Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu - Top tourist destinations of india

Andhra Pradesh topped the domestic tourist arrivals list, with over 150 million tourists, while Tamil Nadu attracted the maximum number of foreign tourists at over 2.3 million for the year 2009. Though Andhra Pradesh is the most popular destination for domestic tourists, it ranks 7th when it comes to foreign tourist visits.

Kerala is not even in the list of domesic tourist visits list and is 8th for foreign tourist visits. Karnataka is 4th for domesic tourist visits and not in the list for foreign tourist visits.

Most foreign visitors are from France followed by USA, Spain, China, Italy, UK, Turky, Germany, Malasia, Mexico.

Read the complete statistics here

Munnar - a beautiful Hill station in Kerala

Munnar is one of the most popular tourist places in Kerala, located 1600m above sea level in southern “Western Ghats” (A mountain range in the west of India). Munnar is situated at the confluence of Mudrapuzha, Nallathanni and Kundala rivers. The speciality of Munnar is its cool climate and greenery. A vast area of Munnar is occupied by tea plantations and evergreen jungles.

The Whole hill area is known as "High range" and rarely “Kannan Devan Hills”. In the age of British empire they developed this area to cultivate tea plants. The Bungalows built by them are still there in use.

Several Protected Wildlife areas in Munnar attract many tourists. You can see several threatened and native species like Nilgiri Tahr (Hemitragus hylocrius), Grizzled Giant Squirrel, Nilgiri Wood Pigeon, Gaur, Sambar and Neelakurinji here.

Neelakurinji (Strobilanthes kunthiana) is a rare kind of plant blooms once in 12 years. Eravikulam National park is known for Neelakurinji, Nilgiri Tahr and a few other protected species. Neelakurinji last bloomed in 2006. A vast area of mountain covered with Neelakurinji, giving the whole area a blue shade is an amazing spectacle for the visitors…

Many residents of here are employed in Tourism business. In Munnar there are above 3000 small and big resorts and several small hotels and restaurants.

Karnataka

Karnataka is one of the four states in South India, bordered by the Arabian Sea on the west. It is surrounded by Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh,Goa, Tamil Nadu and Kerala. The state comprises three regions - the coastal plains edging the sea; the Western Ghats running parallel to the coastline and the inland plains of the Deccan Plateau. One of the most industrialised states in India, Karnataka produces almost 60% of its coffee, almost 90% of India's gold and a significant amount of raw silk and sandalwood products. Bangalore (now Bengaluru) in south east Karnataka is the capital as well as the biggest city in Karnataka. More than 50% of software companies in India are Bangalore based and is called the Silicon Valley of India. It is also famous for its Pubs and Gardens and has a good climate throughout the year.

Mysore Known for its magnificent palaces, majestic buildings, shimmering silks , sprawling gardens and sandalwood. It conjures up memories of the resplendent glory of the Wodeyar Kings and this former state capital is a seamless blend of old-world charm and modernity. Mysore is a pleasant and growing city in Karnataka with an old world charm owing to its broad avenues, picturesque gardens, exceptional architecture and a pleasant climate. The mysore zoo has an excellent collection of animals.

Brindavan garden one of the most beautiful gardens in the world, situated in Karnataka. This garden enriched with many type of flowers, shrubs, trees and fountains. The main attraction of this garden is the musical fountain.

At Hampi there are ruins of the capital of one of South India's biggest historical empires the Vijaynagar Empire(14th-16th century). The Vittala Temple built in 16th-cenury is a World Heritage site. The towns of Halebid and Belur in the south are famous for their Temples built by the Hoysala dynasty(12th century). Sravanbelgola in south Karnataka is host to the world's tallest monolithic statue of lord Bahubali, the Jain saint, built in the 10th century. It is 17 m(55 ft) high and is visible from a distance of 30 km. The village of Badami is famous for the ancient cave temples.

Madikeri, a main town of the hilly tracts of southwestern Karnataka called Kodagu (Coorg) region. The area has a lot of spice and coffee plantations and is good for trekking. Popular tourist spots here are the Jog Falls and Kudremukh. Further south are the Nagarhole and Bandipur National Parks.

