Descendents of royal families in Rajasthan are finding it difficult to maintain sprawling castles and their artifacts with modern economic means. And Rajasthan being a popular heritage destination, they are turning their very heritage into real estate. They are selling off properties to keen buyers who are interested in owning a castle and developing heritage properties in one of the most popular heritage destinations of the world.

Rajasthan attracts tourists from all over the world. Travel industry’s selling point is the rich royal history and heritage of Rajasthan. Even celebrity travelers like Madonna, Rushdie, Domnique Lappiere, our own Amitabh Bachchan and many others prefer heritage hotels to standard five stars or seven stars hotels for their personal traditional hospitality and historical backdrop.

NRIs and foreigners are already rushing to buy these heritage properties. For them the price in Indian currency is not high. Castle buying trend is not a new concept for the West. Many castles in Europe have been turned in private luxury resorts, hotels or even museums. Now the trend is being set in India as well. Hence buyers are queuing up in large numbers. But will this do any good to heritage preservation? Only time will tell…

Pushkar Castle near Ajmer, spread over 20,000 sq. yards, is available only for 3 crores. Even lesser than what we have to shell out for 3BHK luxurious penthouses in upscale metro locality!

source: economictimes

Conventionally known as the Malabar Coast, Calicut in Kerala was the place where Vasco-Da-Gama first touched his galleons to the Indian soil; after discovering the sea-trade route to India.

Explorers traveled to this part of the world to collect then invaluable spices and natural herbs. Today tourists, especially honeymooners folk this land to enjoy the scenic beauty and romancing on the waters of the lagoons in house-boats and the Shikaras.

Keralite countryside has abundant medieval and colonial ruins — forts, churches, mosques and temples, some dating back to even early 15th century. Kerala has been the melting point of the East and West. Population statistics reveal the inhabitants to be Hindus, Muslims and Christians — around thirty percent each. Kerala has the highest literacy rate amongst all Indian states and a common Keralite is known to be very hardworking, polite and active if you ever come across. Besides, Keralites perhaps have a genetic advantage — men are absolutely handsome and women are simple yet made of mirror cracking material! Their pleasant smile, sparkling eyes, white saree and those white-orange garlands in their thick, long, black, coconut oil nourished hair could cause you a crush. So beware!

Kerala is blessed with a network of inland waterways. This has peppered many house-boat and Shikara owners. So do not miss an opportunity to cruise along a lagoon watching the scenic landscape of the mountains, coconut jungles on one side and portal activities on the other.

Kerala would be incomplete if you do not taste it’s delicacies! The food is laden with spices, fish, coconut and rice. Here you could have items you may perhaps never taste elsewhere — paisum (sweet milk gruel served in Hindu temples), Keralite fish curry and biryani. Fitness freaks need not worry — traditional Keralite food has been scientifically approved of having a high nutritional value and almost nil cholesterol content.

Rich in coconut production do not forget to take a relaxing massage at the end of the day. So plan your next vacation into the Incredible India’s land of lagoons — Kerala!

Image

Source: ScotlandonSunday

The Eastern Indian Himalayas is a range that dominates the Northern part of West Bengal. Located in this part of the world is the Indian queen of the hills, Darjeeling. It is famous for numerous things and one of them include Darjeeling tea.

As the SUV or your van that you travel in makes it’s way up the windy roads, the Himalayan vistas open up. The green slopes welcome you to the heart of the Himalayas. Eventually, the slopes give way to the tea gardens of the area, where workers keep plucking the tea leaves. Evidently, Darjeeling is home to the world’s best tea.

About a whopping 87 estates operate in the area with a large scale tea production. With Darjeeling spreading it’s wings over to Nepal, Bhutan and Tibet, there’s plenty of scope for the tea estates to expand and grow. Although, the area is getting used up, there is still some room for development.

Folks come to this area from all around the world and the visitors range from London to Manhattan. Makaibari is probably the most popular among the rest of the tea estates. Travelers in this part of the Himalayas are mostly tea tasters, and tea dealers besides people who are just visiting for a vacation.

As far as I know, tea tasting is not as easy as wine tasting is. You have to know how and where the plants are grown and in what condition. That way you get a better perspective on this specialty.

A few days spent in the tea wilderness will help you get first hand knowledge on the tea plantations and their aspects. So if you are planning a vacation to Asia, I suggest that you better check out the tea estates of Makaibari, Glenburn, and Goomtee. It will be much like a Napa valley wine touring.

