Introduction:
A vital role in the economic development of our country is played by Tourism.
Tourism in India is the second largest earner of foreign exchange. The tourism industry employs a huge number of both skilled and unskilled people.
The values of international brotherhood and national integration are promoted by tourism.
Tourism in India:
The world has been fascinated by India’s secularism and its culture. Tourists are attracted to the beaches, historical monuments, hilly resorts, religious places etc. almost each and every region is identified with its culture, folk dance, handicraft, music, fairs etc. domestic and International Tourism is promoted by the Department of Tourism in India. The Advisory Board on Tourism recommends measures to promote the tourist traffic in India.
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Efforts to develop the tourism industry are underway:
Taj Mahal:
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The Taj Mahal was built by Shah Jahan to commemorate Mumtaz Mahal, his beloved wife who died of child birth. The plans for the complex have been attributed to various architects of the period, although the chief architect was probably Ustad Ahmad Lahawri. The commencement of the building started around the year 1632. More than 20,000 workers were employed from India, Europe, Persia, and the Ottoman Empire. Construction of the Taj Mahal spanned 22 years at a cost between four and five million rupees.
Kashmir:
Kashmir was described by Emperor Jahangir as ‘Paradise on Earth’. The Kashmir valley looks like a paradise with its multifarious tall trees, sparkling rivers and high mountains. This valley is visited by thousands of tourists from all over the world because of its sheer beauty and serenity. People go to the Kashmir valley in summer to escape the oppressive heat of the plains in India. The place bustles with people in winter for winter sports and snowfall.
Red Fort:
Another important tourist attraction is the Red Fort in Delhi. It was built by Shah Jahan, the famous Mughal emperor. The history of India’s freedom struggle is represented by the Red Fort. The Prime Minister of India unfurls the National Flag on the eve of Independence Day from the Red Fort. It is visited by millions of tourists each year from all over the world.
Pilgrimage Centers:
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The tourist attraction is not only limited to historical monuments but also famous pilgrimage centers. The various pilgrimage centers in India are Varanasi, Haridwar, Mathura, etc. The temples of Tirupati and Rameshwaram are very famous and their annual donation is in crores of rupees. The other such attractions are the Basanti temples of Mathura, the glass temple at Haridwar and the Jagannath temple at Puri. Puri is also a tourist attraction for the ‘car festival’ or ‘Rathayatra’.
Conclusion:
Thus, the aforementioned are only a few of the thousand tourist places in the country. These are places of historical and artistic beauty. They signify the glorious past of the country and put India on the world map.