Travel: May 2025

Friday, 30 May 2025

Mysore

Mysore /maɪsɔːr/ my-SOR, officially Mysuru (Kannada: maɪsuːɾu , is a city in the southern Indian state of Karnataka. It is the headquarters of Mysore district and Mysore division. As the traditional seat of the Wadiyar dynasty, the city functioned as the capital of the Kingdom of Mysore for almost six centuries 1399 to 1947. Known for its heritage structures, palaces such as the famous Mysore Palace, and its culture, Mysore has been called the City of Palaces, the Heritage City, and the Cultural capital of Karnataka. It is the second-most populous in the state and one of the cleanest cities in India according to the Swachh Survekshan.

Mysore is situated at the foothills of the Chamundi Hills. At an altitude of 770 m 2,530 ft above mean sea level, the city of Mysore is geographically located at 12° 18′ 26″ north latitude and 76° 38′ 59″ east longitude. It is about 140 km 87.0 mi southwest of the state's capital, Bangalore, and spreads across an area of 156 km2 60 sq mi city and neighbouring census towns

Most of the city's development during modern times could be attributed to the maharajas of Mysore and the Wadiyar dynasty, who were patrons of art and culture. Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan, when they were briefly in power in succession, also contributed significantly to the economic growth of the city and the kingdom by planting mulberry trees and silk in the region, and fighting four wars against the British. In present days, the Mysore City Corporation is responsible for the civic administration of the city.

During the Dasara festivals, Mysore receives hundreds of thousands of tourists from around the world. The city is also the namesake to various art forms and culture, such as Mysore Dasara and Mysore painting; foods such as the sweet delicacy Mysore pak; breakfasts like Mysore Dosa and Mysore Masala Dosa; brands such as Mysore Sandal Soap and Mysore Paints; and styles and cosmetics such as Mysore peta, a traditional silk turban, and the Mysore silk saris. Mysore is also known for betel leaves and its own special variety of jasmine flower fondly referred to as "Mysore mallige". Tourism is a lifeline industry for the city alongside the traditional industries. Mysore's intracity public transportation includes bus and intercity public transportation includes rail, bus, and air.

Etymology

The name Mysore is an anglicised form of Mahiṣūru, which means the abode of Mahiṣa in the vernacular Kannada. The common noun Mahiṣa, in Sanskrit, means buffalo; in this context, however, Mahiṣa refers to Mahishasura, a mythical daemon who could assume the form of either a human or a buffalo, and who, according to Hindu mythology, ruled the ancient parts of Mysore Kingdom, known in Sanskrit as Mahiṣaka, centred at Mahiṣapura. He was killed by the goddess Chamundeshwari, whose temple is situated atop the Chamundi Hill, after whom it is named. Mahishapura later became Mahisūru a name which, even now, the royal family uses, and finally came to be rendered as Mysore by the British and Maisūru Mysuru in the vernacular Kannada language.

Bengaluru

Bengaluru, also known as Bangalore its official name until 1 November 2014, is the capital and largest city of the southern Indian state of Karnataka. As per the 2011 census, the city had a population of 8.4 million, making it the third most populous city in India and the most populous in South India. The Bengaluru metropolitan area had a population of around 8.5 million, making it the fifth most populous urban agglomeration in the country. It is located near the center of the Deccan Plateau, at a height of 900 m 3,000 ft above sea level. The city is known as India's Garden City, due to its parks and greenery.

Archaeological artifacts indicate that the human settlement in the region happened as early as 4000 BCE. The first mention of the name Bengalooru is from an old Kannada stone inscription from 890 CE found at the Nageshwara Temple. From 350 CE, it was ruled by the Western Ganga dynasty, and in the early eleventh century, the city became part of the Chola empire. In the late Middle Ages, the region was part of the Hoysala Kingdom and then the Vijayanagara Empire. In 1537 CE, Kempe Gowda I, a feudal ruler under the Vijayanagara Empire, established a mud fort which is considered the foundation of the modern city of Bengaluru and its oldest areas, or petes, which still exist. After the fall of the Vijayanagara Empire, Kempe Gowda declared independence, and the city was expanded by his successors. In 1638 CE, an Adil Shahi army defeated Kempe Gowda III, and the city became a jagir feudal estate of Shahaji Bhonsle. The Mughals later captured Bengaluru and sold it to Maharaja Chikka Devaraja Wodeyar of the Kingdom of Mysore. After the death of Krishnaraja Wodeyar II in 1759 CE, Hyder Ali seized control of the kingdom of Mysore and with it, the administration of Bengaluru, which passed subsequently to his son, Tipu Sultan.

The city was captured by the British East India Company during the Anglo-Mysore Wars, and became part of the Princely State of Mysore. The administrative control of the city was returned to Krishnaraja Wadiyar III, then Maharaja of Mysore, and the old city developed under the dominions of the Mysore kingdom. In 1809 CE, the British shifted their military garrison to the city and established the cantonment, outside the old city. In the late 19th century CE, the city was essentially composed of two distinct urban settlements, the old pete and the new cantonment. Following India's independence in 1947, Bengaluru became the capital of Mysore State, and remained the capital when the state was enlarged and unified in 1956 and subsequently renamed as Karnataka in 1973. The two urban settlements which had developed as independent entities, merged under a single urban administration in 1949.