Image credits: Mickcanning,

You want to visit Rajasthan and explore the desert landscapes, culture and experience the royalty at your own pace and flexibility. But your budget is not very high and you want to be on your own. The only option seems to be to load your stuff on a bike and vroom off into the vast open highways and explore the different regions of the royal state.

If you are one of those footloose and fancyfree bikers who wish to travel and explore on a motorcycle, Rajasthan tourism has some really good news for you. The state government has put in place a new policy to encourage tourists to rent motorcycles and explore the state.

Famous for its desert landscapes, rugged and formidable fortresses, grand palaces, serene placid lakes and exotic culture, Rajasthan is one of the most popular tourist destinations in India, both for international and domestic travellers. In 2005-06 the desert state attracted over 1.2 million foreign and 17 million domestic tourists. Tourism revenues to the state aggregate to over Rs.10 billion annually.

This new plan of hiring motorcycles to visiting tourists who wish to travel at their own pace and style was conceptualised after seeing the grand success of a similar scheme in Goa, Delhi, Himachal Pradesh and Ladakh.

Motorcycle rental tariffs other terms and conditions have not been specified as yet. Private operators say that they will ensure that the rentals remain reasonable so that more and more people will hire motorcycles. Moreover entrepreneurs agree that market forces will direct how much rental will be charged. Moreover in a bid to entice entrepreneurs to get into this new line of travel business the state government has decided to cut road tax by three percent for motorcycles purchased for renting out.

The scheme has already been kicked off in Jaipur, Ajmer, Pushkar, Mount Abu, Jaisalmer and Jodhpur. Since the scheme was announced the department of tourism has been thronged by applicants seeking licences to rent motorcycles, but only 12 have been granted to put a total of 70 motorcycles on rent by the government.

Since the response has been very good the state government is considering a statewide rollout of the scheme soon.

For those tourists who want to travel by motorcycle but don’t know how to ride, then they can hire a driver too. The tourism department has implemented a scheme wherein they will issue special licences and identity cards to drivers along with mandating a unique dresscode and a different number series for the motorcycles which are meant for hiring. The colour scheme of the motorcycles have been finalised at black and yellow.

Looks like Rajasthan, which is already popular among tourists is all set to double its tourist inflow. A good sign indeed for the travel industry and the Indian economy.

Birankal is a typical Indian village sited in Tumkur district, about 500 houses mostly with thatched roofs, a solitary school, two-three buses passing through, few small general stores and tea shops. But what makes Birankal different and worth visiting on a weekend is the towering presence of a massive monolithic rocky hill known as Birankal Betta.

Crowned by a quaint Shiva temple, the hill also has a large and undulating natural stone pond and numerous interesting rock formations. These natural attractions make it an ideal locale for trekking, rock climbing, wilderness camping and hiking.

This imposing and tall brownish-black rocky hillock attracts attention as one drives towards Sira from Tumkur. Surrounded by lush green farmlands and countryside, Birankal is definitely a worthy get-away-from-it-all weekend destination for those who seek a little adventure but want to be close to the national highway.

Since the hill is sited about 6 km off the national highway not many people bother to visit the place. It is only those hard core explorers seekers who thirst for new adventures visit here.

It makes all the more reason for one to prepare well for the outing and not to be caught unawares and suffer from lack of forethought.

A small Matha at the foot of the hill allows vehicles to be parked and water bottles filled up from the borewell. From the Matha onwards it is a steep rocky flight of steps all the way to the top.

As the ascent progresses, the gradient gets steeper and the size of boulders increase. The climb can be quite tiring for those used to attaining heights via the elevator.

As you complete climbing 75 percent of the 1,000 ft hillock, there is a small plateau with couple of old neglected buildings and some interesting rock formations. From here the steps become steeper and at places are rock-cut.

The tiny temple atop the hill has a small Shivalinga enshrined inside and is surrounded by stonewalls. One can offer worship in his chosen method and move ahead to explore and enjoy the fantastic views around. Spend some time here; relax and enjoy the cool breeze.

If you wish to camp atop the hill carry enough food and lots of water and some warm clothing as nights can get very cold. Due to sparse human intervention in the precincts of the cliff, the entire area is very clean and unpolluted.

