Tourism in India

Tourism in India is a large industry. The World Travel and Tourism Council calculated that tourism generated $121 billion or 6.4% of the nation's GDP in 2011. It was responsible for 39.3 million jobs, 7.9% of its total employment. The GDP of the tourism sector has expanded 229% between 1990 and 2011. The sector is [1] predicted to grow at an average annual rate of 7.7% in the next decade. In a 2011 forecast the World Travel and Tourism Council predicted the annual growth to be 8.8% between 2011 and 2021. This gave India the fifth [2] rank among countries with the fastest growing tourism industry. India has a large medical tourism sector [3] which is expected to grow at an estimated rate of 30% annually to reach about 9,500 crore by 2015. According to provisional statistics 6.29 million foreign tourists arrived in India in 2011, an increase of 8,9% from 5.78 million in 2010. This ranks India as the 38th country in the world in terms of foreign tourist arrivals. Domestic tourist visits to all states andUnion Territories numbered 850.86 million. The majority of foreign tourists come from the United States (16%) and the United Kingdom (12,6%). In 2011 Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Delhi were the most popular states for foreign tourists. Domestic tourists visited the states Uttar [4] Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu most frequently. Chennai, Delhi, Mumbai and Agra have been the four most visited cities of India by foreign tourists during the year 2011. Worldwide, Chennai is ranked 41 by the [5] number of foreign tourists, while Delhi is ranked at 50, Mumbai at 57 and Agra at 65. The Travel & Tourism Competitiveness Report 2011 ranked the price competitiveness of India's tourism sector 28th out of 139 countries. It mentions that India has quite good air transport (ranked 39th), particularly given the countrys stage of development, and reasonable ground transport infrastructure (ranked 43rd ). Some other aspects of its tourism infrastructure remain somewhat underdeveloped however. The nation has very few hotel rooms per capita by international comparison and low ATM penetration. The Indian government has identified a [6] shortage of 150,000 hotel rooms, with most of the undersupply in the budget sector. The Ministry of Tourism designs national policies 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, state governments, Union Territories and the representatives of the private sector. Concerted efforts are being made to promote new forms of tourism such as rural, cruise, medical and eco[7] tourism. The Ministry also maintains the Incredible India campaign. India's rich history and its cultural and geographical diversity make its international tourism appeal large and diverse. It presents heritage and cultural tourism along with medical, business and sports tourism.

Andhra Pradesh
The state of Andhra Pradesh comprises like 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 second richest and most visited religious centre (of any faith) in the world. Srisailam, the abode of Sri Mallikarjuna, is one of twelve Jyothirlingalu in India. Amaravathi'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. Birla Mandir, on the Naubath Pahad is a Hindu temple of Lord Venkateshwara, built entirely of white marble located in Hyderabad The Ramappa Temple and Thousand Pillar Temple in Warangal are famous tourist spots and depict the finest taste of Kakatiya dynasty for arts & culture and temple carvings.Warangal is also home to Medaram the Asia's largest tribal fair/festival called "Sammakka Saralamma Jatara". Gunadala Matha Shrine - One of the second largest Christian pilgrim Destination in India located in Vijayawada City. Thousands of people visit Gunadala Matha throughout the year as they firmly believe in the merciful heart of the Blessed Mother Lady of Lourdes and are convinced of her Motherly blessings. Devotees, not only from all corners of Andhra Pradesh, but from the neighbouring states of Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka visit the shrine during the festival in February, every year. Gnana Saraswati Temple, Basar is one of the famous Saraswati Temples in India

Famous Buddhist centres:

Amaravathi Guntur District Nagarjuna Konda Nalgonda District Bhattiprolu - Guntur District Ghantasala Krishna District Sankaram - Visakhapatnam District

Others are Pavurallakonda, Chandavaram, Guntupalli, Adurru, Kummarilova, Kotturu Dhanadibbalu, Karukonda, kapavaram, Nandalur Pilgrim centres and temples: Sri Venkateswara Swami Temple The abode of Lord Venkateswara, is the richest and most visited religious centre (of any faith) in the world situated in Tirupathi City Kanaka Durga Temple One of the Shakti Peetam's situated in Vijayawada City Sri Rajarajeshwara Temple - One of the famous and most visited Lord Shiva temple located in Vemulawada Sri Mallikaruna Temple One of the Jyothirlingam's situated in Srisilam Town Sri Varaha Lakshmi Narashima Temple Situated at Simhachalam near to Vizag City Sri Kalashastiswara Temple Situated at Srikalahasti Town Sri Venkateswara Swami Temple known as china Tirupathi located at Dwaraka Tirumala Town Sri Amaralingeswara Swami Temple One of the Pancharama's located at Amaravathi Town Sri Someswara Swami Temple One of the Pancharama's located at Bhimavaram Town Sri Kshira Rama Lingeswara Swami Temple One of the Pancharama's located at Palakol town Bhadrakali Temple - In the city of Warangal

Thousand's of oldest temples are situated in Andhra pradesh. Attractions: Charminar Centre of the Hyderabad Old City Golkonda Fort Largest and 400 years oldest fort Makka Masjid Masjid in Hyderabad City Ramoji Film City Largest Film City in the world situated in Hyderabad City Kilash giri Mountain View along with beach side situated in Vizag City Warangal Fort - Oldest fort built by Kakatiya before 13th century reflects the culture of Telugu people Thousand Pillar Temple - Built by King Rudra Deva in 1163 AD.The Thousand Pillar Temple is a specimen of the Kakatiyan style of architecture of the 12th century.

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 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. Golkonda (Telugu: , Urdu: ), a ruined city of south-central India and capital of the medival

kingdom of Golkonda (c. 1364 1512), is situated 11 km west of Hyderabad. The most important builder of Golkonda was a Kakatiya King. Ibrahim was following in the spirit of his ancestors, the Qutub Shahi kings, a great family of builders who had ruled the kingdom of Golkonda from 1512. Their first capital, the fortress citadel of Golkonda, was rebuilt for defense from invading Mughals from the north. They laid out Golkonda's splendid monuments, now in ruins, and designed a perfect acoustical system by which a hand clap sounded at the fort's main gates, the grand portico, was heard at the top of the citadel, situated on a 300-foot (91 m)-high granite hill. This is one of the fascinating features of the fort.

