Are you bored of the Taj Mahal, the Victoria Memorial, the Charminar, the India Gate, the Red Fort, the Gateway of India and other historic tourist attractions in India? If yes, a whole new lot of things to see in India are awaiting you in 2016 and 2017. The upcoming tourist attractions in India include the world’s highest golf course, tallest rail bridge and tallest clock tower, an Eiffel Tower replica, a river gallery, a Madame Tussauds museum, a war memorial, etc. Each of these is a new reason to visit India in 2016 and 2017. IndianEagle shares tidbits about the upcoming tourist attractions in India.

World’s Highest Golf Course in Sikkim

Have you ever imagined of playing golf at a height of 14,140 feet? If yes, the imagination is not far from reality. The northeast Indian state of Sikkim is going to have the world’s highest golf course near Nathula Pass, a mountainous route serving as a trade link between India and China. Named ‘Yak Golf Course’, it would be not only the world’s highest golf course but also one of the most interesting places to visit in India in 2016.

Jatayu Nature Park in Kerala

Kerala’s Jatayu Nature Park is inspired by the story of Jatayu, a mythical character in the Ramayana, one of the Indian epics. Chatatayamangalam in Kollam district, where Jatayu is said to have fallen from the skies during a faceoff with Ravana, is the scenic location of this upcoming park in Kerala. The park will feature an amazing blend of art, adventure and technology. The world’s largest bird sculpture of Jatayu on the top of a hill, measuring 70 feet in height, 200 feet in length and 150 feet in breadth is supposed to be the center of attraction in Kerala’s Jatayu Nature Park. The Jatayu sculpture will house a digital museum and 6D theatre. The park will house a dedicated adventure zone with several adventure games. A high-tech cable car offering a bird’s eye view of the scenic area will be set up over the park. Evidently, Kerala’s Jatayu Nature Park is among the upcoming Indian tourist attractions to watch out for in 2016.

Replica of Eiffel Tower in Kolkata  

The first replica of the Eiffel Tower in Kolkata is surely among the upcoming Indian tourist attractions which are worth a visit in 2016. Kolkata has already laid the foundation of a replica of the Eiffel Tower in solidarity with the victims of terrorist attacks in Paris on November 13, 2015. Part of the ‘Seven Wonders of the World’ at Eco Park, the tower will have an observation deck at a height of 25 meters to offer sweeping views of Kolkata. It will have a coffee shop as well as a souvenir shop. Read on to know the facts about Kolkata’s Eiffel Tower replica.

World’s Tallest Rail Bridge in India

The Chenab Bridge under construction between Bakkal and Kauri in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir is a seemingly impossible technological challenge. Once completed, the 1,315m long bridge will be the world’s highest arch bridge with railway lines at a height of 359m over the River Chenab.

Statue of Unity in Gujarat

The upcoming Statue of Unity in Gujarat is among the new interesting things to see in India. Dedicated to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, an eminent leader of the Indian Independence Movement, the statue will boast a height of 182 meters or 597 feet on a river island near Vadodara. Expected to be the world’s tallest statue, the Statue of Unity will be surrounded by a lake sprawling over an area of 12 km.

Madame Tussauds Museum in Delhi

The list of new tourist attractions to see in India includes an upcoming Madame Tussauds Wax Museum in New Delhi. India’s first Madame Tussauds Wax Museum will house life-size wax statues of not only Indian legends and celebs but also eminent figures from the rest of the world. This initiative is part of the India-UK Year of Culture Celebrations in 2017. Read more about Delhi’s Madame Tussauds Museum.

Rock Garden in Odisha

Odisha’s Rock Garden is also on the list of upcoming tourist attractions in India. Being built in Berhampur, it would be India’s second rock garden after the first Rock Garden in Chandigarh, Punjab. The garden will feature several creative structures and artifacts sculpted out of rock to take your breath away. Known for their rock-carving skills, the artisans of Odisha are expected to make the upcoming rock garden a major tourist attraction in the state. To be powered by solar energy, Odisha’s Rock Garden would be among the eco-friendly tourist places across India.

