Well, it’s an authority on the subject. Millions of tourists, thumbing through and peering at Lonely Planet guides will vouch for its recommendations. Its latest book unveils its top 10 countries, cities, regions and best-value destinations for this year.
India’s state of Madhya Pradesh has been honoured as 3rd ‘Best Value Destination’ of the world. Reading between the lines, some quip that the list has possibly been prepared to keep in mind budgets travel, cheap accommodation and sightseeing and travel friendly( and worthy) fare in mind – for that spend at least. That would be an unkind way to put it in that manner. Having been to Budapest, Madhya Pradesh, Cape Winelands, South Africa and Athens, we can vouch for the worth of that listing completely. Take Madhya Pradesh, for one. The state offers wildlife-spotting at a lower cost than in Africa. If culture is your scene, go to sites like Khajuraho’s temples, known for erotic sculpture and an array of temple towns and heritage destinations to sate the most wizened tourist. The state is blessed with rich wildlife experiences, marvellous heritage, interesting pilgrim spots – whether you are a pilgrim or just going for the architecture, vibe and food to suit everybody’s taste. Vegetarians can have a field day every day.
Sesh Seshadri, Director and General Manager Lonely Planet India said, “The travel community eagerly awaits this list across the Globe to encourage visits to these spots. Madhya Pradesh enjoys a strategic location being surrounded by 5 other states in the country. Madhya Pradesh by virtue of its central location and with the number of infrastructure projects is very tourist-friendly. Madhya Pradesh is an important state of Central India with enormous scope for tourism, covering all types of tourism like heritage tourism, wildlife tourism, cultural tourism, pilgrimage, tribal tourism, rural tourism etc.” The fact that Indore city in the state has been surveyed as India’s cleanest city, three times in three years is a testimony of how the government, the tourism authorities and almost every civic body and business have worked together as a team to make it a happen.
Lonely Planet’s “Best in Travel 2020” rates among the Top 10 as
- East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia
- Budapest, Hungary
- Madhya Pradesh, India
- Buffalo, USA
- Azerbaijan
- Serbia
- Tunisia
- Cape Winelands, South Africa
- Athens, Greece
- Zanzibar, Tanza
