World Tourism Day 2021: Visit the Exotic Destinations of India

World Tourism Day 2021 is being celebrated on 27th September. The United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) has declared the theme of this year's Tourism Day as “Tourism for Inclusive Growth”. This is essentially due to the immense losses incurred by the travel sector due to the pandemic restrictions. In their official messages, the organization has focused on the importance of travel. Respecting the human desire to travel and explore the world, they have emphasized the need for tourism. Tourism leads to both social and economic benefits.

World Tourism Day has been initiated way back on 27 September 1980. From then, each year the tradition and celebrations are continuing with full zeal and enthusiasm. UNWTO decides a theme every year and propagates the same to the various nations of the world. The date has been selected with the thought that it marks the end of the high season in the northern hemisphere and the start of the season in the southern hemisphere.

Here is a video of the message by UNWTO on World Tourism Day 2021.

Exploring India

I want to celebrate World Tourism Day 2021, by sharing about the key states of India and the prominent places to visit in each of them. Currently, there are 29 states in India and 7 union territories. Each one of them is unique in its natural beauty, historical significance, cultural essence, and food habits. So here we go. Before talking about the states, I must mention Delhi, the capital city of India.

Delhi

Delhi is a grand city in India, no doubt it is the capital of the country. You must not miss visiting Delhi if you are on a tour to India commemorating World Tourism Day, 2021. The prominent sightseeing spots or places to visit in Delhi are the Qutub Minar, Red Fort, Lotus temple, Swaminarayan Akshardham, India Gate, Chandni Chowk, Dilli Hat (market), Connaught Palace, Rajpath, and Karol Bagh.

Uttar Pradesh

Uttar Pradesh is present in the northern part of India. It is the most populated state in the country. In terms of cultural elegance and historical grandeur, the state is the best. The popular cities to visit in the state are Agra, Varanasi, Lucknow, and Noida. One of the top attractions in the state is the exemplary Taj Mahal, one of the seven wonders of the World and an epitome of architectural brilliance. Visiting the banks of the river Ganges is another perfect way to spend your time. You must visit Bara Imambara (mosque), Buddh International Circuit, the Grand Venice Mall, Triveni Sangam in Allahabad, Sarnath, Vrindavan Gardens, Dasaswamedh Ghat, Banaras Ghats, and many more.

Kerala

Kerala, God's Own Country, is situated in the southern part of India. Adorned with lush greenery, pristine backwaters, gorgeous sea beaches, churches, and historical monuments, it is one of the best mentions in World Tourism Day 2021. The best places to visit in the state are Alleppey backwaters, Kochi, Thekkady, Munnar, Thrissur, Kovalam, Wayanad, and Kannur. You must not miss visiting its capital city Thiruvananthapuram. Tea gardens and coffee estates are some of the prominent sightseeing destinations. Opt for a boat ride along the backwaters or you may stay at a houseboat too.

Maharashtra

Maharashtra is the second-most populous state in India. It is located in the western part of India. The place has been a witness to several historical events. Specifically renowned for the Great warrior Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. The popular cities to visit in the state are Mumbai, Pune, Lonavala, and Nashik. Marine Drive, Sula Vineyards, Juhu Beach, Saptashrungi, Swaminarayan Temple, Mahabaleshwar hill station, Elephanta Caves, and Ajanta and Ellora caves, are some of the key attractions of the state. Do not miss out on tasting the street foods in various cities. Maharashtra is famous for delectable and fresh street foods which you may not find in any other state in India.

Tamil Nadu

Beautiful temples, pilgrimage sites, and tranquil beaches adorn the state of Tamil Nadu. It is located in the southern part of India. The popular cities to visit in Tamil Nadu are Chennai (the capital city), Madurai, Ooty, and Coimbatore. Kanyakumari, the southernmost point of the Indian peninsula and the confluence of 3 oceans-the Bay of Bengal, the Arabian Sea, and the Indian Ocean, is the star attraction of the state. You must not miss the sunrise and the famous Vivekananda Rock Memorial. The other key sightseeing spots in the state are the Dhanushkodi beach, Madurai Meenakshi Amman Temple, Adiyogi Shiva statue, Coakers Walk, Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple, Dhyanalinga Temple, Chidambaram Nataraja Temple, Sripuram Golden Temple, and Mannavanur Lake.

