Announcing the Famous Five on ixigo

Gurgaon, India, June 16, 2013 --(PR.com)-- ixigo.com, India’s leading travel planning & search engine has released a list of the Famous Five i.e. the five most searched destinations on the website. Known for its innovative offerings, ixigo’s trip planning and travel search engine receives several thousands of queries every day for destinations, things to do, places to visit, how to reach and more. For the first time, the ixigo team has compiled the list of the five most searched places on the website since the launch of trip planner, and most of them won’t come as a surprise to avid travelers.

Taj Mahal

A dream in marble? The beautifully poignant outcome of grief? An eternal symbol of lost love? Call it what you will, the fact remains that emperor Shah Jahan still lies here united in death with his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal. Shah Jahan ordered it built after the death of Mumtaz in 1631 AD and as per his wishes, was himself buried along with her after his own death. Thousands of master craftsmen and artisans joined hands and matched the best of their skills and wits to create this unmatched monument. Easy to see, why people from far and near flock to visit this wonder generation after generation.

Kerala

Immense languid networks of indescribably beautiful and soothing backwaters, virginal palm fringed beaches, some of the best of yoga and spa therapy in the country, and revered old soul stirring temples - Kerala rightfully stakes claim to the title "God’s Own Country." The creator was indeed feeling a tad bit too benevolent. Few other places in India can stake claim to so much beautiful variety in Mother Nature’s scheme of thinking. Whether, it’s the irresistible "call of the wild" from the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary, the hilly seductions of Munnar, Ponmudi, and Wayanad, or the fascinating heritage sites of Hill Palace and Mattancherry Palace, Kerala slowly grows upon the senses and overwhelms you in no time.

Goa

An exhilarating contrast of surviving Portuguese colonial traditions and local way of life, some of the best of beaches and seafood across the country, and lots of hearty merry folks are just some of the reasons that make Goa an irresistible destination. While the mind blowing sun, sand, and surf experience by way of fabulous beaches like Baga, Calangute, Arambol, and Candolim is simply indescribable, no less captivating are some of the other charmers such as DudhSagar Waterfalls, Bondla Wildlife Sanctuary, Dr Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary, and Mayem Lake. The best part is that almost every beach in Goa has its own distinct character. While the ones in North Goa offer high voltage nightlife and explode with life, the ones in South Goa are better for fishing and other quieter pursuits.

Vaishno Devi

Attracting about 8 million pilgrims every year, the Vaishno Devi temple is India’s most visited shrine, next to Tirumala Venkateswara Temple. There is a belief that only those people get to visit the temple who receive an unspoken divine call. It is true that quite often, in spite of some of the best of planning, one’s trip goes awry, while someone who never thought of visiting the place finds himself or herself on the way. The shrine is situated at a height of around 5300 feet near Katra, in Jammu’s Reasi district. While Katra is nearly 50 km from Jammu, the shrine itself is about 12 odd km from Katra.

Rajasthan

The desert state of Rajasthan completely overwhelms the visitor with its myriad colourful shades. Richly steeped in the royal traditions of the Rajputana, the destination sure promises lots of regal oomph. Be it, the spellbinding forts of Jaipur, the quiet dignity of the lakes of Udaipur, and the splendour of the Thar Desert at Jaisalmer, or the cool serene beauty of Mt Abu, Rajasthan has a way of permeating the very core of your being. In fact, this is just scratching the surface, when it comes to Rajasthan. The spooky town of Bhangarh, the royal jungles of Ranthambore, and the mind numbing Balaji Temple are just some of the other spots that promise lots of delightful memories.

The Famous Five list validates the timeless charm of these popular destinations and ixigo looks forward to reveal some more exciting travel trends in the months to come.

About ixigo.com

ixigo.com is India’s leading travel planning and search website, voted as the Product of the Year 2013, in the Travel & Holiday Planner/Advisor category. Launched in 2007 by IIT, INSEAD and Amadeus alumni, ixigo.com’s vision is to simplify the life of travelers through innovative travel products for Internet & mobile. The website searches, aggregates and curates travel information across hundreds of travel sites and allows travelers to access relevant information on tourist destinations, places to visit, things to do, modes of transport, driving directions, hotels, restaurants, weather and more. ixigo.com has launched many industry-first innovations and won several prestigious awards and recognitions from TiE, NASSCOM, BusinessToday, Red Herring & Mint. ixigo.com is an investee company of SAIF Partners & MakeMyTrip Limited. For more information, visit www.ixigo.com and keep up with updates on Facebook - www.facebook.com/ixigocom and Twitter - www.twitter.com/ixigorocks .