Bengaluru is one of the fastest-growing metropolises in India. As of 2023, the metropolitan area had an estimated GDP of $359.9 billion, and is one of the most productive metro areas of India. The city is a major center for information technology IT, and is consistently ranked amongst the world's fastest growing technology hubs. It is widely regarded as the Silicon Valley of India, as the largest hub and exporter of IT services in the country. Manufacturing is a major contributor to the economy and the city is also home to several state-owned manufacturing companies. Bengaluru also hosts several institutes of national importance in higher education.

Etymology

The earliest known reference to the name Bengalūru was on a ninth-century hero stone or vīra gallu found in Begur. The Old Kannada inscription belonging to the Western Ganga dynasty mentions the place in a battle in 890 CE . However, Kempe Gowda I used the name of a village near Kodigehalli, to name the city as Bengaluru during its foundation in 1537 CE. Bangalore is an anglicised version of the city's Kannada name. The city was also referred to as Kalyānapura or Kalyānapuri Auspicious City and Dēvarāyapattana during the later Vijayanagara period in 16th century CE.

An apocryphal story states that the twelfth-century Hoysala king Veera Ballala II, while on a hunting expedition, lost his way in the forest. Tired and hungry, he came across a poor old woman who served him boiled beans. The grateful king named the place Benda-Kaal-uru literally, town of boiled beans, which eventually evolved into Bengalūru. Suryanath Kamath has hypothesised that the name was derived from benga, the Kannada term for Pterocarpus marsupium also known as the Indian Kino Tree, a species of dry and moist deciduous trees that grows abundantly in the region. Other theories include that the city was called as Venkaturu because of the Venkataramana temples built by Kempe Gowda, and Benacha kalluru because of the abundance of quartz stones benacha kal in Kannada in the region.

On 11 December 2005, the Government of Karnataka accepted a proposal by U. R. Ananthamurthy to officially rename the city from Bangalore to Bengaluru. On 27 September 2006, the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike passed a resolution to implement the name change, and the government of Karnataka officially implemented the name change from 1 November 2014 after the Union government approved the request

Hampi

Hampi or Hampe Kannada: hɐmpe, also referred to as the Group of Monuments at Hampi, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in the town of Hampi in Vijayanagara district, east-central Karnataka, India. Hampi predates the Vijayanagara Empire; it is mentioned in the Ramayana and the Puranas of Hinduism as Pampa Devi Tirtha Kshetra. Hampi continues as a religious centre, with the Virupaksha Temple, an active Adi Shankara-linked monastery and various monuments belonging to the old city.

Hampi was the capital of the Vijayanagara Empire from 1336 to 1565 as Vijayanagara, when it was abandoned. It was a fortified city. Chronicles left by Persian and European travellers, particularly the Portuguese, say that Hampi was a prosperous, wealthy and grand city near the Tungabhadra River, with numerous temples, farms and trading markets. Hampi-Vijayanagara is estimated to be the world's second-largest city by 1500, after Beijing, and probably India's richest at that time, attracting traders from Persia and Portugal. The Vijayanagara Empire was defeated by a coalition of Muslim sultanates; its capital was conquered, pillaged and destroyed by Muslim armies in 1565, after which Hampi remained in ruins.

Situated in Karnataka, close to the contemporary town of Hampi with the city of Hosapete 13 kilometres 8.1 miles away, Hampi's ruins are spread over 4,100 hectares 16 sq mi and it has been described by UNESCO as an austere, grandiose site of more than 1,600 surviving remains of the last great Hindu kingdom in South India that includes forts, riverside features, royal and sacred complexes, temples, shrines, pillared halls, mandapas, memorial structures, water structures and others.

Etymology

The name was derived from the old name of the Tungabhadra River which was Pampa, so the name Hampi is the English version of the Kannada name Hampe.

Location

Hampi Vijayanagara in early 16th century. The sacred centre featured major Hindu temples and attached markets; the urban core included the royal centre; suburban satellites were spread from what is now Gangawati to Hosapete.

Hampi is situated on the banks of the Tungabhadra River in the eastern part of central Karnataka near the state border with Andhra Pradesh. It is 140 kilometres 87 mi southeast of the Badami and Aihole archaeological sites.

The synonym Hampi—traditionally known as Pampa-kshetra, Kishkindha-kshetra or Bhaskara-kshetra—is derived from Pampa, another name of the goddess Parvati in Hindu theology. According to mythology, the maiden Parvati who is a reincarnation of Shiva's previous wife, Sati resolves to marry the loner ascetic Shiva. Her parents learn of her desire and discourage her, but she pursues her desire. Shiva is lost in yogic meditation, oblivious to the world; Parvati appeals to the gods for help to awaken him and gain his attention. Indra sends Kamadeva — the Hindu god of desire, erotic love, attraction, and affection—to awake Shiva from meditation. Kama reaches Shiva and shoots an arrow of desire. Shiva opens his third eye in his forehead and burns Kama to ashes.

Mahabaleshwar

Mahabaleshwar pronunciation is a small town and a municipal council in Satara district, Maharashtra, India. It is a place of pilgrimage for Hindus because the Krishna River has its origin here. The British colonial rulers developed the town as a hill station, and it served as the summer capital of the Bombay Presidency during the British Raj.

Geography

Mahabaleshwar is located on the mountainous Sahyadri range of the Western Ghats that run North to south along the western coast of India. The coordinates of the town are 17.9250°N 73.6575°E. Mahabaleshwar is a vast plateau measuring 150 km2 58 sq mi, bound by valleys on all sides. It reaches a height of 1,439 m 4,721 ft at its highest peak above sea level, known as Wilson/Sunrise Point. The town is about 122 km 76 mi southwest of Pune and 285 km 177 mi from Mumbai.