Tourism in Goa
The state of Goa, India, is famous for its beautiful beaches, churches and temples and its primary industry is tourism. Tourism is generally focused on the coastal areas of Goa, with decreased tourist activity inland. Foreign tourists, mostly from Europe, arrive in Goa in Winter while the summer and Monsoon seasons see a large number of Indian tourists. The state handled 7 % of all foreign tourist arrivals in the country in [1][2] 2011. This relatively small state is situated on the western coast of India, between the borders of Maharashtraand Karnataka and is better known to the world as a former Portuguese enclave on Indian soil. Influenced by over 450 years of Portuguese rule and Latin culture, Goa presents a somewhat different representation of the country to the foreign visitors. Major tourist attractions include: Bom Jesus Basilica, Fort Aguada, a wax museum on Indian culture and a heritage museum. The Churches and Convents of Goa have been declared as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

The Basilica of Bom Jesus, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Beaches[edit]

Colva Beach in South Goa

Goa's beaches make up about 125 kilometres (78 mi) of its coastline. These beaches are divided into Northern Goa and Southern Goa Beaches. North Goa is commercial and touristic with an abundance of mostly low and medium budget tourist accommodations; whereas South Goa is where higher end hotels and private beaches are located. A notable exception in South Goa is Palolem beach which features basic accommodation and is one of the most beautiful beaches in Goa. The further north or south you go, the more isolated the beaches get. Some of the more popular beaches are Baga and Anjuna. These beaches are lined with shacks that provide fresh sea food and drinks. Some shacks arrange special events to attract more customers. Beaches in Northern Goa: Arambol Morjim Chapora Vagator Beaches in Southern Goa: Bogmalo Majorda Colva Benaulim Anjuna Baga Calangute Candolim Varca Cavelossim Mobor Canaguinim Sinquerim Bambolim Miramar Dona Paula Agonda Palolem

Wildlife[edit]

The Glassy Tiger butterfly spotted at Mahadeyi Wildlife Sanctuary

The Bondla Wildlife Sanctuary, The Bhagwan Mahaveer Sanctuary, The Cotigao Wildlife Sanctuary, The Mahadeyi Wildlife Sanctuary and the Netravali Wildlife Sanctuary harbour Goa's rich biodiversity. Foxes, wild boars and migratory birds are also found in the forests of Goa. The avifauna includes kingfishers, mynas and parrots. The famous Dudhsagar Falls, India's fifth tallest at 310 metres, is located inside Bhagwan Mahaveer Sanctuary at the Goa - Karnaraka border. The renowned Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary is located on the island of Chorao. The EndangeredOlive Ridley Sea Turtle can be found on Morjim Beach in Pernem, Northern Goa and Galgibaga Beach in Canacona, Southern Goa. The turtles are listed in Schedule I of the Indian Wildlife Act. Morjim Beach is also host to a number of migratory birds during late September to early April. The area surrounding the shore at Tembwada in Morjim also abounds in various species of birds. A number of international bird watching tours are organised in the area.

Museums[edit]

A Sea Harrier on display at the Naval Air Museum

Goa also has a few museums, Goa State Museum set up in 1996 aims at centralizing and preserving antiquities, art objects and objects of cultural importance, depicting the different aspects of the Goan History and Culture. Naval Aviation Museum near Dabolim. The Aviation museum is one among three of its kind in India. Goa Science Centre is located on Miramar Beach in Panjim. Opened in December 2001, it houses many [3] wonders of Science and Astronomy. Archaeological Museum and Portrait Gallery located in Old Goa is run by theArchaeological Survey of India. The Museum of Christian Art has a number of paintings, sculptures and religious silverware dating back to the 16th century.

Forts[edit]
The landscape of Goa is dotted with several forts. Fort Tiracol, the seventeenth-century Portuguese Fort Aguada, and Chapora Fort, to name a few.

Tourism in Kerala
Kerala, a state situated on the tropical Malabar Coast of southwestern India, is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the country. Named as one of the ten paradises of the world by the National Geographic [1] [2] Traveler, Kerala is famous especially for its ecotourism initiatives. Its unique culture and traditions, coupled with its varied demography, has made Kerala one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. Growing [3] at a rate of 13.31%, the tourism industry is a major contributor to the state's economy. Until the early 1980s, Kerala was a relatively unknown destination, with most tourism circuits concentrated around the north of the country. Aggressive marketing campaigns launched by theKerala Tourism Development Corporationthe government agency that oversees tourism prospects of the state laid the foundation for the growth of the tourism industry. In the decades that followed, Kerala Tourism was able to transform itself into one of the niche holiday destinations in India. The tag line Kerala- God's Own Country was adopted in its tourism promotions and became a global superbrand. Kerala is regarded as one of the destinations with the [4] [5] highest brand recall. In 2010, Kerala attracted 0.66 million foreign tourist arrivals. Kerala is an established tourist destination for both Indians and non-Indians alike. Kerala is popular for her beaches, backwaters, mountain ranges and wildlife sanctuaries. The city of Kochi ranks first in the total number [6][7] of international and domestic tourists in Kerala. Other popular attractions in the state include the beaches at Kovalam, Cherai and Varkala; backwater tourism and lake resorts around Vembanad Lake, Kumarakom and Alapuzha; hill stations and resorts at Munnar, Wayanad, Nelliampathi, Vagamon andPonmudi; and national parks and wildlife sanctuaries at Periyar and Eravikulam National Park. The "backwaters" regionan extensive network of interlocking rivers, lakes, and canals that centre on Alleppey, Kumarakom, and Punnamadaalso see heavy tourist traffic. Heritage sites, such as the Padmanabhapuram Palace, Hill Palace, Mattancherry Palace are also visited. To further promote tourism in Kerala Grand Kerala Shopping Festival was started by the Government of Kerala in [8] 2007. Since then it has been held every year during the December-January period. The city of Kochi ranks [9] first in the total number of international and domestic tourist arrivals in Kerala. 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 minimise the adverse effects of traditional tourism on the natural environment, and enhance the cultural integrity of local people.

Historical context[edit]

Resorts dot the lengths and breadths of Kerala.

