Last year, a total of about 26.9 million foreign tourists visited India. Maharashtra welcomed over five million, with Tamil Nadu being a close runner-up with 4.86 million visits. Uttar Pradesh was high on foreign travellers' lists with 3.55 million travellers stopping by.
Interestingly, if to compare these numbers with the data related to domestic tourists visits, Tamil Nadu leads the top-3 with Uttar Pradesh having secured its position on the second line and Karnataka on the third.
The western state of Maharashtra is India's third largest state. While it is one of the most heavily indusrialized regions in the country, it contains a wealth of attractions, too, starting with coastal beach resort areas from Dahanu to Sindhudurg, to cool hill stations in Pune and Bolliwood.
Tamil Nadu, occupying the southernmost part of the peninsula, is the land of classic Indian dance and Carnatic music, countless temples and period architecture.
Sitting in the north, Uttar Pradesh is the most populous state in the country. It is home to the tourist capital of India, Agra, with its irresistable Taj Mahal. The historical city of Varanasi on the banks of the sacred Ganga River is also found here.
Guess Three Most Visited Indian States – Hint: Not Goa!
News in Asia
The Ministry of Tourism of India has announced the top three winners in the Foreign Tourist Visit (FTVs) chart based on the number of visits of foreign tourists in 2017. Meet the big three: Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh.