Introduction

In the remote past, famous travelers visited India to study knowledge and culture of the land and their memories are invaluable sources of history. The Chinese traveler Fa-Hien visited India from 399 to 414 A, D. during the reign of Chandra Gupta II. Another Chinese traveler Hieun Tsang was in during 629-645 A.D. during the time-of King Harsha Vardlan. Those were the days of hazardous journeys full of risk and adventures. These travelers traversed the Himalayas to reach India. India would have been poorer but for their visits. They not only took knowledge and manuscripts from India, they spread the learning and fame of India in the wide world. We learn many things about our own country from these foreigners. It has now been recognized that if tourism is properly developed in India, it can make an appreciable contribution to our foreign exchange earnings. This is illustrated by the fact that during 2006, four million tourists visited India and spent US $8.9 billion.Tourism of India has armed the country with immense potential of development, recognition, and livelihood. Indias travel and tourism industry is one of them most profitable industries in the country. .Tourism in India is the largest service industry, with a contribution of 6.23% to the national GDP and 8.78% of the total employment in India. After Independence, the focus of Indian government was solely on industrial and economic development. However,in The second half of 20th century saw the country scaling to great heights in terms of tourism activities. International tourists have well recognized the potential of Indian tourism industry. The rich culture and tradition of India contributed in making the country a prominent name among global places of visit.

Potential
India has immense potential for tourism. It has all resources for all types of tourists. India will be a tourism hotspot from 20092018,[6] having the highest 10year growth potential.The tourism industry in India is substantial and vibrant, and the country is fast becoming a major global destination. Teeming with over a billion people who voice over a million concerns in fifteen hundred different languages, India is where people live with variety, thrive on diversity and are too familiar with largeness to let it boggle them. Bounded by the majestic Himalayan ranges in the north and edged by an endless stretch of golden beaches, India is a vivid kaleidoscope of landscapes, magnificent historical sites and royal cities, misty mountain retreats, colorful people, rich cultures and festivities. It is a land where temple elephants exist amicably with the microchip. Its ancient monuments are the backdrop for the worlds largest democracy.these features of India has attracted tourists like bees to honey. .[10] India's 5,000 years of history, its length, breadth and the variety of geographic features make its tourism basket large and varied. It presents heritage and cultural tourism along with medical, business and sports tourism. India has a growing medical tourism sector. India is

home of leading religions of the world. Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Sikkism. It is also home of sizable followers of Islam and Christianity. Important pilgrim sites of different religions are scattered throughout the country and Indians from different states travel vast distances to perform pilgrim duties at the shrines. There are great religious places of pilgrimages like Badri nath, Vishno Devi, Bodh- Gaya, Tirupati, Rameshwaram, The Golden Temple, Jaganathpuri, Mount Abu and countless others. The great Kumbh Mela attracted more than sixty eight million visitors in 2000 to Allahabad making it the largest international event other than Haj. Each state has its own cultural and historical monuments to visit.

DEVELOPMENT
Indias booming IT and outsourcing industry contribute to a growing number of business trips are made by foreigners to India. Foreign tourists spend more in India than almost any other country worldwide.The Tourism Ministry has also played an important role in the development of the industry, initiating advertising campaigns such as the 'Incredible India' campaign, which promoted Indias culture and tourist attractions in a fresh and memorable way. The campaign helped create a colorful image of India in the minds of consumers all over the world, and has directly led to an increase in the interest among tourists. Panchayati Raj institutions, local bodies, non-governmental organizations and the local youth have been involved in the development process. GOVERNMENT INITIATIVES a.) The development of tourist facilities was taken up in a planned manner in 1956 coinciding with the Second Five Year Plan. b.) setting up of the India Tourism Development Corporation in 1966 to promote India as a tourist destination and the Tourism Finance Corporation in 1989 to finance tourism projects. c.) Some of the recent initiatives taken by the Government to boost tourism include grant of export house status to the tourism sector and incentives for promoting private investment in the form of Income Tax exemptions, interest subsidy and reduced import duty. d.) 21 Government-run Hotel Management and Catering Technology Institutes and 14 Food Craft Institutes were also established for imparting specialized training in hoteliering and catering. TRANSPORT:India is a vast country but it is extensively linked by public transport. All major towns and cities have airports. Even very small towns are connected by rail with Indian Railways maintaining the biggest network in Asia. Railways do not cut across international borders in this part of the world except the Samjhauta Express that runs between Amritsar (India) and Lahore (Pakistan). Toy trains are quaint, neat and narrow gauge.! The bus network, privately run and stateoperatedisextensive. Except the Lahore-Delhi bus which used to run 4 times a week, but is now erratic, there are no cross border coach services. It is possible to drive into India with the requisite paperwork in order.Travel by water

is not popular but there are ships to the Andamans from Calcutta, Chennai and Vishakhapatnam. Backwater cruises in converted rice boats called Kettuvalams are a delight in the lazy lagoons of Kerala.

