Rich Past, Missed Present!

India is a land where time stands still in stone — where ancient temples, royal palaces, and timeless ruins whisper stories of a bygone era. With 3,697 monuments and archaeological sites officially classified as Monuments of National Importance (MNIs) under the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), the country is a treasure trove of history waiting to be experienced. Yet, in the grand theatre of global tourism, India’s cultural legacy continues to be underplayed.

From the resplendent Taj Mahal to the intricacies of Sanchi Stupa, India’s architectural marvels are scattered across its length and breadth. While these sites have seen growing interest among domestic travellers, the international audience remains relatively sparse.

In 2023, centrally protected ticketed monuments welcomed 48 million domestic tourists — a testament to homegrown heritage enthusiasm. Yet foreign tourist numbers tell a less enthusiastic story: only 9.24 million international tourists visited India in 2023. While that reflects a strong rebound from 6.44 million in 2022 — a 43.5% increase — it pales in comparison to global leaders. France and Spain, for instance, each welcomed over 80 million international visitors in 2023 alone (UNWTO, 2024).

By mid-2024, India had already received 4.77 million foreign tourists, signalling further momentum. However, this is not nearly enough given India’s potential.

The Taj Mahal continues to dominate as India’s most visited monument, drawing over 6 million domestic visitors in 2024. Ironically, foreign visitor numbers to this world wonder have dropped significantly — to just 300,000 in 2023. This points to an urgent need for strategic international marketing, modernized amenities, and smoother access for overseas travellers.

Meanwhile, the Qutub Minar is catching foreign eyeballs and is now the second most-visited monument among international tourists in 2023–2024. But many other heritage gems — from the rock-cut marvels of Ellora to the mystic ruins of Hampi — remain largely unexplored on the global circuit.

Though the ASI continues to safeguard MNIs and provide basic amenities like signage, pathways, and ramps for the differently-abled, several challenges remain. Many monuments are plagued by crumbling infrastructure, encroachments, lack of sanitation facilities, and inadequate interpretation materials.

Recognizing the issue, the government is in the process of delisting 18 centrally protected monuments that no longer hold national relevance, with a view to concentrate efforts on more significant sites.

India’s tourism sector contributes about 4.6% to the GDP (Ministry of Tourism, GoI, 2024). This is modest compared to nations like Thailand (12.5%) or Spain (14.6%), where tourism is central to economic planning. Aggressive policy decisions like visa-free travel, airport-to-hotel shuttle services, and digital-first experiences have played a key role in drawing global tourists to those countries.

If India is to turn its rich past into a flourishing present, the following pillars must be prioritized:

Infrastructure Modernization: Clean restrooms, informative displays, multilingual audio guides, and shaded rest zones are basic expectations today. UNESCO-styled immersive experiences could also help.

Smart Digitization: Augmented reality tours, virtual ticketing, global SEO campaigns, and social media storytelling can bring India’s heritage to a much larger audience.

Local Integration: Empowering communities around heritage sites with training, home-stays, and tourism-linked micro-enterprises can create jobs while preserving authenticity.

Policy Innovation: Fast-tracked visas, travel corridors with key nations, off-season discounts, and heritage festivals tailored for international guests can act as catalysts.

Sustainability Focus: Limiting footfall in vulnerable monuments, adopting green energy, and mandating eco-conscious tourism operators can protect India’s heritage from over-tourism and neglect.

Cultural Sensitivity: Training guides and staff on etiquette, global cultural nuances, and inclusive communication can make India more tourist-friendly in subtle but powerful ways.

India’s monuments aren’t just relics of the past — they’re living invitations to the world. With thoughtful action, the subcontinent can reposition itself as a heritage haven that rivals the best in the world. What we need is not just footfall, but meaningful footsteps — the kind that honour history while building the future.

India’s heritage doesn’t suffer from lack of glory — it suffers from lack of global imagination. The problem isn’t that we don’t have stories to tell, but that we’ve failed to tell them loud enough, smart enough, and far enough. In a world where content drives curiosity and convenience dictates travel choices, our monuments can no longer rely on mystique alone. If we want the world to arrive, we must first arrive at a realization ourselves — that preserving the past is not enough. We must package it, position it, and proudly present it as an irreplaceable part of the global cultural conversation. Until then, we risk being caretakers of forgotten wonders, watching history fade under our watch.