War Memorial & Museum in Delhi

India has proposed to get the first war museum near the iconic Indian Gate in New Delhi. The museum will be a memorial in honor of the martyrs who laid down their lives in the post-independence era of India. Said to be India’s national war memorial and museum, it had been pending since 1960 due to the lack of approval from the central government. Among the tourist places to visit in Delhi, it will stand as a symbol for the Indian soldiers’ sacrifice in service to the nation. The estimated cost of the project is INR 500 crores. Once completed, the National War Memorial and Museum in Delhi will be among the best things to see in India.

World’s Tallest Clock Tower in Mysore

If Sikkim is to get the world’s highest golf course, Karnataka is to get the world’s tallest clock tower in Mysore. Infosys has proposed to build the 135-m high clock tower in its Mysore campus, a 2-hour drive from Bengaluru. Comprising 19 floors with a boardroom, the tower will reportedly cost a whopping $8.83 million. It will display a digital timepiece on the top. Read more about this wonderful initiative by Infosys among the tourist attractions in India.

River Gallery in Karnataka

Mysore of Mysuru, a historic city in Karnataka, is mostly famous for the Mysore Palace. An upcoming gallery on the River Cauvery would be another tourist attraction in Mysore. Believed to be India’s first river gallery, it will showcase the culture, life and biodiversity supported by the River Cauvery, the main source of water in Karnataka. The gallery will also exhibit how important role the River Cauvery plays in the lives of farmers across the state and highlight environmental threats to the river.

Travel Beats is a culture & entertainment portal for Indian diaspora by IndianEagle, a leading US-India travel booking organization. It publishes interesting stories about USA, Canada, NRIs, aviation and India tourism.

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Indian Summer Tourism revolves around hill stations and misty valleys. Your perception of summer in India as a scorching season will be converted into an impression of luxury in nature if you ever happen to visit any of the top 10 Indian summer holiday destinations listed below. These coolest places will hide you from the fury of the sun, pamper you amidst the beauties of nature, make you feel poetic with a treasure of lyrics, trap you in a labyrinth of holiday mood with no escape, and…. We are sure; our summer travel wishlist will make you redefine Indian summer as a soothing season of vacation.      

Rishikesh in Uttarakhand  

Popularly known as “Yoga Capital of the World”, Rishikesh is a mirror to Divine India with hilly beauty. Crowned with the blue sky where pearl-white clouds hang out, and bathed by the soothing waters of the Ganga River, Rishikesh is a haven of spirituality, an abode of hermits, and a seat of meditation amidst forested hills. This yoga & meditation retreat in Uttarakhand is also popular for white-water rafting and backpacking.

Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh

One of the lesser-known summer destinations in India! Blessed as s summer retreat for its high-altitude location (10,000 feet above sea level), Tawang is a Himalayan beauty. The 14^th century Tawang Monastery, Pankang Teng Tso Lake, and Tipi Orchid Sanctuary are the tourist attractions of Tawang. The way to this region passes through the snow-covered Sela Top Pass. If you are in love with hills, Tawan should be on your India travel wishlist for summer 2015.

Ghoom Valley in West Bengal    

[pullquote]A visit to Ghoom Valley deserves to be scripted as a travel memoir of summer in India.[/pullquote] The highest railway station in India, Ghum Valley is a must stop during a journey by the Darjeeling Toy Train. Visit Tiger Hill at a distance of 5 km from Ghoom, and admire the majesty of Kanchenjunga on a clear day. A glimpse of the sunrise above hilltops is a divine blessing of Mother Nature, which the lucky few are favored with! Dotted with forests and streams all around, Ghoom Valley is the crown of Darjeeling at an altitude of 7,407 feet. 