3 SITES

AURANGABAD
The city of Aurangabad was founded by Malik Ambar, the Prime Minister of one of these rulers, though the name of the city then was Fatehpura. Aurangabad has a long association with the concept of heritage. Aurangabad has seen several dynasties and experienced the power of rulers of different religions, cultures and communities, each of which has left its mark on the city. LOCATION It is bordered by the districts of Nashik to the west, Jalgaon to the north, Jalna to the east, and Ahmednagar to the south. Aurangabad District is located mainly in the Godavari River Basin and partly in the Tapi River Basin. IT LIES along the right bank of the Kham River. FEATURES 1. Aurangabad is famous for its Historic gates. These are the thirteen gates which still stand with pride and have become the characteristic part of the city. 2. The Ajanta Caves depict the stories of Buddhism spanning from the period from 200 B.C. and 650 A.D. hese caves were the retreats of Buddhist monks who taught and performed rituals in the Chaityas and Viharas, the ancient seats of learning. The elaborate and exquisite sculptures and paintings depict stories from Jataka tales. 3. The Ellora (Verul) Caves have been Carved during 350 A.D. to 700 A.D. these structures represent the three faiths of Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism. These caves 34 in number are located 29 km. from Aurangabad. Every year in the third week of March, M T D C organizes the Ellora Festival of Classical Dance and Music at the caves. 4. Ghrishneshwar temple is half a kilometer from the Ellora Caves, and 30 km from Aurangabad. This place forms one of the five Jyotirlinga sites in Maharashtra where Lord Shiva is worshipped. The Holkar temple nearby is a must-see. 5. Bibi ka Maqbara A replica of the Taj Mahal, the Bibi-ka-Maqbara is the only example of Mughul architecture of its kind in the Deccan plateau. 6. Soneri Mahal, an old historic monument now converted into museum houses a variety of ancient Indian pottery, dresses, remains of local palaces and antiques of daily use. 7. Gautala Wildlife Sanctuary is a dense forest reserve, with rare flora and fauna, almost 70 Km. Northwest of Aurangabad. Home to leopards, bears,

wolves, hyenas, jackals, flying squirrels and 85 different species of colourful birds. 8. Aurangabad Caves, a fine piece of architecture, is presented in the most unembellished manner. The caves lie just outside the city and are believed to have been excavated between the 2nd and the 6th century. TRANSPORT The city of Aurangabad has all forms of transport right from intra-city buses, metered auto-rickshaws to chauffeur-driven taxis. BY PLANE:- Aurangabad has its own International airport. A new Airport Terminal Building was inaugurated on Nov 21,2008 on outskirts of the city.The nearest international airports are Mumbai and Pune. BY ROAD:- Aurangabad is linked by national highways and state highways to all parts of the country. Aurangabad has excellent road connectivity to all important cities in Maharashtra namely Mumbai, Nagpur, Pune, Nasik etc. The highway connections make the journey to the world famous destinations of Ajantaand Ellora very comfortable. BY TRAIN:- Aurangabad is a Railway Station of South-Central railway on Manmad - Secunderabad section (Railway Station code - AWB). The city has direct rail links to important Indian cities like New Delhi, Mumbai, Pune, Hyderabad, etc. Aurangabad Railway Station is an average Indian railway station

KERALA
Kerala the small state at the southern tip of the Indian peninsula, blessed with beautiful landscape, intriguing customs, high intensity cultural life and an educated public popularly known as GODS OWN COUNTRY. LOCATION Kerala is wedged between the Lakshadweep sea and the Western Ghats. Lying between north latitudes 818' and 1248' and east longitudes 7452' and 7722', FEATURES 1. The kettuvallams (Kerala houseboats) in the backwaters are one of the prominent tourist attractions in Kerala. More than 2000 kettuvallams ply the backwaters,[5] 120 of them in Alappuzha.[6]. Kerala government has classified the tourist houseboats as Platinum, Gold and silver. 2. Beypore, located 10 km south of Kozhikode at the mouth of the Chaliyar River, is a famous fishing harbour, port and boat building centre. 3. Snake boats:- Chundan vallams or snake boats are narrow boats over 100 feet (30 m) long, with a raised prow that stands 10 feet (3.0 m) above water and resembles the hood of a snake. Traditionally these were used by local rulers to transport soldiers during waterfront wars. In modern times, it has spawned a new sport the Vallam Kali (boat race). Each chundan vallam accommodates about a hundred muscular oarsmen.Boat races are occasions of great excitement and entertainment with thousands

gathered on the banks to watch and cheer. Most of these races are held in the Kuttanad region of Alappuzha.[2] 4. Kerala's equable climate, natural abundance of forests (with a wealth of herbs and medicinal plants), and the cool monsoon season (June November) are best suited for Ayurveda's curative and restorative programs. In fact, today Kerala is the only state in India , which practices this system of medicine with absolute dedication. 5. Kerala is usually marketed as a health destination for its Ayurveda packages. Medical tourism is marketed along with ayurveda and other health packages.this is promoted by Incredibly competitive cost for packages of medical treatment and surgery compared to other countries. 6. Kerala has a rich repertoire of historic and cultural monuments, which represent a unique amalgam of various styles of architecture. Nalukettu is the main architectural style though in regions like Fort Kochi, a curious mix of European, Chinese, Jewish and Arabic styles are evident in the architecture.
TRANSPORT