For those who want to see multitudes of villagers in their rustic finery and participate in the fair, celebrating Shivrathri festival at Birankal is perhaps the best solution.

And for those who would rather revel in the lap of nature amid quiet and calm surroundings, there is the rest of the year when Birankal is nothing but a solitary hillock amidst several villages of Tumkur district.

Travel Tips
Place Birankal
Distance from Bangalore city 72 km

Getting there...

By Bus: Tumkur the nearest town is well connected with frequent KSRTC buses. From here several private buses ply to Birankal village.

By Road: Drive out on the Tumkur Road (NH 4) for 65 km to reach Tumkur. Proceed further on the Sira road and drive for another four km, till you arrive at a granite factory (Ceeta Granites), turn right here into the small road adjacent to the factory. Six km from here is Birankal village, the Birankal betta stands as a sentinel to the village on its south-western side.

Place to Stay & eat: Camping on the hill is the only option available locally or one has to go to Tumkur for hotel accommodation. Carry your own lunch as there are no hotels in Birankal village.

The most attractive feature of Mahimapura is its quaint wooded hillock crowned by a beautiful Vijayanagara style Garuda/ Ranganathaswamy temple. According to the temple priest, this is the only shrine in the state where Garuda, the vehicle of Lord Vishnu, is given the same importance as Ranganathaswamy, the main deity. Mahimaranganathaswamy the central deity appears like a mound of jaggery and is believed to be naturally originated, while the Vishnu image which is worshipped was installed much later during the Vijayanagar period. At the foot of the hill there is the temple in which a finely carved monolithic idol of Hanuman standing tall at about 12 ft is enshrined.

To visit the Mahimaranganathaswamy temple one has to negotiate the steep climb of around 350 ft via a flight of well-hewn stone steps. The top of the hill is a rounded plateau with a beautiful temple dedicated to Lord Ranganathaswamy, which houses fine statues of Garuda, Hanumantha and Ranganatha (installed). The temple is a small structure with a squarish garbhagriha (sanctum sanctorum) and has square Vijayanagara style pillars endowed with fine relief sculptures. The garbhagriha is crowned by a brick and mortar Shikhara which is visible from a long distance. The main idol of Ranganatha is in Vijayanagara style is actually a Venkataramana image with Shankha (conch), Chakra (discus), Abhaya and Varada attributes. There is also a beautiful and antique metallic image of Venkataramana which is used during festivals.

The temple is completely built of stone and each pillar is beautifully carved depicting the various forms of Lord Vishnu. But due to faulty maintenance the artistry has become almost invisible. The pillars have been whitewashed resulting in the finer aspects and intricate cuts and curves of the sculptures becoming invisible. The whitewashing has actually covered up most of the artistic images of the pillars. It looks rather odd that natural stone pillars have been whitewashed instead of being cleaned and washed with water.

Worship happens only in the morning in the temple; there is no worship during the nights, as it is believed that divine sages visit the place during the evenings. Many film sequences of local language films have been shot in this place. The rural locales have provided a scenic backdrop to the improbably song-n-dance sequences of many Kannada films.

Legend:
There is an interesting legend associated with the origin of the temple. Mahimapura is believed to be the place where Garuda the vehicle of Lord Vishnu performed penance to cleanse himself of the sin of eating the dead body of a Rakshasi (ogress). It is believed that several thousands of years ago, sage Kashyapa’s wife Aditi is given two eggs by the Sun god, who says that two sons will be born out of the eggs. Aditi waits for several years for the eggs to hatch. Getting impatient she breaks one of the eggs and a child without arms and legs comes out of the egg, curses her with a life of slavery and vanishes. She feels sad and worships the Sun god again seeking forgiveness. The Sun god appears and advises her to wait and that a powerful and strong son will emerge from the remaining egg. After some years Garuda comes out of the egg and immediately demands food from his mother, she directs him to Sage Kashyapa. Garuda who is impatient with hunger disturbs the penance of Sage Kashyapa and asks for food. The sage then gets angry and tells Garuda to go to a rocky place where the dead body of a ‘Rakshasi’ (ogress) is lying, eat it and satisfy his hunger. This place is called the ‘Rakshasi Bande’ and is situated adjacent to Mahimapura hill.

