The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page- St. Augustine
Holidays act as speed breakers in one’s run-of –the-mill life; people use them as rejuvenation tonic. Ideally holidays should be for leisure and fun, but in India they are commonly used for social and religious obligations.
According to latest National Sample Survey Organization under Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation report visits for the social purpose account for 75 percent of overnight trips in rural India and 71 percent in urban areas. Around 9 percent of overnight trips are due to pilgrimage for rural folks, while corresponding figure for urban population is 12 percent. NSSO survey further reports that holiday for leisure and recreation was privilege of only 5 percent and 2 percent of urban and rural populace respectively. This is a striking contrast with the Western world and other developed nations; they spend their holidays in exploring new places. Once a year most of the tourists from these nations cross the border of their country to go to the places they have not seen before.
Besides visits to relatives and friends during holidays, travel to religious shrines is quite in vogue in India. There are thousands of such places, to name a few Mata Vaishno Devi,Sai Baba,Golden Temple and Balaji attract mostof the tourists from within the country.
Time and money invested in going places brings unimaginable joy and pleasure, sweet memories of good time spent with family away from confines of home become life time treasure.
Indian story is now due for change; the urban Indians are also becoming globetrotters; to satisfy their wanderlust, they also travel far and wide to exotic locations. Growing economy and cheap air travel has made it possible for an average Indian to travel abroad.
Travel and change of place impart new vigour to the mind. Whatever be the reason to go on holiday, it is always welcome respite from humdrum life.
