**Executive Summary**
On 17 April 2026, NITI Aayog launched "Divya Bharat: A Window to the Soul of India," an anthology designed to strengthen India’s tourism ecosystem and inspire global and domestic travel. The initiative aims to promote balanced, year-round tourism by highlighting diverse destinations and fostering deeper engagement with local cultures. Key objectives include encouraging longer tourist stays, enhancing Centre-State collaboration, and supporting local economies through a structured, data-driven approach.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Anthology Overview**
* Presents India’s tourism offerings through a "seasonal lens," aligning specific destinations with the rhythm of the months.
* Includes a comprehensive mix of iconic landmarks, heritage sites, cultural traditions, festivals, and cuisines.
* Covers destinations across all States and Union Territories, with a specific focus on lesser-known attractions.
* **Tourism Strategy and Goals**
* Aims to shift focus toward "experiential journeys" that involve deeper engagement with local communities and traditions.
* Promotes balanced tourism to prevent seasonal overcrowding and support local economies year-round.
* Highlights the need for each State to develop world-class destinations to encourage longer tourist stays, particularly in domestic and religious sectors.
* **Collaborative Framework**
* Emphasizes the importance of Centre-State collaboration and data-driven policymaking.
* Underlines the role of industry, academic, and knowledge partners—such as Airbnb, IITTM, and IAMAI—in strengthening the tourism ecosystem.
* Functions as a unified platform to boost domestic awareness and enhance the global appeal of India’s tourism sector.
**Impact Analysis**
**Indian States and Union Territories**
**Impact**
States are identified as primary drivers for developing world-class destinations and improving infrastructure to facilitate longer stays.
**Action Required**
States must focus on developing world-class sites, improving local infrastructure, and collaborating with the Centre on data-driven policies.
**Citizens and Global Travellers**
**Impact**
Travellers gain access to a structured, year-round resource that simplifies the discovery of diverse, meaningful, and lesser-known destinations.
**Action Required**
Travellers are encouraged to use the anthology to plan experiential journeys that go beyond conventional sightseeing and support local communities.
**Policymakers and Industry Stakeholders**
**Impact**
The anthology serves as a valuable resource for guiding inclusive growth, cultural preservation, and sustainable development within the tourism sector.
**Action Required**
Stakeholders should utilize the anthology as a tool for research and curation to foster greater community participation and cultural pride.
Key Entities Referenced
Divya Bharat: A Window to the Soul of India: A comprehensive anthology and initiative launched to showcase India's diverse tourism landscape through a seasonal lens, promoting experiential and balanced tourism.
NITI Aayog: The primary government policy think tank responsible for conceiving and launching the initiative to strengthen India’s tourism ecosystem and drive inclusive growth.
Ministry of Tourism: A key collaborating ministry involved in the initiative to promote domestic and religious tourism through improved infrastructure and world-class destination development.
Suman Bery: Vice Chairman of NITI Aayog who launched the anthology and advocated for Centre-State collaboration and data-driven policymaking in the tourism sector.
Ministry of Culture: A supporting ministry involved in the launch and implementation of the tourism-focused cultural anthology.
NITI Aayog
NITI Aayog Launches Anthology “Divya Bharat: A
Window to the Soul of India” to Strengthen
India’s Tourism Ecosystem
Posted On: 17 APR 2026 8:17PM by PIB Delhi
NITI Aayog today launched an anthology titled “Divya Bharat: A Window to the Soul of India”, a
comprehensive initiative aimed at inspiring citizens and global travellers to explore India’s diverse tourism
landscape through a structured and immersive approach.
The anthology was released by Shri Suman Bery, Vice Chairman, NITI Aayog, in the presence of Smt.
Nidhi Chibber, CEO, NITI Aayog; Shri Bhuvnesh Kumar, Secretary, Ministry of Tourism; Shri Yugal
Joshi, Programme Director, NITI Aayog along with the senior officials from the Ministry of Tourism,
Ministry of Culture and NITI Aayog.
On the occasion, Shri Suman Bery spoke that, “Tourism is a key growth driver in line with the vision of
the Hon’ble Prime Minister. There is a need for each State to develop a world-class destination and
promote longer tourist stays, especially in domestic and religious tourism. According to me, there should
be more focus on the Centre-State collaboration, data-driven policymaking and improved infrastructure.
While at the same time, I would also like to appreciate the efforts to create a unified platform to boost
domestic awareness and global appeal of India’s tourism sector.”
Conceived as a year-round companion for travellers, Divya Bharat presents India’s tourism offerings
through a unique seasonal lens, aligning destinations with the rhythm of the months. It brings together a
rich mix of iconic landmarks, heritage sites, cultural traditions, festivals, cuisines and lesser-knowndestinations across all States and Union Territories, enabling a more holistic and engaging travel
experience.
Drawing upon India’s long-standing tradition of travel and cultural exploration, the anthology reflects the
evolving nature of tourism in the country. It highlights the growing importance of experiential journeys
that go beyond conventional sightseeing, encouraging deeper engagement with local communities,
traditions and ways of life.
The anthology is not just a guide for travellers, but also an initiative to promote balanced tourism by
encouraging people to travel across seasons and regions. In addition to popular destinations, it highlights
lesser-known attractions, thereby supporting local economies, preserving cultural heritage and fostering
greater community participation.
The launch was attended by representatives from industry and academic institutions, including Airbnb;
Atithi Foundation; Indian School of Public Policy (ISPP); Indian Institute of Tourism and Travel
Management (IITTM); and Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI) underlining the importance
of collaboration among government, industry and knowledge partners in strengthening India’s tourism
ecosystem.
The initiative builds on India’s ongoing efforts to promote tourism as a key pillar of growth, cultural
exchange, and national identity. By offering a structured and accessible view of the country’s tourism
landscape, Divya Bharat is expected to serve as a valuable resource for travellers, policymakers and
stakeholders alike.
Developed through extensive research and curation, the anthology aims to inspire people to travel more
widely across India to discover new destinations and experience the country’s diversity in a more
meaningful manner.
The anthology “Divya Bharat: A Window to the Soul of India” reflects the continued commitment of NITI
Aayog to promoting tourism as a driver of inclusive growth, cultural pride and sustainable development.
The full publication can be accessed on the NITI Aayog website:
https://niti.gov.in/sites/default/files/2026-04/Divya-Bharat-A-WIndow-to-the-Soul-of-India-Web.pdf
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