Garuda eats the dead body and later feels that he has committed a mistake by disturbing sage Kashyapa’s penance. He seeks forgiveness from sage Kashyapa, who in turn directs him to Mahimapura with an instruction to worship Lord Ranganatha. Garuda performs intensive penance and after several years Lord Ranganatha appears before him in the Nirakari form or as a mound of Jaggery. Garuda built a small temple in the memory of the lord here. Local chieftains renovated the temple and later during the Chola and Vijayanagara period a new stone temple was built and embellished with grants and renovations.

Festivals and fairs:
The annual jatra on the Magha Poornima day of Hindu calendar, the festivities go on for almost 15 days and a cattle fair is also organised. A Car Festival (Rathothsava) is also conducted. Several village level competitions are also held. Apart from this three important festivals are celebrated with great pomp here, i.e., Janmashtami, Dasara (Navratri) and Narasimha Jayanthi.

Getting there.
Start off on the National Highway 4 (Bangalore - Tumkur Road) and drive for around 45 kms. One can find a large sign on the left side, which reads ‘Mahimapura‘ and an arrow points towards a cross. Take left and proceed straight for around 1.5 kms. You will come across a small hillock with a steep flight of steps leading to the top. This is Mahimapura. KSRTC buses ply thrice a day from Bangalore to Mahimapura. Alternatively one can travel to Nelamangala by BMTC and travel by local transport to Mahimapura.

We all have read lot about Ajanta and Ellora caves, the architectural marvels of ancient times. Ellora that represents the epitome of Indian rock-cut architecture has 35 caves in all. We all have read so much about these caves that we think we know every fact about these. Well, if this is so I’m sure you know which temple has the World’s Largest Monolith. If your answer is no, then go about reading.

Carved out of stone, the Kailasa temple (cave 16) is really an architectural wonder. It boasts of the biggest hewn monolith temple in the world and is considered
the pinnacle of Indian rock-cut architecture. The greatness of this structure lies in the fact that it’s a temple strictly adhering to the Vaastu Shaastra and other rules of a worshipping place.

Well-known for being carved out of single solid rock from top to bottom, it is richly embellished three-storey high temple dedicated to Lord Shiva and contains the world’s largest cantilevered rock ceiling.

Believed to have taken 7,000 labourers 150 years to complete the project, it’s gigantic, 8th century temple that covers twice the area of the Parthenon in Athens. No doubt, all of the caves at Ellora are stunning architectural feats but this fact can also not be ignored that the Kailasa Temple is the jewel in the crown.

Believe me, the temple is such a mammoth that you undergo different feeling while you take a tour. As you enter the complex, ordinariness turns into curiosity. When you glance at the masterpieces, your curiosity turns into bewilderment. Walking around the temple turns bewilderment into disbelief and you leave the temple thinking it’s a dream!

Have a look at the beautiful pictures in the image gallery below to get an idea of what this architectural wonder looks like but I don’t think the pictures do the justice, you got to see it to believe it!

Source

Himachal has numerous temples, each with some fair or festival connected to it, with legends dating back to countless centuries. The Bajnath temple of Kangra district in Himachal Pradesh dedicated to lord Shiva is distinct from the one in Uttaranchal.

Shiva is worshipped here as Vaidyanath or the Lord of Physician. The temple has lent its name to the town as well which earlier was known as Kiragrama. The history of the temple is stated on stone slabs. The Lingam enshrined in its sanctum is one of the 12 Jyotirlingas in the country. Every year during the Shivratri Fair, pilgrims descend on Baijnath for the colorful fair and festivals. The walls of the temple depict sculptors of various gods and goddesses in different ways.

Religious/mythical legends of the temple

It is believed that the King of Lanka, Ravana had worshipped Lord Shiva in the main Baijnath Temple. He sacrificed his head ten times at a place marked out in the temple. And because of this, the people here do not consider it right to celebrate Dussehra which remembers the day when Lord Rama killed Ravana.

The people here think that celebrating Dussehra can offend Lord Shiva a lot. In the past too, whenever any attempt has been made to celebrate the festival, the organiser died within years. Though the fact is that the deaths were in no way related to the celebration of Dussehra, the people here linked the two. Currently plans are again on to start the celebration of Dussehra in a nearby stadium.

Another mythical tale or the truth?

