India Named Travel + Leisure 2027 Destination of the Year in Global Feature
Travel + Leisure magazine has named India its 2027 Destination of the Year, highlighting luxury hospitality, diverse landscapes, and heritage sites as tourism aims to rebound.
India has been selected as the 2027 Destination of the Year by the American travel magazine Travel + Leisure, highlighting its vast geographical diversity, economic growth, and high-end hospitality offerings. The prestigious annual project follows Brazil in 2026, Thailand in 2025, and Costa Rica in 2024. Editor-in-Chief Jacqui Gifford noted that the designation comes at a time when the country seeks to attract more international visitors, following Ministry of Tourism figures showing approximately 9.15 million foreign tourist arrivals in 2025, representing an eight percent decrease compared to the previous year. The magazine's special feature emphasizes luxury travel, wellness retreats, and heritage palace hotels alongside traditional backpacker routes.
Wildlife Safaris and Ancient Temples in Madhya Pradesh
Central India's Madhya Pradesh state offers wildlife enthusiasts prime opportunities to observe Bengal tigers in their natural habitat. In Panna National Park, traversed by the Ken River, conservation efforts since 2009 have successfully restored the tiger population alongside leopards, hyenas, wolves, and numerous bird species across a landscape of forests, gorges, and waterfalls. A short drive away lies Khajuraho, renowned for its UNESCO World Heritage-listed temple complex built during the 10th and 11th centuries, featuring intricate stone carvings and erotic sculptures.
Exclusive Tropical Islands and Restricted Archipelagos
Hundreds of kilometers off the coast of Kerala in the Arabian Sea, the Lakshadweep archipelago boasts white-sand beaches, coral reefs, and turquoise lagoons reminiscent of the Maldives. Islands such as Kadmat and Bangaram offer secluded diving, snorkeling, and quiet tropical getaways. Tourism in the region remains strictly regulated; foreign nationals are limited to designated islands like Agatti, Bangaram, and Kadmat, and all visitors, including Indian citizens from outside the territory, must secure special entry permits prior to departure from Kochi.
Royal Heritage and Historic Mansions
In the western state of Rajasthan, Udaipur founded in the 16th century is known as the Venice of the East due to its picturesque lakes. Lake Pichola features an 18th-century marble palace that now operates as a luxury hotel, while the expansive City Palace complex serves as a museum. Meanwhile, in the Chettinad region of Tamil Nadu, wealthy merchants and bankers built thousands of opulent 19th and early 20th-century mansions integrating Italian marble, Burmese teak wood, European chandeliers, and handcrafted Athangudi tiles.
Mountain Landscapes and Cultural Festivals
Khajjiar in Himachal Pradesh provides an alpine contrast with its dense coniferous forests and green meadows, earning it the moniker of India's Little Switzerland alongside the colonial-era hill station of Dalhousie. Further northeast, the mountainous state of Nagaland hosts the annual Hornbill Festival every December in Kisama heritage village, showcasing indigenous tribal music, crafts, and dances. Travel planners note that visiting diverse regions requires careful seasonal timing, with October to March ideal for Rajasthan and the south, summer months suited for Himalayan regions like Ladakh, and the June-to-September monsoon bringing heavy rains and lush landscapes across much of the subcontinent.