Since its incorporation as a state, Kerala's economy largely operated under welfare-baseddemocratic socialist principles. This mode of development, though resulted in a high Human Development Index and standard of living among the people, lead to an economic stagnationin the 1980s (growth rate of [10] 2.3% annually ) This apparent paradox high human development and low economic development lead to a large number of educated unemployed seeking jobs overseas, especially in the Gulf countries. Due to the large number of expatriates, many travel operators and agencies set shop in the state to facilitate their travel needs. However, the trends soon reciprocated with the travel agencies noticing the undermined potential of the state as a tourist destination. First travel agency in kerala, Kerala Travels was founded by Col G.V. Raja of the Travancore royal family along with P.G.C. Pillai . By 1986, tourism had gained an industry status. Kerala Tourism subsequently adopted the tagline God's Own Country in its advertisement campaigns. Aggressive promotion in print and electronic media were able to invite a sizable investment in the hospitality industry. By the early 2000s, tourism had grown into a fully fledged, multibillion dollar industry in the state. The state was able to carve a niche place for itself in the world tourism

industry, thus becoming one of the places with the 'highest brand recall'. In 2003, Kerala, a hitherto unknown [12] tourism destination, became the fastest growing tourism destination in the world. Today, growing at a rate of 13.31%, Kerala is one of the most visited tourism destinations in India.
[3][13]

[11]

Major attractions[edit]
Flanked on the western coast by the Arabian Sea, Kerala has a long coastline of 580 km (360 mi); all of which is virtually dotted with sandy beaches. Kovalam beach near Thiruvananthapuram was among the first beaches in Kerala to attract tourists. Rediscovered by back-packers and tan-seekers in the sixties and followed by hordes of hippies in the [14][15][16] seventies, Kovalam is today the most visited beach in the state. Other popularly visited beaches in the state include those at Alappuzha Beach, Nattika beach[Thrissur], Vadanappilly beach[Thrissur], Cherai Beach, Kappad, Marari beach, Fort Kochi and Varkala. The Muzhappilangad Beach beach at Kannur is the only drive-in beach in India.

Backwaters[edit]
The backwaters in Kerala are a chain of brackish lagoons and lakes lying parallel to theArabian Sea coast (known as the Malabar Coast). Houseboat or Kettuvalam rides in the backwaters are a major tourist attraction. Backwater tourism is centered mostly aroundAlappuzha kollam and Kumarakom. Boat races held during festival seasons are also a major tourist attraction in the backwater regions. The backwater network includes large lakes such as the Vembanad Lake being the largest among them, linked by 1500 km of canals, both man-made and natural and fed by several rivers, and extending virtually the entire length of Kerala state. The backwaters were formed by the action of waves and shore currents creating low barrier islands across the mouths of the many rivers flowing down from the Western Ghats range.

Hill Stations[edit]
Eastern Kerala consists of land encroached upon by the Western Ghats; the region thus includes high mountains, gorges, and deep-cut valleys. The wildest lands are covered with dense forests, while other regions lie under tea and coffee plantations (established mainly in the 19th and 20th centuries) or other forms of cultivation. The Western Ghats rises on average to 1500 m elevation above sea level. Some of the popular hill stations in the region areMunnar, Vagamon, Wayanad, Nelliyampathi,Peermade and Ponmudi.

Festivals[edit]
The major festival in Kerala is Onam. Kerala has a number of religious festivals. Thrissur Pooram and Chettikulangara Bharani are the major temple festivals in Kerala. The Thrissur Pooram is conducted at the Vadakumnathan temple, Thrissur. The Chettikulangara Bharani is another major attraction. The festival is conducted at the Chettikulangara temple near Mavelikkara. The Sivarathri is also an important festival in Kerala. This festival is mainly celebrated in Aluva Temple and Padanilam Parabrahma Temple. Padanilam Temple is situated in Alappuzha district of Kerala, about 16 kilometres (9.9 mi) from Mavelikkara town. Parumala Perunnal, Manarkadu Perunnalare the major festivals of Christians. Muslims also have many important festivals.

Shopping[edit]
To further promote tourism in Kerala, the Government of Kerala started the Grand Kerala Shopping Festival in [8] the year 2007. 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. Through this shopping festival, the Kerala Government intends to transform the State into a hub for international shopping experience and there by launch "Shopping Tourism" in the state.

Tourism in Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu is a state in the south-eastern part of the Indian Peninsula.One of the four Dravidian states of India, it has had more than 4,000 years of continuous cultural history.Tamil Nadu has some of the most remarkable temple architecture in the country, and a living tradition of music, dance and fine arts.Tamil Nadu is well renowned for its temple towns and heritage sites, hill stations, waterfalls, national parks, local cuisine and the fabulous wildlife and scenic beauty.The state boasts the second largest tourism industry in India with an annual growth rate of 16%.

Economy and Tourism[edit]

Logo of the Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation

Tamil Nadu with a GDP of $98 million is the fourth largest economy of the country and Tourism is one of the main sources of its revenue.Tourism in the state is promoted by the Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation headquartered in the capital city of Chennai.Tamil Nadu is a year round tourist destination and the industry is the largest in the country only second to the neighboring state of Andhra Pradesh. Approximately [2] 28,04,687 foreign and 11,16,37,104 domestic tourists visited the state in 2010.

UNESCO World Heritage Sites[edit]

The Airavatesvara Temple at Darasuram, an 11th-century temple dedicated to Lord Shiva.

The state houses a no. of heritage sites mainly composed of the ancient temples and deities of the Pallava and Chola empire scattered along various parts of Northern and Central-Eastern parts of Tamil Nadu.The following are the list of the Heritage sites in the state.

The Chola Temples[edit]

The Great Living Chola Temples constructed by the king Raja Raja Chola I and his son Rajendra are sites of glorious heritage and architectural achievements.The Cultural heritage site includes the three great temples of 11th and 12th century namely, the Brihadisvara Temple at Thanjavur, the Brihadisvara Temple at Gangaikondacholisvaram and the Airavatesvara Temple at Darasuram.he temples testify to the brilliant achievements of the Chola in architecture, sculpture, painting and bronze casting.The site was inscribed under UNESCO World Heritage List in 2004 as Cultural heritage under criteria (ii) and (iii). Thanjavur - The home to the Chola Kingdom and the location of the Brihadisvara Temple built in the 11th Century.The temple made with 130,000 tons of granite is the tallest in South India and has been built in such a way that the shadows of the gopuram and its pillars do not fall on the ground any time during the day.

Gangaikonda Cholapuram - The capital of the Chola kingdom for 250 years.The Temple of Gangaikondacholisvaram, located here and built by Rajendra I, was completed in 1035. Its 53 metres (174 ft) vimana (sanctum tower) has recessed corners and a graceful upward curving movement, contrasting with the straight and severe tower at Thanjavur. Darasuram - A small town close to Kumbakonam, the town has the prestigiousAiravatesvara Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva along with the Brihadeeswara Temple and the temple of the Gangaikonda Cholapuram are three of the most venerated and architectural legacies of the Chola empire.

