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Attractions |
Value for money |
Facilities |
Scenic Beauty |
Overall |
|
1. OOTY |
18.1% |
28.7% |
39.3% |
18.3% |
25.2% |
|
2.DARJEELING |
23.8% |
26.9% |
30.0% |
19.7% |
24.7% |
|
3. GULMARG |
21.8% |
14.2% |
13.1% |
23.0% |
18.5% |
|
4. LADAKH |
23.4% |
13.7% |
6.7% |
25.4% |
18.1% |
|
5. CHAIL |
10.0% |
13.4% |
8.7% |
10.6% |
10.7% |
 Ooty it is only by a whisker, half a percentage point to be precise. Darjeeling (top in the Attractions category and last year’s overall number three) came second. The results attest the fact that these former summer capitals of the British have now been well and truly colonized by us, to which we ascend on cue every summer. With tourists returning to the valley, Gulmarg, long absent from charts of any description, is in at number three (closely tailed by Ladakh, marking J&K-with two entries in the top five – the most popular state for summer tourism). In winter, Gulmarg is a ski haven (confirmed by its glowing performance in the ‘Winter Destinations’ category), while in summer it draws the crowds for its breathtaking meadows. But it emerged a clear winner in categories like Value for Money and Facilities. Chail seems to be less popular,
but that perhaps only adds to its charms. Ladakh-last year’s overall winner – has a lot going for it, but there are infrastructural glitches, note our readers. It was adjudged the Most Scenic destination by them, and was a close second to Darjeeling in terms of Attractions, but fared poorly in Facilities.
BETTER IDEAS Manali and Kodaikanal were top of the mind for many readers. Also mentioned were Nainital, Munnar, Gangtok, Shimla, Mount Abu, Mysore, Shillong, and Dalhousie. The surprises: Pahalgam, Keylong, Agartala, Ranchi and Patni Top.
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