By air - There are three airports in the state - Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi and Kozhikode. Thiruvananthapuram is also an international airport, connecting the state to many places in India and the world. By rail:- There are around 200 railway stations in Kerala connecting most of the places in the state to places in the other parts of India and inside the state. Longdistance express trains connect important places in the state to places outside Kerala like Mumbai, New Delhi, Chennai and Kolkata. By road:- An extensive network of metalled roads connects most of the places in the state. National highways 47, 17, and 49 connect Kerala with other parts of India.

Delhi Delhi has always been a vibrant city with a cosmopolitan culture which is reflected in every aspect of life. Delhi has plenty of entertainment spots to choose from. Entertainment Places like cinema halls, pubs, hotels and recreational centers are open on all weekends. LOCATION it stands in the middle of the Indian sub-continent, between the Himalayas and Aravallis range. Bordered by Haryana in the east and by Uttar Pradesh across the river Yamuna, Delhi is located approximately 213 to 305 m above the sea level. It is around 33 miles and 30 miles broad. The location of Delhi is such that a major part of the city falls on the western side of the Yamuna River. Apart from

Yamuna, which is the main river of the city, there are 3 canals, Agra Canal, Hindou Canal and western Yamuna Canal.

Features :1. Laxmi Narayan Temple: Popularly Known as Birla Mandir, it's a large Hindu Temple built in Orissa style in 1938, by the renowned Birla family. 2. Qutub Minar: Qutub Minar is an excellent example of Afghan Architecture . The Minar is 72.5mts high 3. Bahai Temple: Situated atop the Kalkaji Hill. Its is also known as "The Lotus Temple" due to its distinctive lotus shaped design in Marble. 4. Red Fort: Built by Shahjahan, the builder of Taj Mahal in Agra 5. Rajghat: The simple square platform of black marble marks the place where the father of the Nation, Mahatama Gandhi was cremated. 6. Humayun's Tomb: Built by Humayun's widow, Queen Haji Begum in the 16th centuary, it is supposed to be the prototype of the Taj Mahal at Agra. 7. Swaminarayan Akshardham reflects the essence and magnitude of India's ancient architecture, traditions and timeless spirituality. 8. dilli haat-The craftsmen who are registered with D.C.Handicrafts are the ones who are eligible to find a place here. 9. India gate:- At the centre of New Delhi stands the 42 m high India Gate, an "Arc-de-Triomphe" like archway in the middle of a crossroad. Almost similar to its French counterpart, it commemorates the 70,000 Indian soldiers who lost their lives fighting for the British Army during the World War I. 10. jama masjid-This great mosque of Old Delhi is the largest in India, with a courtyard capable of holding 25,000 devotees. 11. Jantar Mantar (Yantra - instruments, mantra - formulae) was constrcted in 1724. Maharaja Jai Singh of Jaipur who built this observatory went on to build other observatories in Ujjain , Varanasi and Mathura. 12. The Parliament house is a cirular colonnaded building . It also houses ministerial offices,numerous committee rooms and an excellent library as well. Transport By air:- Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGI, IATA: DEL) [2], located in the west of the city, is the arrival point for many visitors into Delhi. By rail:- The main entrance to New Delhi Railway Station (code NDLS) is located just outside of Paharganj, also known as the backpacker ghetto. The Delhi Metro now connects directly here, but the metro exits are at the Ajmeri Gate (second entrance) side near platform 12. You can also take prepaid rickshaws and taxis from the plaza outside the main entrance.

By road:- Most Delhi taxis are old but reliable CNG-run Ambassadors or Omnis in distinctive black-and-yellowlivery and a green stripe. All parts of Delhi are well connected by buses and with tickets ranging from Rs 5-15 they are very cheap, but they are also quite crowded most of the time. The red coloured buses are airconditioned and the green coloured are not. BIBLIOGRAPHY www.journeymart.com www.incredibleindia.com www.economywatch.com http://www.cci.in/pdf/surveys_reports/tourism-hotel-industry.pdf http://www.sparkz.co/tourism-industry-in-india-january-2011/ www.preservearticles.com/ www.tourism-of-india.com http://www.shvoong.com http://anwesha.instablogs.com/entry/development-of-tourism-in-india/ www.wikitravels.org www.yahoo.com www.bharatonline.com