Mahabaleshwar comprises three villages: Malcolm Peth, Old "Kshetra" Mahabaleshwar, and part of the Shindola village. The Mahabaleshwar region is the source of the Krishna River that flows east across Maharashtra, Karnataka, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh towards the Bay of Bengal. Three tributaries of Krishna, namely Koyna, Venna Veni and Gayatri, also have their source in Mahabaleshwar region. A fourth river, the Savitri, also has its source in the region, but flows Westward via Mahad to the Arabian Sea.

The area's climate is suitable for cultivation of strawberries; Mahabaleshwar strawberry contributes to about 85 percent of the total strawberry production in the country. It also received the geographical indication GI tag in 2010.

Lonavala

Lonavala-Khandala is a hill station and a Municipal Council in the Pune district, Maharashtra, India. It is about 64 km 40 miles west of Pune and 96 km 60 miles to the east of Mumbai. It is known for its production of the hard candy chikki and is also a major stop on the railway line connecting Mumbai and Pune. From the Pune suburbs, local trains are available from Pune Junction. The Mumbai-Pune Expressway and the Mumbai-Pune national highway both pass through Lonavala.

Lonavala is also home to INS Shivaji formerly HMIS Shivaji, the Indian Navy's premier technical training institute. On 16 February 1945, the Establishment was commissioned as HMIS Shivaji and since then, the premier Technical Training Establishment of the Indian Navy trains officers.

History

Present day Lonavala was a part of the Seuna Yadava dynasty. Later, the Mughals realised the strategic importance of the region and kept the region for an extended time. The forts in the region and the Mavala warriors played an important role in the history of the Maratha Empire and that of the Peshwas. In 1871, the Lonavala and Khandala hill stations were established by Lord Elphinstone, who was the Governor of Bombay Presidency at the time.

Politics

The President of Lonavala Municipal Council is Smt. Surekha Nandkumar Jadhav and the Vice president is Shri. Sanjay Mohan Ghone.

Demographics

As of 2011 India census, Lonavala had a population of 57,698. Males constituted 53.47% of the population and females 46.53%. The sex ratio in Lonavala is 870, lower than the state average of 929. Lonavala has a literacy rate of 89.33%, which is higher than the state average of 82.34%. The Male literacy rate is 93.4%, and the female literacy rate is 84.57%. 10.37% of the total population in Lonavala is of children under 6 years of age.

Monday, 19 May 2025

Air travel

Air travel is a form of travel in vehicles such as airplanes, jet aircraft, helicopters, hot air balloons, blimps, gliders, hang gliders, parachutes, or anything else that can sustain flight. Use of air travel began vastly increasing in the 1930s: the number of Americans flying went from about 6,000 in 1930 to 450,000 by 1934 and to 1.2 million by 1938. It has continued to greatly increase in recent decades, doubling worldwide between the mid-1980s and the year 2000. Modern air travel is much safer than road travel.

Domestic and international flights

Air travel are separated into two general classifications: national/domestic and international flights. Flights from one point to another within the same country are domestic flights. Flights from a point in one country to a point within a different country are international flights. Travelers can use domestic or international flights in either private or public travel.

Commercial air travel

Travel class on an airplane is usually split into a two, three or four class model service. U.S. domestic flights usually have two classes: economy class and a domestic first class partitioned into cabins. International flights may have up to four classes: economy class; premium economy; business class or club class; and first class.

Most air travel starts and ends at a commercial airport. The typical procedure is check-in; border control; airport security baggage and passenger check before entering the gate; boarding; flying; and pick-up of luggage and – limited to international flights – another border control at the host country's border. Most passengers must go through these steps when flying with a commercial airline.

For longer journeys, air travel may consist of several flights with a layover in between. The number of layovers often depends on the number of hub airports the journey is routed through.

Airlines rely either on the point-to-point model or the spoke-and-hub model to operate flights in between airports. The point-to-point model, often used by low-cost carriers such as Southwest, relies on scheduling flights directly between destination airports. The spoke-and-hub model, used by carriers such as American and Delta, relies on scheduling flights to and from hub airports. The hub-and-spoke model allows airlines to connect more destinations and provide more frequent routes, while the point-to-point system allows airlines to avoid layovers and have more cost effective operations.

Travel technology

Travel technology also called tourism technology, and hospitality automation is the application of Information Technology (IT) or Information and Communications Technology ICT in the travel, tourism and hospitality industry. Some forms of travel technology are flight tracking, pre-travel planning through online travel agencies, and systems that allow tourists to review their experiences.

Travel technology was originally associated with the computer reservations system CRS of the airlines industry, but is now used more inclusively, incorporating the broader tourism sector as well as its subset the hospitality industry.

Online travel agencies

Booking engines allow easy access for consumers and travel professionals; the systems enable individuals to make reservations and compare prices. Online travel agencies such as expedia.com, are a large contribution to how the travel and tourism industries have changed due to technology. These online agencies help users plan and book trips and provide comparisons of hotels, flights, vacation packages, prices and more, all in one place. The change from of-person to online travel agencies gives the customer more power in planning their trip.

Customer reviews

The increase in review websites has also had a huge impact on the tourism industry. Sites such as tripadvisor.com let users read, post, and interact with reviews of travel experiences and attractions others have had. eWOM, meaning electronic word of mouth, has become a big influence in consumer’s attitudes and actions, resulting in different choices of products and planning aspects.