west bengal

West Bengal is a state that upholds the spirit of ancient India. Royal households, historical monuments and buildings, natural wonders with sea beaches, mountains, and dense forests circumference the entire state. Visiting the state as part of World Tourism Day 2021 will be a real pleasure. Located in the eastern part of India, the popular cities to visit in West Bengal are kolkata (the capital city), Darjeeling, Digha, and Siliguri. There are a plethora of places to visit in West Bengal. The key among them is the Victoria Memorial Hall, Birla Planetarium, Ecotourism park, Indian museum, Dakshineshwar Temple, Belur Math, Howrah Bridge and Vidyasagar Setu or bridge, Purulia, Tiger hill on Darjeeling, the Kanchenjunga mountain ranges, Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park, Sundarbans, and Dooars.

Odisha

Ancient temples belonging to Hindu mythology, tribal culture, and natural beauty enwrap the state of Odisha. It is located in the eastern part of India. The popular cities to visit in Odisha are Bhubaneswar (capital city of Odisha), Puri, Sambalpur, and Balasore. The top attractions in the state are Jagannath Temple, Konark temple, Nandankanan Zoological Park, Dhauli Giri Hills, Lingaraja Temple, Chilika Lake, Udayagiri caves, Raghurajpur Artistic Village, Puri beach, and Chandipur beach. You must visit the textile emporiums of the state to buy the traditional attire, which is quite famous in India. Odisha is also traditionally well known for art and crafts.

Punjab

Punjab is popularly known as the land of the five rivers – Beas, Ravi, Sutlej, Chenab, and Jhelum. It is present in the western part of India. The prominent cities to visit in Punjab are Amritsar, Ludhiana, Chandigarh, Jalandhar, and Bhatinda. The Golden Temple of Amritsar is the key tourist destination in Punjab. The other sightseeing spots in the state are Rangla Punjab Haveli, Gurudwara Nanaksar Jagroan, Devi Talab Mandir Temple, Wagah border, Takht Sri Damdama Sahib, Mukteshwar Temple, and Wonderland Theme park. Punjabi cuisine is unique in India and it's dairy products. You must definitely taste them while on a tour in Punjab.

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh is especially popular for its temples, historical monuments, and natural beauty. The state is located in the southern part of India. Ramoji Film City in Hyderabad (capital city of the state) is a popular tourist destination. The cities to visit in the state are Hyderabad, Vishakhapatnam, Tirupati, Vijaywada, and Chittoor. The key sightseeing spots in Andhra Pradesh are Borra caves, Araku valley, Charminar, Tirumala temple, INS Kurusara Submarine museum, Rishikonda beach, Kailasagiri, Tada falls, Nagalapuram Falls, and Belum caves. Visiting the Tirupati Tirumala temple is a must while planning for a trip to the state. It's holy and divine and every year millions of pilgrims visit the state.

Karnataka

Another state of the southern part of India, Karnataka is particularly famous due to its hi-tech capital city Bangalore now called Bengaluru. Temples, historical buildings, and palaces differentiate the state from the others. The popular cities of Karnataka are Bangalore, Mysore or Mysuru, Chikmagalur, and Mangalore. The key attractions of the state are ISKCON Temple, Cubbon Park, Mysore Palace, Wonderla Amusement Park, Lalbagh Botanical Garden, Mullyanagiri, Tadiandamol peak, Sri Chamarajendra Zoological Gardens, and the Jog Falls.

Rajasthan

Details of the various attractions of Rajasthan are elaborate in the articles on the website – Udaipur, Jaipur, Pushkar Lake, Jodhpur, Jaisalmer.

Himachal Pradesh

Himachal Pradesh is one of the scenic places in India. Its breathtaking landscape entices thousands of tourists every year both during the summers as well as during the winters. It hosts a plethora of adventurous activities like trekking, hiking, rock climbing, skiing, camping, and many more. The prominent cities of the state are Kulu, Manali, Shimla (the capital city), Dalhousie, Kasauli, and Dharamshala. The key sightseeing spots of the state are Rohtang Pass, Solang valley, Spiti valley, Beas river, Manikaran Gurudwara, Jogini waterfall, Hidimba Devi temple, and Dalai Lama temple complex.

