Taj Mahal in top 5 tourist attractions globally: Survey

New Delhi, May 19: Considered one of the most iconic wonders of the world, the Taj Mahal has been voted among the top five tourist attractions in the world, second in Asia and led the popularity list in India, according to a leading travel planning and booking site Trip Advisor.

The iconic 'monument of love' is ranked number 5 in the global list of the recently released TripAdvisor's Travellers' Choice Landmarks Awards, which put Machu Picchu in Peru and the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Center in Abu Dhabi as the top two destinations for travellers.

Award winners were determined using an algorithm that took into account the quantity and quality of reviews and ratings for landmarks worldwide, gathered over a 12-month period.

"India has a rich cultural history which is often reflected in the architectural landmarks that we've built and any recognition on the world stage is truly well deserved," Nikhil Ganju, Country Manager, TripAdvisor India said.

The Taj Mahal was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983 for being "the jewel of Muslim art in India and one of the universally admired masterpieces of the world's heritage."

The Amber Fort in Jaipur also figures on the 8th list of in the Travellers' Choice Landmarks in Asia. Known for its combination of Mughal and Rajput architecture, Amber fort is one of the major tourist attractions in Jaipur.

The most fascinating state room inside the fort is the Sheesh Mahal, also known as the mirror palace, adorned with thousands of mirror tiles which supposedly can be fully lit just by a single candle. This fort along with Jaigarh Fort, is located immediately above on the Cheel ka Teela (Hill of Eagles) and connected by a subterranean passage.

This passage was meant as an escape route in times of war to enable the royal family members to shift to Jaigarh Fort. The Harmandir Sahib (Golden Temple) in Amritsar, Punjab is ranked number 3 on the Travellers' Choice Landmarks -India list.

PTI