Zanskar Valley in Jammu & Kashmir 

Zanskar Valley is an adrenalin-pumped road trip from Ladakh in Jammu and Kashmir. One of the least explored tourist places in India, Zanskar Valley sprawls over an area of 7,000 square kilometers at a height of 11,500–23,000 feet. The Zanskar River, which remains frozen for a greater part of the year, is the most picturesque artifice of nature in the Great Himalayan Region. The existence of life in Zanskar Valley is traced back to the Bronze Age.

Kangra Valley in Himachal Pradesh

Home to perennial streams and green landscape from Dhauladhar Range to the River Beas! Kangra Valley is famous for the Kangra-Shimla Railway, UNESCO World Heritage Site in Himachal Pradesh. One of the best summer holiday destinations in India, this Himachal valley is also known for Himalayan pyramids, which are Masroor Rock Cut Temples. Kangra Valley owes its mesmeric hilly beauty to the lofty peaks on the Dhauladhar range.

Wayanad in Kerala

One of the coolest places in India during summer, Wayanad in Kerala is the ‘Green Paradise’. The sensuous beauty of nature is felt across the dense forests, misty hills, and lush green fields of Wayanad. Home to rich flora and fauna, the valley is a favorite of bird lovers. Take a leisurely walk through tea & coffee plantations and breathe in the aroma-filled air. Nestled amidst Western Ghats, Wayanad will surely make you write a story “My Summer Holiday in India away from the Sun.”

Coonoor in Tamil Nadu

[pullquote]Visit Coonoor to hear the buzz of bees, the chirps of birds and the music of waterfalls. Here is our Coonoor Travel Guide.[/pullquote]  Sightseeing in Coonoor is a kaleidoscopic magic of nature! The queen of the Nilgiri Hills in Tamil Nadu, Coonoor has been a summer holiday retreat since the British Raj in the 19^th century. It has many geographical features in common with Darjeeling. A journey by the Nilgiri Mountain Railways between Coonoor and Ooty will lavish your mind with lyrics for a soulful poem. Sublimity, solitude and serenity are the facets of Coonoor at a height of 1850 meters above sea level.

Yumthang Valley in Sikkim

One of the best Himalayan valleys for summer vacation in the Indian state of Sikkim, Yumthang Valley will surely enchant you to become a travel escapist. It is a valley of flowers at an elevation of 11, 800 feet above sea level. The valley hibernates during heavy snowfall between December and March. Adding to scenic beauty of Yumthang Valley is a tributary of the Teesta River flowing past Lachung Town. The valley blooms with 24 species of rhododendrons and other hilly flowers in spring.

Lakshadweep Islands

[pullquote]October to April is the best time to visit Lakshadweep. Go through our complete story of Lakshadweep Islands.[/pullquote] One of the best imaginary places on earth, Lakshadweep is a never-never land in the Arabian Sea on the west coast of Kerala. Lakshadweep is a group of 36 coral islands; each is the flat peak of a submerged mountain. The gateway to this wonderland is the airport on Agatti Island. One of the top 10 tourist destinations in India in summer, Lakshadweep is a swing of sun-kissed pristine beaches with greenish-blue waters.

Kudremukh in Karnataka

Karnataka has its share of Indian summer tourism. One of the tourist destinations in Western Ghats close to the Arabian Sea, Kudremukh is a valley of vistas. The origin of three rivers – the Tunga, the Bhadra, and the Nethravathi, Kudremukh Valley is famous for trekking and photography. Kudremukh National Park, one of the hotspots of biodiversity in India, is a tourist attraction of this summer retreat. The park is home to endangered mammals.

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Are you looking to ring in the New Year with a travel wishlist in hand? If yes, we are here to recommend a few tourist destinations for your India travel wishlist 2015. A travel wishlist comes handy when you plan vacations at the onset of a new year. It is an altogether different pleasure to explore the lesser-known tourist destinations rather than visiting the most frequented places in India. Hope, our choice will help you to create a wishlist for India travel in 2015.