Social media and mobile technologies

The introduction of smartphones and mobile applications has also had a big effect on the tourism industry. Social media posts allow users to gather general information, free of marketing bias. GPS and social media apps allow users to tag and share their locations. People no longer need to print out directions and can use map apps to help them get around. Social media users can search for locations on social media platforms and gain more knowledge of the locations without using a review site.

Applications such as Uber and Lyft have also made travelling easier. Users no longer have to plan ahead for transportation to and from an airport or a different destination. Ubers and Lyfts may also be used in place of a rental car.

Mobile communication

Today the tour guide can be a GPS tour guide, and the guidebook could be an audioguide and trips could be planned completely online. The continuing evolution of information technology and the widespread public use of the Internet has created a number of conditions that have been both beneficial and detrimental to the modern travel agency. The internet is reshaping many business aspects. As a result, the travel and tourism industries will have to continue to adapt to new technologies in the future.

Travel website

A travel website is a website that provides travel reviews, trip fares, or a combination of both. Over 1.5 billion people book travel per year, 70% of which is done online.

Travel agency

Tourism in India is 4.6% of the country's gross domestic product GDP. Unlike other sectors, tourism is not a priority sector for the Government of India. The World Travel and Tourism Council calculated that tourism generated 13.2 lakh crore US$160 billion or 5.8% of India's GDP and supported 32.1 million jobs in 2021. Even though, these numbers were lower than the pre-pandemic figures; the country's economy witnessed a significant growth in 2021 after the massive downturn during 2020. The sector is predicted to grow at an annual rate of 7.8% to ₹33.8 lakh crore US400 billion by 2031 7.2% of GDP. India has established itself as the 5th largest global travel healthcare destination with an estimated market size of around 9 billion in 2019, out of the total global travel healthcare industry of 44.8 billion 2019. In 2014, 184,298 foreign patients travelled to India to seek medical treatment.

According to the Ministry of Tourism, over 6.19 million and 1.52 million foreign tourists arrived in India in 2022 and 2021 respectively compared to 10.93 million in 2019, representing a -44% degrowth. In 2022, Gujarat Tops India in Foreign Tourism with 20.17% Share in 2022. Gujarat rose as a global tourism hotspot continues with over 15.40 lakh tourists visiting in 2023. In 2023, 2509.63 million Domestic Tourist Visits DTVs were recorded provisionally compared to 1731.01 Million DTVs in 2022.

The World Economic Forum's Travel and Tourism Development Index 2021, which replaced its previous Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Report, ranks India 54th out of 117 countries overall. The last edition of the Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Report, published in 2019, had ranked India 34th out of 140 countries overall. The report ranked the price competitiveness of India's tourism sector 13th out of 140 countries. It mentioned that India has quite good air transport infrastructure ranked 33rd, particularly given the country's stage of development, and reasonable ground and port infrastructure ranked 28th. The country also scored high on natural resources ranked 14th, and cultural resources and business travel ranked 8th. The World Tourism Organization reported that India's receipts from tourism during 2012 ranked 16th in the world, and 7th among Asian and Pacific countries.

The Ministry of Tourism designs national policies for the development and promotion of tourism. In the process, the Ministry consults and collaborates with other stakeholders in the sector including various central ministries/agencies, state governments, union territories and private sector representatives. Concerted efforts are being made to promote niche tourism products such as rural, cruise, medical and eco-tourism. The Ministry of Tourism maintains the Incredible India campaign focused on promoting tourism in India.

Tourism in India

Tourism in India is 4.6% of the country's gross domestic product GDP. Unlike other sectors, tourism is not a priority sector for the Government of India. The World Travel and Tourism Council calculated that tourism generated ₹13.2 lakh crore US$160 billion or 5.8% of India's GDP and supported 32.1 million jobs in 2021. Even though, these numbers were lower than the pre-pandemic figures; the country's economy witnessed a significant growth in 2021 after the massive downturn during 2020. The sector is predicted to grow at an annual rate of 7.8% to ₹33.8 lakh crore US$400 billion by 2031 7.2% of GDP. India has established itself as the 5th largest global travel healthcare destination with an estimated market size of around 9 billion in 2019, out of the total global travel healthcare industry of 44.8 billion 2019. In 2014, 184,298 foreign patients travelled to India to seek medical treatment.

Tourism

Tourism is travel for pleasure, and the commercial activity of providing and supporting such travel. UN Tourism defines tourism more generally, in terms which go beyond the common perception of tourism as being limited to holiday activity only, as people travelling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure and not less than 24 hours, business and other purposes. Tourism can be domestic within the traveller's own country or international. International tourism has both incoming and outgoing implications on a country's balance of payments.

Between the second half of 2008 and the end of 2009, tourism numbers declined due to a severe economic slowdown see Great Recession and the outbreak of the 2009 H1N1 influenza virus. These numbers, however, recovered until the COVID-19 pandemic put an abrupt end to the growth. The United Nations World Tourism Organization has estimated that global international tourist arrivals might have decreased by 58% to 78% in 2020, leading to a potential loss of US$0.9–1.2 trillion in international tourism receipts.

Globally, international tourism receipts the travel item in the balance of payments grew to US$1.03 trillion €740 billion in 2005, corresponding to an increase in real terms of 3.8% from 2010. International tourist arrivals surpassed the milestone of 1 billion tourists globally for the first time in 2012 Emerging source markets such as China, Russia, and Brazil had significantly increased their spending over the previous decade.

Global tourism accounts for c. 8% of global greenhouse-gas emissions. Emissions as well as other significant environmental and social impacts are not always beneficial to local communities and their economies. Many tourist development organizations are shifting focus to sustainable tourism to minimize the negative effects of growing tourism. This approach aims to balance economic benefits with environmental and social responsibility. The United Nations World Tourism Organization emphasized these practices by promoting tourism as part of the Sustainable Development Goals, through programs such as the International Year for Sustainable Tourism for Development in 2017.