Group of Monuments in Mahabalipuram[edit]

The Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram declared as a WHS in 198, in Tamil Nadu, about 58 km from Chennai, were built by the Pallava kings in the 7th and 8th centuries. The town is said to have gained prominence under the rule of Mamalla. These monuments have been carved out of rock along the Coromandel coast.The following are the sites related.These monuments surprisingly survived the2004 Tsunami that devastated the other coastal towns nearby. Ratha Temples : Temples in the form of chariots. The 11 Mandapas : Cave sanctuaries dedicated to various deities. Rock Reliefs that include Descent of the Ganges and the Arjuna's Penance. The Shore Temple and the other temples cut out of rock. The Seven Pagodas
[5]

Tamil Nadu has the credit of having 34000 Hindu temples which are several centuries Old. The cities in ancient Tamil Nadu is believed to have revolved around the magnificent temples built by the Pallava,Chola and Pandya empires and therefore most of the cities in the state have a lot of religious significance and contain a no. of temples and shrines in and around their limits.Temple towns like Madurai and Kanchipuram are thronged by visitors throughout the year.

Chidambaram[edit]
Chidambaram is the seat of the cosmic dancer Lord Nataraja (Ananda Tandava pose ; the Cosmic Dance of bliss). It is one of the Pancha Bhutasthalas.The Chidambaram Templededicated to Lord Natraja built in the 9th century has an unusual hut-like sanctum with a gold-plated roof and four towering gopuras.Many Chola kings were crowned here in the presence of the deity. Nearby a sculptural temple is Melakadambur, with its distinct architecture that makes it resemble a chariot.

Srirangam[edit]
Srirangam another example of classic temple town, houses the Ranganathaswamy Temple a major pilgrimage destination for the Vaishnava community.It is the biggest functioning Hindu temple in the world (156 Acres) and [6] the temple tower measuring 60 m (196 ft)is the tallest Hindu temple tower in the world... East of the Rangnathasamy temple is the 17th-century temple town of Jambukeshvar Temple, in the town of Tiruvanaikka an important destination for worshipers of Lord Shiva.

Tiruchirapalli[edit]
Tiruchirapalli, no temple town by itself is a feeder point to several other temple towns and major shrines in Central Tamil Nadu.the 'Ucchi Pillayar' shrine located at the top of the prominent ruins of the Rock Fort is one such temple.Tiruchirapalli is also very close to the Parvati temple inSamayanallur and the temple towns of Srirangam and Tiruvanaikka.

Kanniyakumari[edit]
The southernmost tip of the subcontinent, Kanniyakumari is known for the Kumari Amman Temple and the Thanumalayan Temple.Other religious sites include the Mondaicaud Bhagavathi Temple, the St.Xavier's Church, Sri Adikesavaperumal Temple and the St. Arockiya Nathar Church within the district.

Tourism in Uttar Pradesh

Situated in the northern part of India, bordering with the capital of India New Delhi, Uttar Pradesh is one of the most popular tourist destination in India. The most populous state of India, Uttar Pradesh is filled with its wealth of historical 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, andHinduism's holiest city, Varanasi. Kathak, one of the eight forms of Indian classical dances, originated from Uttar Pradesh. Uttar Pradesh is at the heart of India, hence it is also known asThe Heartland of India. Cuisine of Uttar Pradesh like Awadhi cuisine, Mughlai cuisine, Kumauni cuisine are very famous not only in India but also many places abroad. Uttar Pradesh is known for ages for its rich culture and tradition. It is home to Ayodhya andMathura birthplace of Lord Rama and Lord Krishna respectively. Uttar Pradesh attracts a large number of both national and international tourists. Taj Mahal, one of the New Seven Wonders of the World in Agra is also located in Uttar Pradesh. There are different places one can visit in Uttar Pradesh. Agra, Jhansi, Lucknow and Meerut are historical cities famous for their monuments. Mathura, Vrindavan, Gokul, Varanasi, Ayodhya and Allahabad are holy cities for Hindus and Kushinagar and Sarnath are important Buddhist places among the main four pilgrimage sites related to the life of Gautama Buddha. Noida is the most developed urban city of Uttar Pradesh.

Agra[edit]
The 17th century Taj Mahal in Agra is the most popular monument in India, attracting over 2.5 million visitors [1] per year. Agra is home to four World Heritage Sites in Taj Mahal, Agra Fort, Sikandra & the Fatehpur Sikri. Agra is also home to many other beautiful Mughal buildings like Akbar's Tomb, Itmad-Ud-Daulah etc. Dayal Bagh is an under-construction temple that many visit. The lifelike carving in marble is not seen anywhere else in India.

Panoramic view of the Taj Mahal.

Kumbh Mela[edit]

A procession of Akharas marching over a makeshift bridge over the Ganges river, Kumbh Mela at Allahabad, 2001

Every year thousands gather at Allahabad to take part in the festival on the banks of the Ganges, the Magh Mela. The same festival is organised in a larger scale every 12th year and attracts millions of people and is called the Kumbha Mela. Kumbh Mela (especially the Maha Kumbh Mela) is the most sacred of all the pilgrimages. Thousands of holy men and women (monks, saints and sadhus) attend, and the auspiciousness of the festival is in part attributable to this. The sadhus are seen clad in saffron sheets with plenty of ashes and powder dabbed on their skin per the requirements of ancient traditions. Some called nanga sanyasis or

'Dhigambers' may often be seen without any clothes even in severe winter, generally considered to live an extreme lifestyle. This tends to attract a lot of western attention as it is seemingly in contrast to a generally conservative social modesty practised in the country.

Hindu religious sites[edit]

Millions of tourists and pilgrims visit the cities of Allahabad, Varanasi, Mathura and Ayodhya, as those are considered to be the holiest cities in India.

Varanasi[edit]
Varanasi (also called Kashi and Benares) is widely considered to be the second oldest city in the world after Jerusalem. It is famous for its ghats (steps along the river) which are populated year round with people who want to take a dip in the holy Ganges River. Kashi Vishwanath Temple in Varanasi is home to the Vishwanath Jyotirling temple, which is one of the most sacred of Hindu Temples.

Mathura-Vrindavan[edit]
Birthplace of Lord Krishana. Both Mathura & Vrindavan have beautiful temples devoted to Krishna. The place comes alive at the time of Holi, when a special brand of Holicalled the Lath mar Holi is played here. During Janmaashtami, the birth of Lord Krishna, there are huge festivities in the region.