Hampi in Karnataka

One of the UNESCO World Heritage sites in India, Hampi is a historic treasure of rocks and ruins. The erstwhile capital of the Vijayanagar Empire in the 13^th and 14^th centuries, Hampi was the world’s second most populous city. Do listen to the stories of the architectural ruins dotting the rocky landscape of Hampi.

Fatehpur Sikri in Agra 

If you have already visited the Taj Mahal, add Fatehpur Sikri to your travel wishlist 2015. Though no wonder of white marbles, Fatehpur Sikri is a sprawling UNESCO World Heritage Site of red bricks and stones. The monument complex boasts of the world’s largest doorway, the Buland Darwaja. Once the capital of the Mughal Empire in Akbar’s regime; Fatehpur Sikri is a living witness to the stories of the Mughal.

Read more The Agra Travel Food Guide

Gandikota in Andhra Pradesh 

Founded in 1123 by a subordinate of a Chalukyan King of Kalyana on the right bank of the River Pennar, Gandikota is a small historical village. The Gandikota Fort was one of the remarkable constructions in the Kakatiya, the Vijayanagara and the Qutub Shahi regime. It is a tourist destination not only for its historic significance but also its geographic beauty. Gandikota’s geography resembles Arizona’s Grand Canyon in the United States.

Mandu in Madhya Pradesh

A ruined city of historic tales dating from the 6^th century till the Maratha regime in the 18^th century, Mandu occupies a significant role in the history of India. Home to palaces, forts, temples and other monuments on a rocky outcrop, Mandu was renamed Shadiabad by Allauddin Khilji in 1305. Mandu was blessed with prosperity when the Ghuri Dynasty was in power. It was incorporated to the Mughal Empire during Akbar’s regime. Later, the Maratha ruler Peshwa Bajirao the First captured Mandu in 1732.

Bishnupur in West Bengal 

Located in the rural tourism circle of West Bengal, Bishnupur is famous not only for the history of the Gupta Period but also terracotta (clay work), a popular handicraft of Bengal. 132 km away from Kolkata, Bishnupur is known for its age-old temples which are adorned with terracotta sculpture depicting the scriptural stories of ancient India. Bishnupur’s terracotta pottery, artifacts, jewellery and home décor items are exported to the overseas markets.

Raghurajpur in Odisha 

 One of the lesser-known places in the rural backwaters of Odisha, Raghurajpur is a handicraft village of patachitra painters and artists. A tourist destination for art lovers in rural India, Raghurajpur has kept alive patachitra, an ancient art of India or an art form of ancient India. The patachitra artists breathe life to the mythological stories and folk tales of India on perched palm leaves and clothes through a rare palette of natural colors. Their creation is not just an art but an enchanting poetry.

Know more about The Artists of Raghunathpur

Silent Valley in Kerala

One of the least explored and lesser-known tourist destinations in India, Silent Valley is part of the green forest belt in Kerala. It was converted into a national park in 1980 and is under consideration for a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A natural habitat of rare species of birds, the Silent Valley in Kerala is an ideal destination for green travel in the Nilgiri Hills.

Kanchipuram in Tamil Nadu 

One of the holiest cities in India, the modern-day Kanchi was the erstwhile capital, Kanchipuram, of the Pallava Kingdom. Most of the temples in Kanchi are dedicated to Lord Bishnu and Lord Shiva. Kanchi’s every nook and corner is full of history of different eras when the Pallavas, the Cholas, the Pandyas, the Vijayangar dynasty were in power. Kanchi is a must visit to photograph the delicately sculpted South Indian temples.