Tourism has reached new dimensions with the emerging industry of space tourism, as well as the cruise ship industry.

Travel

ravel is the movement of people between distant geographical locations. Travel can be done by foot, bicycle, automobile, train, boat, bus, airplane, ship or other means, with or without luggage, and can be one way or round trip. Travel can also include relatively short stays between successive movements, as in the case of tourism.

Etymology

The origin of the word travel is most likely lost to history. The term travel may originate from the Old French word travail, which means work. According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, the first known use of the word travel was in the 14th century. It also states that the word comes from Middle English travailen, travelen which means to torment, labor, strive, journey and earlier from Old French travailler (which means to work strenuously, toil.

In English, people still occasionally use the words travail, which means struggle. According to Simon Winchester in his book The Best Traveler Tales 2004, the words travel and travail both share an even more ancient root: a Roman instrument of torture called the tripalium in Latin it means three stakes, as in to impale. This link may reflect the extreme difficulty of travel in ancient times. Travel in modern times may or may not be much easier, depending upon the destination. Travel to Mount Everest, the Amazon rainforest, extreme tourism, and adventure travel are more difficult forms of travel. Travel can also be more difficult depending on the method of travel, such as by bus, cruise ship, or even by bullock cart.

Purpose and motivation

Traveler's motorcycle with large rear box

Reasons for traveling include recreation, holidays, rejuvenation, tourism or vacationing, research travel, the gathering of information, visiting people, volunteer travel for charity, migration to begin life somewhere else, religious pilgrimages and mission trips, business travel, trade, commuting, obtaining health care, waging or fleeing war, for the enjoyment of traveling, or other reasons. Travelers may use human-powered transport such as walking or bicycling; or vehicles, such as public transport, automobiles, trains, ferries, boats, cruise ships and airplanes.

Motives for travel include:

Pleasure

Relaxation

Discovery and exploration

Adventure

Intercultural communications

Taking personal time for building interpersonal relationships.

Avoiding stress

Forming memories

Cultural experiences

Volunteering

Festivals and events

History

Travel dates back to antiquity where wealthy Greeks and Romans would travel for leisure to their summer homes and villas in cities such as Pompeii and Baiae. While early travel tended to be slower, more dangerous, and more dominated by trade and migration, cultural and technological advances over many years have tended to mean that travel has become easier and more accessible. Humankind has come a long way in transportation since Christopher Columbus sailed to the New World from Spain in 1492, an expedition which took over 10 weeks to arrive at the final destination; to the 21st century when aircraft allows travel from Spain to the United States overnight.

Travel in the Middle Ages offered hardships and challenges, though it was important to the economy and to society. The wholesale sector depended on merchants dealing with/through caravans or sea-voyagers, end-user retailing often demanded the services of many itinerant peddlers wandering from village to hamlet, gyrovagues wandering monks and wandering friars brought theology and pastoral support to neglected areas, traveling minstrels toured, and armies ranged far and wide in various crusades and in sundry other wars. Pilgrimages were common in both the European and Islamic world and involved streams of travelers both locally and internationally.

In the late 16th century, it became fashionable for young European aristocrats and wealthy upper-class men to travel to significant European cities as part of their education in the arts and literature. This was known as the Grand Tour, and included cities such as London, Paris, Venice, Florence, and Rome. However, the French Revolution brought with it the end of the Grand Tour.

Travel by water often provided more comfort and speed than land-travel, at least until the advent of a network of railways in the 19th century. Travel for the purpose of tourism is reported to have started around this time when people began to travel for fun as travel was no longer a hard and challenging task. This was capitalized on by people like Thomas Cook selling tourism packages where trains and hotels were booked together. Airships and airplanes took over much of the role of long-distance surface travel in the 20th century, notably after the Second World War where there was a surplus of both aircraft and pilots. Air travel has become so ubiquitous in the 21st century that one woman, Alexis Alford, visited all 196 countries before the age of 21.

Travel during the COVID-19 pandemic

his article is about international travel restrictions. For domestic travel restrictions and lockdowns, see National responses to the COVID-19 pandemic.

This article's factual accuracy may be compromised due to out-of-date information. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information. June 2022

Part of a series on the

COVID-19 pandemi

Scientifically accurate atomic model of the external structure of SARS-CoV-2. Each ball is an atom.

COVID-19 disease SARS-CoV-2 virus

CasesDeaths

Timeline

Locations

International response

Endemic phaseEvacuationsFace masksInternational aidOriginLockdowns by countryMisinformation by governmentsFake treatmentsSocial distancingSoftwareTravelUnited Nations World Health OrganizationWTO IP waiverUndercounting of deathsCOVID-19 appsZero-COVID

National responses

AfricaChinaEuropean UnionGermanyGhanaIndiaIrelandNetherlandsNew ZealandNigeriaPhilippinesRussiaSwedenUK governmentUS federal governmentVietnam

Medical response

Variants

Economic impact and recession

Impacts

virus icon COVID-19 portal

vte

The near-empty arrival hall of Seoul–Incheon International Airport in South Korea on 6 March 2020

A COVID-19 testing centre for travellers at Heathrow Airport

During the COVID-19 pandemic, many countries and territories imposed quarantines, entry bans, or other travel restrictions for citizens of or recent travelers to the most affected areas. Some countries and territories imposed global restrictions that apply to all foreign countries and territories, or prevented their own citizens from travelling overseas.