Ayodhya[edit]
Hindus believe the birthplace of Rama to be in Ayodhya at the place called Ram Janmabhoomi, the site of the demolished Babri Mosque. Ayodhya is also the birthplace of five Tirthankars, including the first Tirthankar of Jainism, Shri Rishabh Dev. He is known as the father of Jain religion. The city is also important in the history and heritage of Buddhism in India, with several Buddhist temples, monuments and centers of learning having been established here during the age of the Mauryan Empire and the Gupta Dynasty. Ayodhya reached its glorious peak as known to history during the reign of the Guptas over India.

Places of interest[edit]
Places of interest in Uttar Pradesh include: Varanasi: The origin of Hinduism and the oldest city of the world, also known as City of temples, holy place for devotees of LordShiva, one of the finest Textiles Industry in the world. Agra: Taj Mahal and several others historical monuments and gardens. Allahabad or Prayag: Well known for its Kumbh Mela. The place where Indian national river Ganges and Yamuna and Saraswatirivers meet. A mass Hindu pilgrimage in which Hindus gather at the Ganges river. Akbar forts, one of the most popular religious center of ancient and modern India for Hinduism. Uttar Pradesh's administrative and education capital. Kanpur - Uttar Pradesh's commercial and Industrial hub, several historical places fromMughal, British era.

Kanpur Sangrahalaya, a museum Lucknow-The capital of Uttar Pradesh, Several historical places Mughal, British and ancient India. Mathura-The birthplace of Lord Krishna of Hinduism and Neminath of Jainism. VrindavanAyodhya: The birthplace of Lord Vishnu's incarnation prabhu Shri Rama. Jhansi: Historical place, Rani Lakshmibai's battlefield against British, Jhansi Fort Sarnath-Gautama Buddha first taught the Dharma, the Buddha as one of the four places of pilgrimage which his devout followers should visit. The birthplace of Shreyansanath, the eleventh Jain Tirthankar of the Jainism. Kushinagar- It is an important Buddhist pilgrimage site, where Gautama Buddha is believed to have attained Parinirvana after his death. Fatehpur Sikri-Historical place for Mughal Empire's palaces and forts.

Tourism in Rajasthan
Rajasthan is one of the most popular tourist destinations in India, for both domestic and international tourists. Rajasthan attracts tourists for its historical forts, palaces, art and culture. Every third foreign tourist [1][2] visiting India also travels to Rajasthan as it is part of the Golden Triangle for tourists visiting India. Endowed with natural beauty and a great history, Rajasthan has a flourishing tourism industry. The palaces of Jaipur, lakes of Udaipur, and desert forts of Jodhpur, Bikaner & Jaisalmer are among the most preferred destinations of many tourists, Indian and foreign. Tourism accounts for eight percent of the state's domestic product. Many old and neglected palaces and forts have been converted into heritage hotels. Tourism has increased employment in the hospitality sector.

A panoramic view of Umaid Bhavan Palace , Jodhpur

Popular tourist attractions[edit]

Ghats at Pushkar lake, Rajasthan.

Ahore - Located 110 km away from Jodhpur.A small town famous for Holi Festival,goddess temple and Haveli by Jagirdar family of Ahore.Presently running as a hotel "Havelli Heritage". Ajmer - Popular for shrine of sufi saikhllnt Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti. Barmer - Barmer and surrounding areas offer perfect picture of typical Rajasthani villages. Bikaner - Famous for its havelis, palaces and temples. Bundi - Popular for its forts, palaces and stepwell reservoirs known as baoris. Jaipur- Known as pink city of India and the capital of Rajasthan, famous for palaces and temples.

Jaisalmer - Famous for its golden fortress, havelis and some of the oldest Jain Temples and libraries. Jodhpur - Fortress-city at the edge of the Thar Desert, famous for its blue homes and architecture. Mount Abu - Popular hill station, famous for 11th century Dilwara Jain Temples and natural beauty. Highest peak in the Aravalli Range of Rajasthan, Guru Shikhar is just 15 km from the main town. Nathdwara - This town near Udaipur hosts the famous temple of Shrinathji. Pushkar - It has the first and one of the very few Brahma temples in the world. Ranakpur- Large Jain Temple complex with near 1444 pillars and exquisite marble carvings. Ranthambore - Situated near Sawai Madhopur. This town has historic Ranthambore Fort and one of the largest and most famous national park of India (Ranthambore National Park).

T24- The largest tiger in Ranthambore National Park

Shekhawati - Located are small towns such as Mandawa and Ramgarh with frescoed havelis between 100 years to 300 years old, and Vedic period Dhosi Hill. Udaipur - Known as the "Venice of India".

Tourism in Maharashtra
Maharashtra is one of the most industrialized states of india. Besides Mumbai, Pune, Nashik, Aurangabad and Nagpur complete theurban sprawl of the state. Marathi is the mother tongue of the people of the state, who are known as Marathis or Maharashtrians.English and Hindi are also widely spoken and understood. Maharashtra is the most visited state by foreign tourists in India and 4th most visited state by domestic [2] [3] tourists in country in 2010. Recently, Aurangabad was declared as Tourism Capital of Maharashtra.
[1]

Cities of Maharashtra[edit]
Mumbai[edit]
The eastern equivalent of New York City and Los Angeles and the financial capital and [4] entertainment(Bollywood) capital of the country, is constantly abuzz with activities. It has a very active nightlife for those inclined towards urban modes of entertainment. Some places of interest to include on the must-watch list are: Gateway of India, The Bandra-Worli Sea Link, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya, Chatrapati Shivaji Terminus, a humongous architectural stone structure built by the British more than 200 years ago, Girgaon chowpati (beach), Downtown Mumbai - reminiscent of the 19th century British architecture. Some pristine beaches can be found towards the south of Mumbai, for e.g. Madh island beach. Elephanta Caves, carved out of a giant stone on an island are a short ferry away into the Arabian sea. Ferries can be rented from The Gateway of India. There is no dearth of luxury hotels that dot the city near all important tourist places. The city has one of the most active public transport system rivaling the best in the world in terms of density and reach.... Due to is cosmopolitan nature, Mumbai has proven a popular tourism destination for backpackers from around the world. A large English and Australian youth take a gap year to [5] backpack around India, and often start in Mumbai.