As per another legend Ravana, the king of Lanka, pleased Lord Shiva by his devotion and as a boon asked Lord Siva to live in Lanka for all times. Lord Shiva was pleased in return he gave a large Lilngam to Ravana and asked him to carry it to Lanka, without ever putting it on the ground till he reaches Lanka, otherwise Lord Shiva would settle at the place where the Lingam is put! Ecstatic at taking Shiva to Lanka, Ravana started the journey home. The folklore says that at Baijnath, Ravana suddenly had an urge for a natural call and he handed the lingam over to an old Brahmin directing him not to put the Lingam on the ground. But when he returned, he found the Lingam on ground and hard though he tried, he was not able to extricate the lingam from the ground and there it has been ever since.

Grandeur of an enriching Sculptural facade

The temple has four doors and four ‘dwarpals’ stand guard on these doors. There are many idols of various gods and goddesses, in different postures, in the temple. The six-armed statue of Ganesha is incredible! The pillars outside the temple have the ‘Navgrahas’ inscribed on them. The Nandi’s imposing idol, in the outer courtyard, captures attention.

Location: Fourteen kilometres from the town of Palampur, Beas valley, Kangra district, Himachal Pradesh

How to get there: Baijnath lies on the Pathankot-Chakki-Manali National Highway No. 20, half way between Kangra and Mandi. It is about 130 Km from Pathankot, the nearest broad gauge rail head and airport.

Kangra airport at Gaggal near Dharamshala from where small aircraft flies on alternate days to Delhi is 60 Km from Baijnath.
Baijnath is very well connected by roads to Delhi via Chandigarh and to Manali via Mandi and to Shimla also via Mandi.

Note: To get into the temple you have to remove all you leather including belt and purses. If you have a partner, I guess he/she could take a turn to watch over them.

Temples give peace; if your heart is pure, you might feel the presence of the supreme power, a visit to this temple will give you a chance to pay obeisance to the Almighty Shiva. For some it might bring forth a deeper self-realization.

Read

The Maldives, dream destination of all is the heaven on the Earth! Famous for a cluster of beautiful islands, white beaches and breathtaking underwater scenery Maldives is an absolute bliss. Believe me, there is something magical in the Maldives. Also known as the land of Sun and water, it’s a perfect paradise for those that need to unwind and relax.

Activities in the Maldives:

The Maldives is a place that boasts a colorful and fascinating underwater world that has gained a reputation as one of the best diving destinations in the world. There are hundreds of breathtaking dive sites. If you don’t want to miss the glory of the Maldives waters, then I’ll suggest you scuba diving.

With sand that feels like flour, sun that warms as well as the gentle breezes, the Maldives truly is a piece of paradise. Taking a dip in the ocean is like having a luke warm bath and the water is so clear that snorkelling and swimming is great delight. You can also enjoy submarine tours, whale and dolphin tours and a variety of water sports including wakeboarding, jet skis, parasailing, water skiing and deep-sea fishing.

Flora and fauna:

The Maldives is a place that has incredible flora and fauna. You can see large number of coconut trees, vines, banyan trees and mangroves. Also, there are innumerable tropical fishes like butterfly fish, dolphins, anglefish, parrotfish and flutemouth and you’re bound to see many of them, when you visit the islands.

The Maldives is also blessed with wonderful wildlife. Though you may see fewer varieties of land animals, you can witness a healthy variety of birds inhabiting the islands. There are over 100 species of birds like crows, parakeets, waterhens as well as koel birds.

Places worth visit:

The National Palace, Mulee-aage, the Huskuru Miskiiy or Friday Mosque and the Islamic Centre are some of the places you can’t afford to miss.

Best time to visit:

Mostly people visit the Maldives in July and August, however summer conditions continue throughout September and October. Mid May to late June is a delightful time to see the island in full color with spring flowers.

Why go?

I know I should have asked this question to the readers and in the very beginning of my post and should have answered there and then but my aim was to let the readers know about the incredible beauty of the place and answer this question themselves and I’m sure I succeeded in my endeavor.

The Maldives is a beautiful world beyond the imagination of most people and a place that has all the ingredients for a perfect holiday. Now, I think you know the answer of the question as to which is the right place to plan your visit, if you wish to escape the doldrums and stresses of daily life. Take a look at some of the stunning pictures of the place in the image gallery pinned below.

Image Credit for the first picture.