Kumbhalgarh in Rajasthan 

Kumbhalgarh is famous for its age-old hilltop fort, one of the tourist attractions in Rajasthan. The Kumbhalgarh Fort is famous for its 36-km long wall with watchtowers which command breathtaking views of the peaks of the Aravalli Mountain range. Many tourists do not know that the Kumbhalgarh Fort Wall is known as the Great Wall of India. Listed among the offbeat tourist attractions in India, it is the second largest wall in the world.

Read more The Great Wall of India

Ravangla in Sikkim 

Of the least explored tourist destinations in Northeast India, Ravangla should be on your India travel wishlist 2015. Ravangla is a small town at a height of 7,000 feet in Sikkim. A summer habitat of several species of Himalayan birds, Ravangla is known for its quiet ambience, soulful environment, meditative beauty, simple ways of life, and tryst with nature.

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Life in Sikkim is a never-ending festivity. Sikkim, a hilly abode of the Hindus, the Buddhists and the Nepalese in northeast India, celebrates its rich cultural heritage through festivals round the year. The celebration of Sikkim festivals blurs the line of socio-religious distinction between the three different communities. Most of the festivals are unlike those celebrated in the rest of India, which highlights the uniqueness of the Sikkimese life and culture. IndianEagle takes on the most popular festivals of Sikkim in a bid to promote the tourism of northeast India.

Saga Dawa

Saga Dawa is one of the most important religious festivals in the calendar of Sikkim. Held on full moon night by May end or early June, Saga Dawa is a celebration of three significant events in the history of Lord Buddha’s life. The events are his birth, enlightenment and ‘parinirvana’. The celebration begins with offering of prayers in all monasteries. The holy books which the teachings of Buddha are compiled in are taken on a procession in and around Gangtok.

Pang Lhabsol

The consecration of Mount Kanchenjunga as the guardian deity of Sikkim by the third Chogyal of the state is commemorated through the celebration of Pang Lhabsol, a prayer festival. Held on July 15 according to the Tibetan calendar, the celebration continues for three days. The greatest attraction of Pang Lhabsol is the masked dance which is performed by Lamas sitting on a snow lion. This festival celebrates the brotherhood between the Lepchas and the Bhutias too.

Losar New Year

The Tibetan New Year Festival is popularly known as Losar in Sikkim. The people of Sikkim celebrate Losar in the month of February. The festivity continues through different culture performances for as long as one week. The merriment of the people knows no bound.

Tharpu Monsoon

Let monsoon arrive, Sikkim springs into festivity. Tharpu, the monsoon festival of Sikkim, is celebrated in the month of August every year. That is why Sikkim tourism goes high during the monsoon season. Special cultural performances and regional art exhibitions are organized to entertain tourists at this time.

Losoong

Losoong refers to the New Year in the calendar of Sikkim. It is also known as ‘Sonam Losar’ meaning the Farmer’s New Year. Evidently, Losoong is celebrated as the harvest festival of Sikkim as well. Archery competition among the youth is the mainstay of this festive celebration. Some monasteries organize lama dances which symbolically drive away the evils of the year to end and welcome the good vibes of the year to begin.

Gangtok Winter Festival

Not only monsoon but also winter is given a warm welcome by the people of Sikkim in a ceremonious manner. The winter festival is largely celebrated in the capital city Gangtok. It is a 4-day long celebra-tion which falls in between December 9 and January 11. Tourists can taste the seasonal cuisine of Sikkim during the Gangtok Winter Festival.

Mangan Music Festival

December is the month of festivals in Sikkim. Mangan Music Fest is among the winter celebrations that take the locals and tourists on a ride of merriment. This music festival enlivens the ambience, uplifts the mood and represents the cultural heritage of the state.

Tihaar Festival

Tihaar is the festival of lights in Sikkim. It corresponds with the celebration of Diwali in the rest of India. Though the lighting of lamps is a usual tradition to mark the celebration, the natives of the state observe the Tihaar Festival in their own cultural way.