Pune[edit]
Undoubtedly the cultural capital of the state of Maharashtra, is said to be the educational center of India. Pune has forts dating back to the seventeenth century such as Sinhagad, Purandar, Shaniwar Wada (a weekend residence of the Peshwas) and Lal Mahal (the red palace), residence of Chhatrapati Shivaji maharaj. Pune also has educational institutes of repute such as Fergusson College, a 200-year old college built by the British. Pune has many beautiful temples which are visited by thousand of devotees. Amongst them are Parvati temples, Chaturshringi Temple,Pataleshwar and many temples of Lord Ganesh in the cross roads of the peths. Lakshmi Road, the avenue for buying all things Maharashtrian. These are just some of the places that register high on the tourist's agenda.

Aurangabad[edit]
Main article: Aurangabad Tourism Capital of Maharashtra This city lies in the central parts of Maharashtra and is one of the most popular cities that figure on the international tourist map. The city is situated in the beauty of nature. On the outskirts lie the caves of Ajanta and Ellora. Both are internationally renowned for their intricate carvings of Lord Buddha in stone. Ancient Buddhist life has been depicted in delicate stonework. Guided tours are readily available. Summers are not advisable for touring as temperatures can reach up to and above 44 degrees C during the day. There are other famous tourism places like Bibi Ka Maqbara(The Taj Mahal of deccan), Daulatabad Fort, Panchakki, Sunheri Mahal and a lot of more places. It is connected to whole India by air,road and railways. SO do come to Aurangabad, you will not get depressed.

Nanded[edit]
Nanded is a place of religious importance for adherents of the Sikh faith; its best known landmark is the Hazur Sahib Nanded Gurdwara, a former Sikh palace. Nanded is also the holy place for Hindus as it has Renukadevi shaktipeetha temple at Mahur. Nanded has many Sufi shrines as well.

Nagpur[edit]
The winter capital of the state senate is a wonderful city. With a tradition of producing the best Oranges, this city would be a great place to visit during the winter. Summer along with Aurangabad, would not be a good time to visit with temperatures hovering in the low-to-mid 40s. Nagpur being in the heart of the country has a Zero Mile monument which is a milestone from which the distances of major cities were calculated. The city also has a beautiful stupa at Deekshabhoomi-the place where under the leadership of Dalit leader Dr B R Ambedkar thousands of dalits embraced Buddhism. Another important place to visit is Tekadi Ganesh mandir on Sitabuildi fort complex. The Orange city has other places of tourist importance such as Maharajbagh zoo, Futala lake chowpati, Raman science center, RSS headquarters and some premier research institutions such as NEERI, CICR, NBSSLUP.

Nashik[edit]
This city is a holy pilgrim city. It is the place where Lord Rama spent 14 years of his exile. It is also a city of temples. It is known for its picturesque surrounding and a pleasant climate. It can be visited any time except in rainy season. Trimbakeshwar near Nashik is a jyotirling. Godavari river originates from here. In recent times, this city has developed a lot and is rapidly developing into a metro.The "Wine Capital of India", or the "Grape City", as it is popularly known in recent times, is located in the Western Ghats, on the western edge of the Deccan peninsula on the banks of the Godavari River. The city is known for its picturesque surroundings and pleasant climate. The Godavari River flows through Nashik from its source, which lies to the southwest of the city, in Trimbakeshwar. It is a rapidly developing city with a population close to 1.4 million

Satara[edit]
This city lies on western Maharashtra. City is well known for tourist places like Mahabaleshwar, Wai, Panchgani and rivers such asKoyna and Krishna. Mahabaleshwar and Panchgani are one of the famous tourist places of India. River Krishna rises at Mahabaleswar near the Jor village in the extreme north of Wai district. From here on it flows into Karnataka and joins the Bay of Bengal after traveling distance of 1400 km.

Religious venues[edit]
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. Shirdi, near Nashik is the location of the temple of Sai Baba - a hugely revered God-like priest, Tuljabhavani temple at Tuljapur, Gajanan Maharaj temple at Shegaon, Mahalakshmi temple in south Mumbai, Hajiali, a popular mosque in the seas near the Mahalakshmi temple, Mount Mary

church in the suburb of Bandra, Sarasbaugh Ganpati Mandir, a temple in a pond near Parvati inPune, Dagdusheth Halwai Ganpati.Osho Asharam in the area of pune also one of the popular place which attracts number of devotiees.Takhat Sachkhand Shri Hazur Sahib, famous Gurdwar near Nanded, is also one of the tourist place in Maharashtra.

The countryside[edit]
The countryside is equally engrossing. There is a lot to see and explore in the countryside. The famed Konkan region that lies between the west coast and along the foot of the Western ghats stretches from Maharastra down to Kerala. This part of the state is lush with greenery and tropical geography. It is the greenest part of the state. Dilapidated forts sitting atop the hills in the Western Ghats along the state coastline offer great climbs for the trek-oriented traveler along with a sense of history. Konkan Railways offer extensive train transport through this hilly terrain up to Goa and beyond.

Tourism in Karnataka
Karnataka, the eighth largest state in India has been ranked as the fifth most popular state in the country for [1][2] [3] tourism. It is home to 507 of the 3600 centrally protected monuments in India, the largest number after [4] Uttar Pradesh. The State Directorate of Archaeology and Museums protects an additional 752 monuments [5] and another 25,000 monuments are yet to receive protection. Tourism centres around the ancient sculptured temples, modern cities, the hill ranges, forests and beaches. Broadly, tourism in Karnataka can be divided into four geographical regions: North Karnataka, the Hill Stations, Coastal Karnataka and South Karnataka. The Karnataka Government has recently introduced The Golden Chariot - a train which connects popular tourist destinations in the state and Goa.

Gol Gumbaz Bijapur

North Karnataka[edit]
North Karnataka has monuments that date back to the 5th century. Kannada empires that ruled the Deccan had their capitals here. Badami Chalukyas monuments are located atPattadakal, Aihole and Badami. Aihole has [6] been called the cradle of Indian architecture and has over 125 temples and monuments built between 450 and 1100 BC. Rashtrakutamonuments at Lokapura, Bilgi and Kuknur and Kalyani Chalukyas monuments built [7][8] inGadag style of architecture at Lakkundi, Gadag, Itagi (in Koppal District) and theVijayanagar empire temples at Vijayanagara are some examples. Hampi in Bellary Districthas ruins spread over an area of 125 km. With some fifty four world heritage monuments and six hundred and fifty national monuments ( ASI). An additional three hundred monuments await protection. The Deccan sultanate monuments at Bijapur and Gulbarga show unique and discreet Hindu influences and rival the Muslim monuments of North India. Archeologically important locations like Sannati, Kanaganahalli in Gulbarga district have thrown more light on Buddhist centers of the 1st century BCE to 3rd century CE. The first ever statue of emperor Ashoka with his queens and a Prakrit inscription Rayo Ashoka (ASI) has been found.