Madhya Pradesh

Dense green forests and artistically carved temples are the special attractions of the state. It is located in the central part of India. In fact, Madhya Pradesh hosts some of the prominent forests of the country. Its biodiversity is exotic and unique. The popular cities of the state are Bhopal, Indore, Khajuraho, Gwalior, and Ujjain. The key attractions of the state are Sri Omkareshwar Jyotirlinga, Shree Mahakaleshwar temple, Bhimbetka rock shelters, Bhedaghat marble rocks, Sanchi stupa, Bee Falls, Khajuraho temples, Dhuandhar Falls, and the forests of Bandhavgarh, Satpura, and Kanha.

Kashmir

Kashmir, the paradise on Earth, is the best place to vsit in India. It is located in the northern part of India. Scenic views and picturesque landscapes adorned with enthralling lakes, majestic mountains, pristine hamlets, gorgeous valleys, and lush greenery are the precious possessions of the state. The popular cities to visit in Kashmir are Srinagar, Gulmarg, Pahalgam, and Gurez valley. The top sightseeing spots of the state are Vaishno Devi Mandir, Dal Lake, Sonamarg, Indira Gandi tulip garden, ride the Gulmarg gondola, Shankaracharya Hill and Bahu Fort. Boating on Dal Lake must not be a miss. You can even stay in houseboats.

Gujarat

The fact that it is located in the coastal region of India, makes it unique and distinct. Located in the western part of India, the state is well known for the Rann of Kutch. The popular cities to visit in Gujarat are Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Surat and Rajkot. The key attractions of Gujarat are Kankaria Lake, Sabarmati Ashram, Lukshmi Vilas Palace, Ammazia Water park, Adalaj step well, Polo forest, Rotary dolls museum, Galteshwar, Girnar, Dwarkadish temple, Akshardham temple and obviously the Great Rann of Kutch.

Assam

Think of Assam and the first thing that comes in mind is tea plantations. Temples and traditional markets and bazaars are the best places to visit in the state. The popular cities in Assam are Guwahati, Silchar, Jorhat, and Tezpur. The key sightseeing spots are Kamakhya temple, Pobitora widlife sanctuary, Umananda temple, Agnigarh Hill, relax at the banks of the river Brahmaputra, Mahabhirab temple and ofcourse the beautiful tea gardens. A tour of the tea estates is a must where you can pluck leaves with the employees of the tea gardens and observe the tea production processes. You can also taste some of the delicious varieties of tea at the gardens.

Meghalaya

To read about Meghalaya and the places of interest, visit the articles in our website – Meghalaya, Mawlynnong, Dawki.

Arunachal Pradesh

One of the offbeat states of India, Arunachal Pradesh is located in the eastern part of India. Popularly known as the Land of the Rising Sun in India, it'snatural wonders, scenic beauty, wildlife, and tribal culture are captivating. You must not miss attending the famous Zero Music Festival in the state. The top attractions of the state are the Sela pass, Ziro, Itanagar, Tawang, Bhalukpong, and Roing. As experiential travelers, the best part is to mingle with the tribes in Arunachal Pradesh. There are about 26 major tribes and over 100 sub-tribes residing in the state comprising about the two-thirds majority of the population.

Uttarakhand

Uttarakhand, located in the northern part of India, is a spectacular rendezvous of religious sites and natural beauty. The top places to visit in Uttarakhand are Rishikesh, Auli, Chopta, Mussoorie, Nainital, Chakrata, Munsiyari, Dehradun, Almora and Harsil. The state holds a divine significance in Hindu mythology, hosting he Chota (mini) Char (four) Dham Yatra – a pilgrimage of 4 religious sites Kedranath, Badrinath, Yamunotri and Gangotri. It is one of the spectacular regions of India and lures a huge influx of tourists.

Sikkim

Sikkim is located in the eastern part of India. Majestic mountain ranges, green meadows, pristiner lakes and glaciers are part of the landscape of Sikkim. Tourism is the main industry in Sikkim. The popular cities of the state are Gangtok, Peling, Namchi and Lachung. The top attractions of the palce are Nathula Pass, Chhangu Lake, Gurudongmar lake, Yumthang valley, Kanchenjunga falls, Rumtek monastery, Zero point, and Singshore bridge. You can engage in several adventurous sports and water sports too.

The places to visit in India is never ending and limitless. Goa, Ladakh, Pondicherry, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Lakshwadeep Islands, Manipur and Nagaland. A sincere request to all globetrotters out there. Please do visit India and you will definitely love my country.

Wish you all a Happy World Tourism Day 2021.