Dasain

Dasain is the major festival of the Hindu Nepalese community in Sikkim. The Nepalese population of Sikkim observes Dasain to celebrate the victory of good over evil in the first half of the Aswin month that spans from mid-September to mid-October. Goddess Durga is invoked in the Nepalese households on the first day of the festival. They sacrifice goats to please the Goddess on the eighth day of the festivity, and put a red power mark on the forehead of each other on the tenth day or Vijaya Dashmi (Dussehra).

Kanchenjunga Tourism Festival

Kanchenjunga Tourism Festival is the festival of adventures in Pelling, Sikkim. The festival continues from December 24 to 26 adding to the festive ambience of Sikkim during winter. The celebration rocks with adrenalin-driving activities such as water rafting, kayaking, trekking, mountain biking, etc. The Kanchenjunga Tourism Festival fetches hundreds of young tourists to Pelling every year.

Gangtok is an 8-hour drive from Guwahati Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi Airport which is a short flight away from Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport, Kolkata. IndianEagle.com books international trips to Kolkata at the lowest airfare throughout the year.

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The Union Ministry of India Tourism held the most awaited event, National Tourism Awards 2012-2013, in New Delhi today. The event is organized to felicitate the Indian states, cities, airports, hotel groups and tour operators with awards on the basis of their contributions to the growth of Indian travel & tourism in different categories. Indian Eagle shares with you who won the best award and in which category.

The first prize for the Best State in the category “Comprehensive Development of Tourism” has been awarded to Andhra Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. Kerala and Gujarat are at the second and the third place in the same category, respectively. Moreover, Andhra Pradesh has been titled the Best Film Promotion Friendly State.

Tirupati, the largest pilgrimage spot and the fourth largest city in Andhra Pradesh, bagged the Best Heritage City Award. Tirupati is known for its scenic hilly beauty and the Lord Venkateswara Temple. The 2000-year old temple is the apex of pilgrimage which fetches around 2 crore visitors from the world over and generates an annual income of approximately 2,250 crores.

Among the Indian capital cities, Hyderabad is in the spotlight of the National Tourism Award this year. The award for the Best Airport in India has gone to the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport. Hyderabad International Airport won the prestigious title for the second time. Golkonda Fort, a jewel in the crown of Hyderabad tourism, stole the limelight as the Best Maintained and Disabled-friendly Monument in the country. Leonia International Centre for Exhibition & Conventions in Hyderabad is the best standalone convention center.

Among the states of north and north-east India, Jammu & Kashmir is conferred on the award in the category the “Best State for Comprehensive Development of Tourism”. It is the second time that Jammu & Kashmir won the title. The Kerala Tourism is shining with the “Most Innovative Information Technology Website” award. The Kochi Muziris Biennale Project, an initiative by Kerala Tourism, is declared the Most Innovative Tourism Project in India, at the National Tourism Awards function today.

The Best Responsible Tourism Award, one of the most coveted recognitions in the tourism sector, has gone to Ladakh, the land of high passes in the state of Jammu & Kashmir. Several eco-tourism projects are underway in the Leh District. Ladakh is one of the sustainable tourism centers in India.

The state to have won the award for implementation of rural tourism projects is Sikkim in northeast India. Bhim Dhungel, Tourism Minister of Sikkim, received the award. An ambitious project worth a whopping 140 crore has been launched to develop infrastructural facilities including view points, conference centers, halting points, retiring units and likes for the convenience of tourists in Sikkim.

In the absence of Dr K. Chiranjeevi, the Minister of Union Tourism; and Pranab Mukherjee, the President of India, Dr Shashi Tharoor, Minister of State for Human Resource Development, played the host and addressed the attendees at the Indian Tourism Awards event. Dr. Tharoor sounded eloquent about the need of a strict policy to ensure absolute security of tourists, which is one of the bottleneck issues to be dealt with in the travel & tourism industry of India.

We at IndianEagle.com convey our hearty congratulations to the winners of Indian Tourism Awards.

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