Tourism is India’s third largest export industry after gems and jewellery and readymade garments. However, even though India has got world’s highest potential, its share is only 0.4% of the total world tourist traffic. The major stumbling blocks are poor infrastructure facilities for the tourists and shortage of hotel rooms.
Some major tourist attractions of India are: India Gate, New Delhi; Red Fort, Delhi; Meenakshi Temple, Madurai; Golden Temple, Amritsar; Taj Mahal, Agra; Gateway of India, Mumbai, Gol Gumbaz, Bijapur, Karnataka; Victoria Memorial, Calcutta; Hawa Mahal and various forts of Rajasthan; the Himalayan beauty of Jammu & Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh, as also Darjeeling in West Bengal; Khajuraho temples, Madhya Pradesh, Ajanta and Ellora Caves in Maharashtra, the beautiful sea beaches of Goa and Andamans.
The religious diversity of the country as also the festivals are also a major attraction. Some famous fairs are: Pushkar fair in Rajasthan; Sonepur fair in Bihar; Bhavnath fair in Gujarat; and the Ladakh festival in Leh.
General Knowledge Refresher 