Badami surroundings important locations are Kudalasangama, Aihole, Pattadakal, Mahakuta and Banashankari. Hampi surroundings region, they can be visited from Hampi/Hosapete, or from Hubli. There are Kuknur, Itagi, Gadag, Lakkundi, Dambal,Haveri, Kaginele, Bankapura.

World heritage centres

Hampi, Bellary District: The site of the capital of Vijayanagara (1336) and formerly the seat of the Vijayanagar Empire. Foreign visitors in the 15th and 16th centuries described Hampi as being bigger than Rome. The city was destroyed and deserted in 1565 by marauding Moghul invaders and its ruins now lie scattered over a 26 sq. km area south of the river Tungabhadra. The rocky area near Anegundi to the [citation needed] north of the river has been identified as Kishkindha of Ramayana times. Hampi is home to a 29foot-tall (8.8 m) monolithic Narasimha, which was installed by Krishnadevaraya in 1529. The remains of palaces and gateways can be seen. Group of 8th-century CE monuments, Pattadakal: Located on the banks of the river Malaprabha, Pattadakal was the second capital of the Chalukyas and contains examples of 7th- and 8th-century temple architecture. Four temples are in the south IndianDravidian style, four in the North Indian Nagara style and the last one, the Papanatha temple represents a hybrid of the two styles. The oldest temples are the Sangameshwara, Mallikarjuna and Virupaksha Temples.
[10] [9]

Historical locations[edit]
Western Chalukya[edit]
Aihole: a former Chalukya trading city. There are around 140 temples including examples of early Chalukya, Rashtrakuta and later Chalukya dynasties from the 6th to 12th centuries. It has a Jain and Vedic rock-cut shrine, both of about the 6th century. It has Tirthankara images and a Durga temple. The meguti on a hill is a jaina basti which has an Aihole inscription of Pulikeshin 2 and also a Buddhist twostoried rock -cut shrine below it. All the other Jain and Buddhist temples are built of stone and resemble Hindu temples. The temples were built during the Middle Ages before any style was established and hence there is a mixture of styles. Badami: the capital of the early Chalukyas in the 6th century, is at the mouth of a ravine between two rocky hills. The town is known for its cave temples (all carved out of sandstone hills). Badami have four caves, the cave temple dedicated to Vishnu is the largest. In front of the cave temple, there is a reservoir called Aghastya Teertha dotted with temples on its bank. Among them, two are dedicated to Vishnu, one to Shiva and the fourth is a Jain Temple. Carvings in the cave temples display the Hindu gods, Narashima and Hari Hara. The temples also have paintings on the ceiling and bracket figures on the piers. Basavana Bagewadi: It is 43 east of Bijapur. In the 12th century, Saint Basaveshwarawas born here. It was an agrahara. The main temple here is in the Chalukya style and it was called as Sangamantha in records. The Samadhis of Siddharameshwara and Gurupadeshwara of the Inchageri school of spiritual pursuit are seen here.
[12][13][14] [11]

Tourism in Gujarat
Gujarat is the 7th largest state in India, located in the western part of India with a coastline of 1600 km (longest in India). It is one of the most popular tourist regions in the country, and was visited by 19.8 million tourists in [1] 2010-11. Gujarat offers scenic beauty from Great Rann of Kutch to the hills of Saputara. Gujarat is the one and [2] only place to view pure asiatic lions in the world. During the Sultanate reign, Hindu craftsmanship mixed 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 and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, iconic figures of India's independence movement. Amitabh Bachchan is currently the brand ambassador of Gujarat Tourism. The Khushboo Gujarat Ki' campaign by celebrity Amitabh Bachchan has increased touri sm in Gujarat by 14 per [3] cent per annum, twice that of national growth rate. Ahmedabad is considered
[by whom?]

to be an ideal hub to cover all the destinations in Gujarat.

Business tourism[edit]
Gujarat is one of the most industrialized states in the country. There are many Indian and global companies located in Gujarat and the area has seen double digit GDP growth in past decade. It is also known as "Growth Engine of India". Vibrant Gujarat is biennial investors' summit held by the government of Gujarat. The event is aimed at bringing together business leaders, investors, corporations, thought leaders, policy and opinion makers; the summit is advertised as a platform to understand and explore business opportunities in the state. It has become a model for economic success for many states. According to the list of the top 10 Indian cities by GDP in 2009, based on [4] a PricewaterhouseCoopers study, Ahmedabad ranks 7th in India with an annual GDP of 59 billion USD. Gujarat International Finance Tec-City is an under-construction city in Gujarat. It will be located next to the Sabramati river, 12 km north of Ahmedabad and 8 km South ofGandhinagar, the political capital of the state. It 2 will be built on 500 acres (2.0 km ) of land. Its main purpose is to provide high quality physical infrastructure, so that finance and tech firms can relocate their operations there from Mumbai, Bangalore, Gurgaon and other [7] regions where infrastructure is either inconsistent or very expensive.
[5][6]

Archeological and heritage tourism

Within Gujarat there are a wide variety of historic forts, palaces, mosques, temples, and places of historical importance in Indias struggle for independence. Many of this palaces and forts have been converted into heritage hotels to keep tourists close to the vibrant history of Gujarat. For example, Laxmi Vilas Palace, Vadodara is reputed to have been the largest private dwelling built at the time and it is four times the size [by whom?] of Buckingham Palace inLondon. These sites are under-developed and are considered to have huge development potential. World heritage sites like Lothal, Dholavira and Champaner are also located within Gujarat or nearby.

Cultural tourism
Gujarat is well known for its rich culture. The folk arts of Gujarat form a major part of the culture of the state. It preserves the rich tradition of song, dance, drama as well. Handicrafts include Bandhani, patolas of Patan, kutchhi work, Khadi, bamboo craft, block printing, embroidery, woodcraft, metal crafts, pottery, namda, rogan painting, pithora and many more handicrafts. The Arabs, Portuguese, Dutch, Mughals and British as well as Parsis have left their mark on Gujarats culture.

Religious tourism
Gujarat- Home to multitude devotional centres and temples with Famous Regious Centers like Dwarka, Dakor, Ambaji, Palitana, Mahudi, Shankheshwar, Somnath, Shamlaji, Bahucharaji, Pavagadh, Kabirvad, Sun Temple, Modhera, Akshardham (Gandhinagar), Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Ahmedabad, Jain temples, Hindu Temples and Sudama Mandir.Ashapura mataji madh- Kutch, Swaminarayan Mandir - Bhuj, Narayan Sarovar, Tulsi Shyam, Sattadhar, Lojpur etc.

