India is a beautiful country to travel and take in its diversity of cultures, traditions, languages, and faiths. With a staggering 740 million domestic visitors and 17.9 million foreign visitors, India’s tourism industry is one of the largest service sectors in the nation. It offers a variety of tourism activities across its twenty-nine states and seven union territories, including beach tourism, medical & wellness tourism, heritage tourism, and religious tourism.
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With over 14 crore domestic visitors in 2021, Tamil Nadu was the most popular travel destination for both Indian and foreign tourists, according to the Union Ministry of Tourism. This South Indian state is well known for its beautiful hill stations, magnificent heritage monuments, and holy temple cities The top tourist destinations in Tamilnadu are Chennai, Madurai, Kanchipuram, Mahabalipuram, Trichy, Chidambaram, Kanyakumari, Rameswaram
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According to the India Tourism Statistics 2021, Uttar Pradesh has 8.6 crore more domestic visitors than Tamil Nadu, making it the second-most visited state overall. The Taj Mahal, a timeless symbol of love constructed by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in honour of his adored wife Mumtaj Begum, is the state’s main draw. In addition, Uttar Pradesh, India’s largest state, is home to numerous historical and religious sites.
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With 7.7 crore domestic visitors, Karnataka takes third place out of the top five states in domestic tourist arrivals, passing Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Maharashtra, and West Bengal. Karnataka, known as the “Cradle of Stone Architecture,” is endowed with historic buildings, world heritage sites, virgin forests, incredible fauna, breathtaking waterfalls, and unspoiled hill towns.
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With around 70.83 million domestic tourists annually, Andhra Pradesh ranks fourth out of all Indian states and union territories. The state, which is frequently referred to as the Koh-i-Noor of India, features everything from tranquil lakes to sun-kissed beaches, rolling hills to incredible wildlife, and natural caverns to historical sites. As the location of the iconic Tirupati Balaji Temple, the state is well known for its religious travel.
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One of India’s 29 states, Telangana is placed fifth on the list of the top Indian states for domestic tourism. Telangana saw about 40 million domestic travellers in 2021, according to India Tourism Statistics. This state is India’s 29th and is highly recognised for its numerous historical sites, magnificent waterfalls, untainted forests, and revered temples. In Telangana, Hyderabad, the state’s capital, receives the most tourists.
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With around 39.23 million domestic visitor visits in 2022, Maharashtra is one of the most popular tourism destinations in India. It boasts a significant number of well-known and renowned holy locations, including as Nashik, Shirdi, and Kolhapur, which are widely visited by domestic tourists. The entryway to the Ajanta and Ellora Caves, two of Maharashtra’s most important historical sites, makes Aurangabad the state’s tourism hub.
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West Bengal is one of the most popular tourist destinations in India because of its stunning natural surroundings and rich history. Around 29 million tourists visit West Bengal each year because of its stunning scenery, which includes hypnotic vistas, snow-capped mountains, gushing seas, blossoming tea gardens, vast deltas, lush green forests, abundant animals, historic temples, and majestic British monuments.
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The blue sky, snow-capped peaks, and desolate grandeur of Ladakh, India, have drawn intrepid tourists for years. Since the 1970s, when the area was made accessible to tourists, the picturesque location has continued to have its allure. Since then, Ladakh has been a popular destination for lovers of hiking and mountaineering.
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Jammu & Kashmir, one of the most famous tourist destinations in India, is known for its snow-capped Himalayas, interesting lakes, important pilgrimage sites, and breathtaking meadows. A vacation to Kashmir, also known as “Paradise on Earth,” offers the chance to experience heaven on earth.
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Himachal Pradesh is the pinnacle of art. Old traditions, rugged mountains, flowing streams, deep valleys, dense pine woods, snow-covered mountains, UNESCO world heritage sites, and more are all gifts of the landscape. All year long, both domestic and foreign tourists are drawn to the area by its distinctive topography.