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New Delhi: Looking back at 2025, it is clear that Indians have adopted travel from a new perspective. This year has been all about vacations away from the crowds, at a slower pace, and places that provide solace, either spiritually or naturally. There was no shortage of tourists in big cities and famous hill stations, but the real attraction of 2025 were those places where peace, cultural depth and the soft lap of nature were giving new energy to the travelers. Based on this year's trend reports, here are the five Indian destinations that travelers loved the most.
Kashmir retains the crown as the most preferred destination in 2025. The interesting thing is that this time people were not limited to Srinagar and Gulmarg only. Quiet and lesser-known areas like Sonamarg, Greiz, Aru Valley, Daksum and Dudhpathri grew in popularity rapidly. Snow covered valleys, flowing rivers and flower filled fields were enough to provide respite from city fatigue. Videos of snowfall, skiing on Dal Lake and pictures of tulip gardens on social media made Kashmir the travel star of 2025.
Rajasthan has been a tourist favorite for years, but in 2025, its rural beauty attracted the most attention. There was a good amount of tourist traffic in the small villages around Khimsar, Osian, Barmer and Jaisalmer. People preferred to live in mud houses, listen to folk music and taste desi Rajasthani food instead of big resorts. This travel style shows that sometimes the most memorable experiences are the ones that involve simplicity and down to earth.
Maha Kumbh 2025 brought Prayagraj back to the center of the national and international map. The crowd of lakhs of people, the dip of faith at the Sangam and the festive atmosphere spread in the city was a full experience for every traveler. Varanasi also saw a good number of tourists in the last months of the year. The echoing aartis performed on the ghats, the fragrance of the streets, watching the sunset while drinking kadha—all these gave travelers a deep emotional connect with the city.
One of the sweetest and slightly unexpected travel trends of 2025 has been the rising popularity of Vrindavan and Govardhan. Famous for its temples and ashrams, these cities have fast become favorite options for weekend breaks. The number of people doing Govardhan Parikrama increased noticeably, while the simplicity of Vrindavan, quiet streets, tunes of bhajans and colorful festivals gave a different comfort to the people. Many travelers said that the trip here left them feeling light from within, stable and positive in many ways.
Meghalaya has become a dream place in 2025 for those who feel close to nature. Hills wrapped in mist, continuously flowing waterfalls, crystal clear rivers, bridges made of living roots and dense forests – every corner of Meghalaya seemed to tell a story. Places like Cherrapunji, Shillong, Dawki and Krang Suri received a record number of tourists this year. Some went hiking in the mountains, some pitched tents on river banks, and many experienced the real Meghalaya by spending time with local communities.
The heart is happy to see these journeys. It seems Indians are now traveling not just to roam, but to slow down, connect and find inner peace. It is hoped that this beautiful journey will continue like this in 2026 also.
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