Wildlife tourism
Gujarat is habitat for the world's rarest as well large number of Fauna & Flora, Fauna includesAsiatic Lions, Wild Ass, Blackbuck, Bears, Monkeys, Nilgai, Paradise Flycatcher, Chinkara,Dolphins, Whale Shark and Migratory Birds like Flamingos, Pelican, Storks. Flora includes species of Khair, Sadad, Timru, Babul, Salai, Khakro, Ber, Asundro and Bordi. The state also has National park. Sanctuaries at Gir National Park, Marine National Park, Gulf of Kutch,Vansda National Park, Nalsarovar Bird Sanctuary, Kutch Bustard Sanctuary and Blackbuck National Park, Velavadar.

Fairs and festivals

Gujarat celebrates unique festivals like "Global Garba" (OctoberNovember,all over the state), "Kite Festival (Makar Sankranti,1115 January, Ahmedabad), "Kankaria Carnival" (2531 December, Ahmedabad), "Rann Utsav" (NovemberDecember, Kutch), "Modhera Dance Festival" (3rd week January, Modhera) and fairs like Tarnetar Fair (August, Tarnetar) & Vautha Mela (November, Vautha).

Amritsar
Amritsar historically also known as Rmdspur and colloquially as Ambarsar) is a city in the north-western part of India. It is the spiritual centre for the Sikh religion and the administrative headquarters of the Amritsar district in the state of Punjab. It is home to the Harmandir Sahib (referred to as the "Golden Temple" in the western media), the spiritual and cultural center for the Sikh religion. This important Sikh shrine attracts more visitors than the Taj Mahal with more than 100,000 visitors on week days alone and is the most popular destination for Non-resident Indians (NRI) in the whole of India. The city also houses the Sikh temporal and political authority, Akal Takht, as well as the Sikh Parliament. The 2011 Indian census reported the population of the city to be 1,132,761. Amritsar is situated 217 kilometres (135 mi) northwest of state capital Chandigarh and is 32 kilometres (20 mi) east of Lahore, Pakistan and therefore, very close to India's western border with Pakistan. The main commercial activities include tourism, carpets and fabrics, farm produce, handicrafts, service trades, and light engineering. The city is known for its rich cuisine and culture, and for the tragic incident of Jallianwala Bagh massacre in 1919 under British Rule. Amritsar is home to Central Khalsa Orphanage, which was once a home to Udham Singh, a prominent figure in the Indian independence movement.

Tourist Places
Golden Temple (Harmander Sahib) The Golden temple is located in the holy city of the Sikhs, Amritsar. The Golden temple is famous for its full golden dome, it is one of the most sacred pilgrim spots for Sikhs. The Mandir is built on a 67ft square of marble and is a two storied structure. Maharaja Ranjit Singh had the upper half of the building built with approximately 400 kg of gold leaf. The Golden Temple is surrounded by a number of other famous temples like the Durgiana Temple. The fourth Guru of Sikhs, Guru Ram Das, who had initially constructed a pool here, founded Amritsar, which houses the Golden Temple or Harmandir Sahib. It is here that Sage Valmiki wrote the epic, Ramayana. Rama and Sita are believed to have spent their fourteen-year exile in Amritsar, the epicenter of Sikhism. To the south of the temple is a garden, and the tower of Baba Atal. The Central Sikh Museum is atop the Clock Tower. The 'Guru Ka Langar' offers free food to around 20,000 people every day. The number shoots up to 100,000 on special occasions. A visitor must cover his / her head before entering the temple premises. The Granth Sahib is kept in the Temple during the day and is kept in the Akal Takht or Eternal Throne in the night. The Akal Takht also houses the ancient weapons used by the Sikh warriors. Guru Hargobind established it. The rugged old Jubi Tree in the north west corner of the compound is believed to possess special powers. It was planted 450 years ago, by the Golden Temple's first high priest, Baba Buddha. Guru-ka-Langar or the communal canteen is towards the eastern entrance of the temple complex, and it provides free food to all visitors, regardless of colour, creed, caste or gender. Visitors to the Golden

Temple must remove their shoes and cover their heads before entering the temple. The temple is less crowded in the early mornings on weekends. Around the Golden Temple Within the sacred precincts of the Golden Temple, a devotee can seek blessing at: 1. 2. 3. 4. The Akal Takht Har Ki Pauri Dukh Bhanjani Ber (Jujube Tree) Thara Sahib 5. 6. 7. 8. Ber Baba Budha Ji Gurudwara Ilachi Ber Ath Sath Tirath Bunga Baba Deep Singh

Durgiana Temple (Lakshmi Narain Temple) Built in the third decade of the 20th Century it echoes, not the traditional Hindu temple architecture, but that of the Golden Temple and, in a similar manner rises from the midst of a tank and has canopies and the central dome in the style of the Sikh temple. One of the greatest reformers and political leaders of resurgent India, Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya, laid its foundation stone. It is a well-known repository of Hindu scriptures Wagah Border The international border between India and Pakistan. The pomp and pageantry of the Beating Retreat and the Change of Guard within handshaking distance of the Indian and Pakistani forces makes for a most charming spectacle. Wagah, an army outpost on Indo-Pak border - between Amritsar and Lahore, is an elaborate complex of buildings, roads and barriers on both sides. The daily highlight is the evening "Beating the Retreat" ceremony. Soldiers from both countries march in perfect drill, going through the steps of bringing down their respective national flags. As the sun goes down, nationalistic fervour rises and lights are switched on marking the end of the day amidst thunderous applause. Jallian Wala Bagh The memorial at this site commemorates the 2000 Indians who were killed or wounded, shot indiscriminately by the British under the command of Gen Michael O"Dyer on April13, 1919 while participating in a peaceful public meeting. This was one of the major incidents of India's freedom struggle.The story of this appaling massacre is told in the Martyr's Gallery at the site. A section of wall with bullet marks still visible is preserved along with the memorial well, in which some people jumped to escape. "The impossible men of India shall rise and liberate their mother land", declared Mahatma Gandhi, after the Jallian Wala massacre. "This disproportionate severity of punishment inflicted upon the unfortunate people and method of carrying it out is without parallel in the history of civilized govt." wrote Rabindra Nath Tagore the noble laureate while returning knighthood.