Source: Telegraph

Director Sanjay Gupta, brought a house in the hill station about seven years ago and is enjoying the peace and calm surrounded in the place. For Sanjay today Khandala looks more like a small film hub where many a stars have brought houses there. He says,

Now, of course, there are so many film folks out there, it feels like a paradise - like extension of Bollywood. Tanuja has a place there for years, and spends a lot of time there. Her daughter Kajol and Ajay Devgan have also bought a place there. Dharamji, of course, lives permanently in Khandala. So Sunny and Bobby keep dropping in

According to Sanjay Gupta, superstar Suniel Shetty has the best place out there with a swimming pool and lush green lawn. The trio including Gupta, Sanjay Dutt and Suniel Shetty spend a lot of time during the weekend out there in Suniel’s personal retreat.

The Bollywood fraternity, considering the amount of work pressure they undergo, will definately appreciate a welcome break and these days the best place to be is in Khandala. A destination close to Mumbai and with beautiful houses being built, Khandala looks to be more like a paradise for Bollywood superstars.

Image Source

Maldives, a paradisiacal corner with the untouched nature is the dream destination of all. Right? If you’re planning to spend your next vacation on a secluded tropical isle, then pack your gear for Madivaru, Banyan Tree’s new tented retreat in the Maldives.

It’s an idyllic resort that sets the unparalleled standards of luxury accommodation in Maldives. Framed by white powder beaches, it’s a lush little hideaway that features cluster of freestanding Tented Pool Villas.

Each villa comprises three tents that form living, sleeping and bath areas. The bath tent is kitted out with two showers and twin spa beds for enjoying in-villa treatments that include signature Banyan Tree Spa massages and facials.

Replete with timber flooring, rattan and teak furniture, handcrafted wooden and canvas accents and luxurious ceiling canopies, the resort exudes a warm and tropical ambience.

Madivaru Island is a gem in North Ari Atoll, which features pristine white sandy beaches, a beautiful shallow lagoon and breathtaking house reefs surrounding the island. You can expect marine adventures led by experienced Banyan Tree dive experts. Regularly scheduled excursions on the Banyan Madi include sunset cruises, morning and night fishing, dolphin safari and manta sighting cruises. The only thing i can say about the resort is that it’s ultimate private retreat. I won’t be wrong if i say that it’s a perfect Banyan Tree bliss.

Source

We all know about the architectural marvels in India and one such is the Ramanatha Swamy Temple, Rameswaram in Southern India. The corridor in this temple is the longest in India.

Situated in the Gulf of Munnar at the very tip of Indian peninsula, this is a sacred island that is a major pilgrimage center for both Shaivites and Vaishnavaites. According to legends and Hindu scriptures, Rameshwaram was the place from where Lord Rama built a bridge across the sea to Lanka to rescue his consort Sita, from the clutches of Ravana.

The outer set of corridors, reputed to be the longest in the word being about 400 feet in each in the east and west and about 640 feet in north and south and inner corridors are about 224 feet in east and west and about 352 feet each in north and south. The width varies from 15.5 feet to 17 feet in the east and west about 172 feet on the north and south with width varying 14.5 feet to 17 feet. The total length of those corridors is thus 3850 feet. There are about 1200 pillars in the outer corridor and their height is nearly 30 feet from the floor.

Construction of the temple began, in the 12th century AD and additions were made to the building over the succeeding centuries by various rulers and today, its one of the major pilgrim spot in India. There are 22 sacred Theerthams(wells) in the temple, the water of each tasting different from the others.

Also known as ‘Benaras of the South’ this is a hot pilgrim spot and a terrific tourist destination. With wide beaches and surging Ocean, Rameshwaram offers a great tourist destination.

Image Credit

Source

India, where culture echoes, tradition speaks, beauty enthralls and diversity delights is one of the popular tourist hubs of the world. Trailing the beauties of major tourist attractions such as Italy, Thailand, Australia and New Zealand, India has proudly emerged as the numero uno travel destinations.

Widely-read British magazine ‘Conde Nest Traveller’ recently conducted a survey among its readers who were fervent and sophisticated travelers around the world. In the April issue of the magazine, the readers were asked for the world’s best hotels, spas, cities, airports, cruise lines and tour operator nominations.

The survey report, the nomination results and the ratings led the magazine to come to the conclusion that India is the top tourist destination among the masses. In the year 2004, India was the 10th most preferred destination, the 4thin 2006 and has now grabbed the top position. Union Tourism Minister Ambika Soni was swollen with pride on receiving the Readers Travel Award in London Monday night.

Image Credit

Source: The Times of India