India Today Tourism Awards recognise country’s most-loved travel destinations
Destinations—some popular, some gaining popularity fast—across India made the latest list of winners of the India Today Tourism Survey and Awards 2023, featuring known hotspots as well as ‘hidden gems’ in eight states.
Gujarat won four awards in different categories while Karnataka, Maharashtra and Bihar won in three categories each. Other tourist attractions that bagged honours were in Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Goa, Madhya Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.
Union minister of state (independent charge) for earth sciences Kiren Rijiju gave away the awards for the best tourism destinations while lieutenant governor of Delhi V.K. Saxena conferred the awards for best emerging destinations to respective state government officials at a function in New Delhi on February 29.
The awards were decided based on responses from frequent travellers and tourists in 121 tourist destinations across the country, nominated by state tourism boards/ ministries under nine categories decided by the India Today team.
After that, survey agency MDRA approached respondents and asked them to rate the destinations on six parameters: infrastructure, facilities, local culture and people, safety, activities and connectivity, on a scale of excellent to poor. An online survey was also conducted on the India Today website. The two modes were then analysed to rank the destinations.
Finally, a further filter of objective data on the number of domestic and foreign tourists visited, railway and airport connectivity, the number of accommodation options available, the government’s Swachh Sarvekshan rank and Tripadvisor ratings were also taken into consideration.
The final results featured popular destinations like McLeodganj in Himachal Pradesh, Colva beach in Goa, Mahakal Temple in Ujjain, Hampi in Karnataka, Rann of Kutch and Sasan Gir in Gujarat as well as places with fast-gaining popularity on the national tourism map, such as Sonepur Fair Bihar, Tarkarli beach in Maharashtra’s Sindhudurg and Dandeli in Karnataka.
Here’s the complete list of the winners.
CATEGORY 1: BEST EMERGING DESTINATIONS
- HERITAGE DESTINATION: Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh
- MOUNTAIN DESTINATION: McLeodganj, Himachal Pradesh
- WILDLIFE DESTINATION: Blackbuck National Forest, Gujarat
- FESTIVAL DESTINATION: Sonepur Fair, Sonepur in Saran district of Bihar
- SPIRITUAL DESTINATION: Mahakal Mahalok, Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh
- MOST SCENIC ROADS DESTINATION: Udaipur to Mount Abu, Rajasthan
- BEACH DESTINATION: Tarkarli, Sindhudurg district, Maharashtra
- ADVENTURE DESTINATION: Dandeli, Karnataka
- ICONIC LANDSCAPE: Hampi, Karnataka
CATEGORY 2: BEST TOURISM DESTINATIONS
- ADVENTURE DESTINATION: Valmiki Tiger Reserve, West Champaran, Bihar
- BEACH DESTINATION: Colva Beach, South Goa
- HERITAGE DESTINATION: Rani Ki Vav, Gujarat
- MOUNTAIN DESTINATION: Kaimur Hills, Rohtas, Bihar
- WILDLIFE DESTINATION: Sasan Gir, Gujarat
- ICONIC LANDSCAPE: The Great Rann of Kutch, Gujarat
- SPIRITUAL DESTINATION: Puri, Odisha
- MOST SCENIC ROADS DESTINATION: Yercaud, Tamil Nadu
- FESTIVAL DESTINATION: Mysuru Dasara (Dussehra) in Karnataka
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