Travel restrictions reduced the spread of the virus. However, because they were implemented after community transmission had begun in several countries around the globe, they produced only a modest reduction in the total number of infections. Travel restrictions may be most important at the start and end of a pandemic.

The travel restrictions brought a significant economic cost to the global tourism industry through lost income and social impacts on people who were unable to travel internationally. After travel bans lifted, global tourism saw a return to pre-pandemic levels by the end of 2024. However, some travel, especially business travel, may decrease in the long-term as lower cost alternatives, such as teleconferencing and virtual events have gained preferrence in the professional world. Some countries with large domestic markets, such as the United States, were able to see a faster recovery from increased domestic travel.

Effectiveness

A study in Science found that travel restrictions could delay the initial arrival of COVID-19 in a country but had only modest overall effects unless combined with infection prevention and control measures to significantly reduce transmission.[7][8][9] These findings are consistent with prior research on influenza and other communicable diseases. Travel bans may be most effective for isolated locations, such as small island nations.

Researchers came to the conclusion that travel restrictions are most useful in the early and late phase of an epidemic and restrictions of travel from Wuhan unfortunately came too late.

Effects

Together with a decreased willingness to travel, the restrictions have had a negative economic and social impact on the travel sector in their regions.

During the pandemic, slow travel grew in popularity as tourists opted to avoid crowded destinations, instead taking their time to explore less well-known locations.

A possible long-term impact has been a decline of business travel and international conferencing, and the rise of their virtual, online equivalents. Concerns have been raised over the effectiveness of travel restrictions to contain the spread of COVID-19.

Traveling to vaccinated venues that mandate COVID-19 vaccines to tourists/staff

Many tourism venues, including museums, visitor centers, restaurants, and hotels, required COVID-19 vaccination for their staff or visitors, designating them as vaccinated venues. Research indicates that tourists have differing beliefs about the effectiveness and side effects of COVID-19 vaccines, which influence their willingness to visit or use these venues.

Countries and territories which implemented a global travel ban

Goa

Goa Konkani: Portuguese: is a state on the southwestern coast of India within the Konkan region, geographically separated from the Deccan highlands by the Western Ghats. It is bound by the Indian states of Maharashtra to the north, and Karnataka to the east and south, with the Arabian Sea in the west. It is India's smallest state by area and fourth-smallest by population. Panaji is the state's capital, while Vasco da Gama is its largest city. Goa's official language, which is spoken by a majority of its inhabitants, is Konkani.

The Portuguese, who first voyaged to the subcontinent in the early 16th century as merchants, conquered it soon thereafter, whereupon Goa became an overseas territory of the Portuguese Empire, part of what was then known as Portuguese India, and remained as such for about 456 years until it was annexed by India in 1961. The historic city of Margão or Madgaon in Goa still exhibits the cultural influence of the colonisation.

Goa is the most developed small state and has the 2nd highest GDP per capita among all Indian states, two and a half times as high as the GDP per capita of the country as a whole. The Eleventh Finance Commission of India named Goa the best-placed state because of its infrastructure, and India's National Commission on Population rated it as having the best quality of life in India based on the commission's 12 Indicators. It is the second-highest ranking among Indian states in the human development index.

Goa is visited by large numbers of international and domestic tourists each year because of its white-sand beaches, active nightlife, places of worship, and World Heritage-listed architecture. It also has rich flora and fauna because it lies very close to the North Western Ghats rainforests, one of the rare biodiversity hotspots of the world. The North Goa district attracts a significantly higher number of tourists compared to South Goa, largely due to the greater availability of restaurants, hotels, and a diverse nightlife scene. In contrast, South Goa is known for its relatively pristine beaches and is home to the majority of ultra-luxury resorts, appealing primarily to wealthier tourists seeking a more secluded and upscale experience.

Ooty

This article is about the place in Tamil Nadu. For the place in Kerala, see Mini Ooty. For the Indian film, see Ooty (film).

Ooty

Udagamandalam

Town

Ootacamund

This article is about the place in Tamil Nadu. For the place in Kerala, see Mini Ooty. For the Indian film, see Ooty (film).

Ooty

Udagamandalam

Town

Ootacamund

From top: Ooty Lake; Pykara falls and Government Botanical Garden

Nickname: Queen of hill stations

Ooty is located in Tamil NaduOotyOoty

Coordinates: 11.41°N 76.70°E

Country India

State Tamil Nadu

Region Kongu Nadu

District Nilgiris District

Government

• Type Special Grade Municipality

• Body Udagamandalam Municipality

Area[2]

• Total

30.36 km2 11.72 sq mi

Elevation 2,240 m 7,350 ft

Population 2011

• Total

88,430

• Density 2,900/km2 7,500/sq mi

Demonym s Ootian, Ootacamandian, Udaghaikaran

Languages

• Official Tamil

Time zone UTC+5:30 IST

643001

Tele 91423

Vehicle registration TN-43

Climate Subtropical Highland köppen

Precipitation 1,100 mm 43 in

Website tnurbantree.tn.gov.in

Ooty Tamil: officially Udagamandalam Tamil: , anglicized: Ootacamund listen, abbreviated as Udagai, Tamil: is a town and municipality in the Nilgiris district of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is located 86 km 53 mi northwest of Coimbatore, and is the headquarters of Nilgiris district. Situated in the Nilgiri hills, it is known by the epithet "Queen of Hill Stations", and is a popular tourist destination.