The western coastline of the karnataka state along the Arabian Sea has a number of beach towns including Mangalore, Gokarna, Karwar, Malpe and Marwanthe.

For more info:

• Department of Tourism
• Official website of Karnataka State Government
• NIC, Karnataka

Kerala

Kerala, a small State at the southern tip of India, known as God’s own country is one of the world’s top tourist places, because of its spectacular scenic beauty.

What makes Kerala a popular tourist destination and attracting millions of tourists around the world? The most important factor is its geographical structure. A narrow strip of land, with Arabian Sea in the west, Western Ghat mountain ranges in the east and networked by 44 rivers, enjoys unique geographical features.

Lush green hill stations, Tranquilizing backwaters, Stunning wildlife, Waterfalls, Serene Beaches, Sprawling plantations and paddy fields, all these you can access within short distances.

Kerala's Art forms, Historic monuments and Festivals attracts tourists all over the world.

Kerala's all villages are well connected by road and Southern Railway line runs throughout the state, connecting all major towns and cities. Kerala's major railway stations are Trivandrum Central, Ernakulam Junction, Kollam Junction, Thrissur, Shoranur Junction, Kozhikode and Palakkad.

International airports are at Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi(Cochin) and Kozhikode.

Important Tourist spots in Kerala

Munnar

Kovalam Beach

Thekkady

Kochi

Kozhikode

Kumarakom Backwaters

Mattupetty

Thiruvananthapuram

Alappuzha

Athirappilly and Vazhachal water falls

Nelliyampathy

Malampuzha

Wayanad

Bekal

For more info:

• Official Website, Department of Tourism, Kerala
• The official web portal of Government of Kerala
• PRD Kerala

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh is the largest state in South India and the 5th largest state in India. Andhra Pradesh comprises three regions - Telangana, Costal Andhra and Rayalaseema. Even though these regions are parts of the same state, are distinctly different in climate, dialect, lifestyle and cuisine. The state has about 1000 kms of coastline with serene beaches.

Most widely spoken languages here are Telugu, Hindi, Urdu and English. The best time of the year to visit is during the winter (November - February).

The excellent infrastructure of roads, rail, airports and ports makes Andhra Pradesh easily accessible from anywhere in India.

Hyderabad

Hyderabad, the capital city of Andhra Pradesh is also a hot destination for travel and tourism. Located in the heart of Deccan Plateau, 1760 ft. above the sea level, Hyderabad has a very salubrious climate with hills, tanks, and forests. The city is studded with architectural monuments, museums, gardens and other hot spots. The landmark is the Charminar that lies right in the heart of Hyderabad. Other major attractions are the Falaknuma Palace, Golconda fort, Qutub Shahi tomb, Raymond's tomb and Ramoji Film City (The largest Film city).

Tirupati

Tirupati is surrounded by seven scenic hills, which have water falls, forests and beautiful views of valleys.

Sri Venkateswara Temple located at the seventh peak of the Tirupati Hills, is the major attraction of Tirupati. The Temple of Lord Venkateshwara, dated back to 9th century is one of the richest and widely visited temples around the world.

Other pilgrim spots nearby are Sri Govindarajaswami Temple, Sri Kodandaramaswami Temple, Sri Kapileshwaraswami Temple and Tiruchanur.

Visakhapatnam

Visakhapatnam, popularly known as Vizag is endowed with sparkling beaches, scenic landscape and a rich cultural heritage. The three majestic hills - The Kailasha Hill, the Yarada Hill and The Porlupalam Hill form an excellent backdrop and enhance the charm of this beautiful Port city. Visakhapatnam has many tourist spots in and around its boundaries.

Rajahmundry

Rajahmundry is situated on the left bank of the Godavari river in East Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh. Rajahmundry and its surrounding places are really a visual treat for the visitors. Asia's largest rail-cum-road bridge, across the Godavari river, is the major attraction here. The biggest attraction in Rajahmundry is the Godavari river. The three bridges over Godavari river are the most attractive and lengthy bridges in Andhra Pradesh. Important places in and around are Pattiseema, Kotilingalarevu Shiva Temple and Kadiyam nurseries.

For more info:

• Andhra Pradesh Portal
• Andhra Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation
• NIC, Andhra Pradesh