Indian Tourism - Its Destiny

Though the name of India is not included by the Worldattention of the tourists from all parts of the world and
Tourism Organization (WTO) among the top tenpeople of all faiths are coming to India to see the
courtiers of the world in terms of "most visited" byreligious places of Narayan Sarovar, Sudamas
numbers of travelers, in terms of tourism earners, inPorbandar, Kabirvad Shuklatirth, Kayavarohan,
terms of most visited attractions, still the IndianBhadrakali, Haridwar, Badrinath, Kedarnath, Varanasi,
economy has been boosted by new emerging trendsGangotri and Yamunotri, Rishikesh, Shamlaji, Bodh
of various types of Indian tourism and it continues toGaya, Ajmer, Punjab, Goa etc.
grow. There are a number of factors responsible forArchaeological Tourism
the growth of Indian tourism at global level. India is aThere are a number of places of archaeological
peaceful country without any political disturbanceimportance which can be broadly classified as Stone
except for few destinations where a tourist is requiredAge, Indus Valley, Neolithic-Chalcolithic, Megalithic-Early
to get special permission from local authority to enterHistoric and Late Historic periods. Famous
into that area. The country has a federal structure witharchaeological sites of the Stone Age are abound in
elected Governments in States. There are 28 statesPeninsular India, more prominently at Pallavaram in
and 7 Union Territories administered directly by theTamil Nadu, Hunsgi in Karnataka, Kuliana in Orissa,
Central Government. There is healthy competition ofDidwana in Rajasthan, and Bhimbetka in Madhya
tour packages among all the states to attract thePradesh. The sites of Neolithic-Chalcolithic Age are
tourists from all over the world for speedy economicInamgaon, Walki, Navdatoli, Ahar, Balathal, Gilund,
growth and employment generation. Not only thisBudhihal, Sangankalur, Maski, Brahmagiri, Utnur, Golbai,
Ministry of Tourism and Culture has recently launchedPandu-Rajar-Dhibi, Chirand and Burzoham etc. Famous
a campaign called 'Incredible India!' in order tosites of Indus Valley Civilisation are Indus and Ghaggar
encourage different types of tourism in India.river valleys, Kutch and Saurashtra, Dholavira,
Types of Indian TourismKalibangan, Lothal, Surkotda and Rakhigari. Famous
All types of tourism in India are projecting the Indiansites of Megalithic Phase are Brahmagiri, Maski and
subcontinent as the ultimate tourist spot. The reasonRajan Kalur, Bhagimari, Gadabas etc. Excavations at
behind why India has been doing well in all types ofKosambi, Saranath, Hastinapura, Vaishali, Rajgir and
tourism is that India is a multilingual, multicultural,Bodh Gaya, Chandraketugarh, Sisupalgarh etc. have
multi-religious and ready to assimilate other diverserevealed fortified cities dating back to this period.
cultures which are alien to this land and stable politicalFamous sites of Buddhist Phase are Sanchi, Saranath,
system with tremendous geographical diversity,Ajanta, Kaneheri, Amravati, Sanati and Lalitgiri. Sites of
hospitality, uniqueness and charm make it one of theJainism Phase are Khandagiri-Udayagiri, Mathura. Some
four preferred tourist spot of the world. However, theIslamic Archaeological sites are Delhi, Agra, Lucknow,
different types of tourism of India which are captivatingHyderabad, northern Karnataka, Aurangabad, and
the imagination of the tourists from all parts of theBhopal.
world can be explained under the following headings:Other Types of India Tourism
Religious or Pilgrimage TourismBesides the above explanation of the various types of
Since the ancient time, the name of India istourism, India is fascinating the vision of the tourists
synonymously taken with spiritual activities where thefrom all sections of the world for its Adventure
body of mythology related to Hinduism contained inTourism in Ladakh, Sikkim, Himalaya, Uttranchal, Assam
Sanskrit literature such as Vedas, Upanishad, Vedanga,and Arunachal Pradesh etc; Wildlife Tourism in Sariska
Mahakavya, Mahabharata, Ramayana and manyWildlife Sanctuary, Keoladeo Ghana National Park,
others scriptures are found to make India as pilgrimageCorbett National Park and many others; Medical
centre of the world. Not only this, as a birth place ofTourism in South India where the city of Chennai
two great religions - Buddhism and Jainism - India hasattracts around 45% of medical tourists from foreign
also become the hub of Buddhist pilgrimage especiallycountries; Eco Tourism in Kaziranga National Park, Gir
from Theravada Buddhist world and from MahayanaNational Park and Kanha National Park etc; Cultural
Buddhist world with its major centres of Lumbini,Tourism at Pushkar fair, Taj Mahotsav, and Suraj Kund
Bodhgaya, Sarnath, Shravasti, Sankashaya, Nalanda,mela etc; Water Tourism in Goa, Kerala,
Rajgir etc. Today, India's pilgrimage tourism has gainedChennai, Orissa, Maharashtra etc.