Originally occupied by the Toda people, the area came under the rule of the East India Company in the 18th century. It later served as the summer capital of Madras Presidency. The economy is based on the hospitality industry serving tourism and agriculture. The town is connected to the plains by the Nilgiri ghat roads and Nilgiri Mountain Railway.

Etymology

The region was earlier known as Ottakal Mandu, with Otta-kal meaning single stone in Tamil, a reference to a sacred stone revered by the local Toda people and Mandu, a Toda word for village. This later became Udagamandalam which was anglicised to Ootacamund by the British, with the first part of the name Ootaca, a corruption of the local name for the region and the second part Mand, a shortening of the local Toda word Mandu. The first known written mention of the place is given as Wotokymund in a letter dated March 1821, written to the Madras Gazette by an unknown correspondent. Ootacamund was later shortened to Ooty. Ooty is in the Nilgiri hills, meaning the "blue mountains", so named due to the Kurunji flower, which used to give the slopes a bluish tinge.

History

The earliest reference to Nilgiri hills is found in the Tamil Sangam epic Silappathikaram from the 5th or 6th century CE. The region was a land occupied by various tribes such as Badagas, Todas, Kotas, Irulas and Kurumbas. The region was ruled by the three Tamil kingdoms of Cheras, Cholas and Pandyas during various times. The Todas are referenced in a record belonging to Hoysala king Vishnuvardhana and his general Punisa, dated 1117 CE. It was also ruled by various dynasties like Pallavas, Satavahanas, Gangas, Kadambas, Rashtrakutas, Hoysalas and the Vijayanagara empire. Tipu Sultan captured Nilgiris in the eighteenth century and the region came into possession of British in 1799. It became part of Coimbatore district of the Madras Presidency.

Map of Udagamandalam in 1903

In 1818, J. C. Whish and N. W. Kindersley, assistants to John Sullivan, then collector of Coimbatore district, visited Kotagiri nearby and reported on the region's potential to serve as a summer retreat. Sullivan established his residence there and reported to the Board of Revenue on 31 July 1819. He also started work on a road from Sirumugai which was completed in May 1823 and extended up to Coonoor between 1830–32. By 1827, it was established as a sanatorium of the Madras Presidency and developed further at the behest of then Governor of Madras Stephen Lushington. The Government Botanical Garden, covering 51 acres 21 ha, was established in 1842 and a library was established in 1959.

Ooty was made a municipality in 1866, and civic improvements including roads, drainage, and water supply from the Marlimund and Tiger Hill reservoirs were added through Government loans. In August 1868, the Nilgiris was separated from the Coimbatore district, and James Wilkinson Breeks was appointed its first commissioner. On 1 February 1882, Nilgiris was made a district, and Richard Wellesley Barlow, the then commissioner, became its first collector. By the early 20th century, Ooty was a well-developed hill station, with an artificial lake, various parks, religious structures, and sporting facilities for polo, golf, and cricket. It served as the summer capital of the Madras Presidency and as a retreat for the British officials.

Post-independence, the town developed into a popular recreational resort and the nearby Wellington became the home of the Defence Services Staff College of the Indian Army.

From top: Ooty Lake; Pykara falls and Government Botanical Garden

Nickname: Queen of hill stations

Ooty is located in Tamil NaduOotyOoty

Coordinates: 11.41°N 76.70°E

Country India

State Tamil Nadu

Region Kongu Nadu

District Nilgiris District

Government

• Type Special Grade Municipality

• Body Udagamandalam Municipality

Area[2]

• Total

30.36 km2 11.72 sq mi

Elevation 2,240 m 7,350 ft

Population 2011

• Total

88,430

• Density 2,900/km2 7,500/sq mi

Demonym s Ootian, Ootacamandian, Udaghaikaran

Languages

• Official Tamil

Time zone UTC+5:30 IST

643001

Tele 91423

Vehicle registration TN-43

Climate Subtropical Highland köppen

Precipitation 1,100 mm 43 in

Website tnurbantree.tn.gov.in

Etymology

History

Map of Udagamandalam in 1903

Post-independence, the town developed into a popular recreational resort and the nearby Wellington became the home of the Defence Services Staff College of the Indian Army.This article is about the place in Tamil Nadu. For the place in Kerala, see Mini Ooty. For the Indian film, see Ooty (film).

Ooty

Udagamandalam

Town

Ootacamund

From top: Ooty Lake; Pykara falls and Government Botanical Garden

Nickname: Queen of hill stations

Ooty is located in Tamil NaduOotyOoty

Coordinates: 11.41°N 76.70°E

Country India

State Tamil Nadu

Region Kongu Nadu

District Nilgiris District

Government

• Type Special Grade Municipality

• Body Udagamandalam Municipality

Area[2]

• Total

30.36 km2 11.72 sq mi

Elevation 2,240 m 7,350 ft

Population 2011

• Total

88,430

• Density 2,900/km2 7,500/sq mi

Demonym s Ootian, Ootacamandian, Udaghaikaran

Languages

• Official Tamil

Time zone UTC+5:30 IST

643001

Tele 91423

Vehicle registration TN-43

Climate Subtropical Highland köppen

Precipitation 1,100 mm 43 in

Website tnurbantree.tn.gov.in

Etymology

History

Map of Udagamandalam in 1903

Ooty

Udagamandalam

Town

Ootacamund

From top: Ooty Lake; Pykara falls and Government Botanical Garden

Nickname: Queen of hill stations

Ooty is located in Tamil NaduOotyOoty

Coordinates: 11.41°N 76.70°E

Country India

State Tamil Nadu

Region Kongu Nadu

District Nilgiris District

Government

• Type Special Grade Municipality

• Body Udagamandalam Municipality

Area[2]

