham, major pilgrimage
of four highly sacred Hindu temples.[97][98]
Haridwar which means Gateway to God is the only
place on the plains.
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

Jim Corbett National Park the oldest national park

in India, famous for Tigers

31. Uttar Pradesh

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.
Agra Home to three World Heritage Sites i.e. Taj
Mahal, Agra Fort & Fatehpur Sikri. Agra boast of
several others historical monuments and gardens.
Tomb of I'timad-ud-Daulah, Tomb of Akbar the
Great to name a few.
Allahabad or Prayag -Kumbh Mela-The place where
Indian national river Ganges and Yamuna and
Saraswati rivers meet. A mass Hindu pilgrimage in
which Hindus 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.
Kumbh Mela at Allahabad
Fatehpur Sikri-Historical place for Mughal Empire's palaces and forts
Gorakhpur: The city was home to Buddhist, Hindu, Muslim, Jain and Sikh saints. The
birthplace of Paramhansa Yogananda, great Hindu emperor Chandragupta Maurya.

32. West Bengal

The royal Bengal tiger at Sunderbans National Park,
a UNESCO World Heritage Site
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.