• Total

30.36 km2 11.72 sq mi

Elevation 2,240 m 7,350 ft

Population 2011

• Total

88,430

• Density 2,900/km2 7,500/sq mi

Demonym s Ootian, Ootacamandian, Udaghaikaran

Languages

• Official Tamil

Time zone UTC+5:30 IST

643001

Tele 91423

Vehicle registration TN-43

Climate Subtropical Highland köppen

Precipitation 1,100 mm 43 in

Website tnurbantree.tn.gov.in

Etymology

History

Map of Udagamandalam in 1903

Ooty

Udagamandalam

Town

Ootacamund

This article is about the place in Tamil Nadu. For the place in Kerala, see Mini Ooty. For the Indian film, see Ooty (film).

Ooty

Udagamandalam

Town

Ootacamund

From top: Ooty Lake; Pykara falls and Government Botanical Garden

Nickname: Queen of hill stations

Ooty is located in Tamil NaduOotyOoty

Coordinates: 11.41°N 76.70°E

Country India

State Tamil Nadu

Region Kongu Nadu

District Nilgiris District

Government

• Type Special Grade Municipality

• Body Udagamandalam Municipality

Area[2]

• Total

30.36 km2 11.72 sq mi

Elevation 2,240 m 7,350 ft

Population 2011

• Total

88,430

• Density 2,900/km2 7,500/sq mi

Demonym s Ootian, Ootacamandian, Udaghaikaran

Languages

• Official Tamil

Time zone UTC+5:30 IST

643001

Tele 91423

Vehicle registration TN-43

Climate Subtropical Highland köppen

Precipitation 1,100 mm 43 in

Website tnurbantree.tn.gov.in

Etymology

History

Map of Udagamandalam in 1903

Post-independence, the town developed into a popular recreational resort and the nearby Wellington became the home of the Defence Services Staff College of the Indian Army.

From top: Ooty Lake; Pykara falls and Government Botanical Garden

Nickname: Queen of hill stations

Ooty is located in Tamil NaduOotyOoty

Coordinates: 11.41°N 76.70°E

Country India

State Tamil Nadu

Region Kongu Nadu

District Nilgiris District

Government

• Type Special Grade Municipality

• Body Udagamandalam Municipality

Area[2]

• Total

30.36 km2 11.72 sq mi

Elevation 2,240 m 7,350 ft

Population 2011

• Total

88,430

• Density 2,900/km2 7,500/sq mi

Demonym s Ootian, Ootacamandian, Udaghaikaran

Languages

• Official Tamil

Time zone UTC+5:30 IST

643001

Tele 91423

Vehicle registration TN-43

Climate Subtropical Highland köppen

Precipitation 1,100 mm 43 in

Website tnurbantree.tn.gov.in

Etymology

History

Map of Udagamandalam in 1903

Post-independence, the town developed into a popular recreational resort and the nearby Wellington became the home of the Defence Services Staff College of the Indian Army.

Shimla

Shimla English Hi also known as Simla, the official name until 1972 is the capital and the largest city of the northern Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. In 1864, Shimla was declared the summer capital of British India. After independence, the city became the capital of East Punjab and was later made the capital city of Himachal Pradesh. It is the principal commercial, cultural and educational centre of the state.

Small hamlets were recorded before 1815 when British forces took control of the area. The climatic conditions attracted the British to establish the city in the dense forests of the Himalayas. As the summer capital, Shimla hosted many important political meetings including the Simla Deputation of 1906, the Simla Accord of 1914 and the Simla Conference of 1945. After independence, the state of Himachal Pradesh came into being in 1948 as a result of the integration of 28 princely states. Even after independence, the city remained an important political centre, hosting the Simla Agreement of 1972. After the reorganisation of the state of Himachal Pradesh, the existing Mahasu district was named Shimla.

Shimla is home to several buildings that are styled in the Tudorbethan and neo-Gothic architectures dating from the colonial era, as well as multiple temples and churches. The colonial architecture and churches, the temples, and the natural environment of the city attract tourists. Major city centre's attractions include the Shri Hanuman Jakhu (Statue), Jakhu Temple, Viceregal Lodge, Christ Church, Mall Road, The Ridge and Annadale. The city centre's northernmost point is Jakhoo and the southernmost location is Annadale, the easternmost point is Sanjauli and the western point is Chotta Shimla. The Kalka–Shimla Railway line built by the British, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is also a major tourist attraction. Owing to its steep terrain, Shimla hosts the mountain biking race MTB Himalaya, which started in 2005 and is regarded as the biggest event of its kind in South Asia. Shimla also has the largest natural ice skating rink in South Asia. Apart from being a tourism centre, the city is also an educational hub with several colleges and research institutions.

Etymology

Kali Bari Mandir, after which the city is named

One theory suggests that the name Shimla was derived from Shyamalaya, meaning blue house, a solitary house made of blue slate on Jakhu Hill, built by a fakir.

According to another version, the city gets its name from Shamli or Shyamala, meaning 'blue lady', referring to the goddess Kali. It is believed that a temple dedicated to goddess Shamli, an incarnation of Kali, used to be on the Jakhu hillside near the Rothney Castle. Many believe that during the British period, the image of the goddess was shifted to a new place, the now-famous Kali Bari Temple.

In 2018, the state government decided to change the city's name from Shimla to Shyamala.

However, seeing the negative response of the general public, the state government dismissed the plan.