Mahindra Holidays and Resorts study finds 39 per cent respondents being unaware of Asiatic lions being found in Gir and 33 per cent not knowing that Udaipur is also called the City of Lakes

India is a diverse land and every place has something unique to offer. However, there is a lack of knowledge among Indian travellers about the kind of diversity, cuisines and vastness the country offers. Mahindra Holidays and Resorts conducted an India Quotient series in a light-hearted manner but the results are anything but light. The study found 60 per cent of its more than 4,000 respondents across 16 Tier I and Tier II cities admitted that they did not much know about the history, geography, destinations, culture, heritage, Nature and cuisines that can be explored in India. 

For example, about 31 per cent respondents knew about Coorg being the place where coffee was planted when it was first brought to India. The research had been commissioned by Mahindra Holidays on the occasion of its 25th anniversary, with an aim to highlight the vast variety of experiences that local travellers and tourists can enjoy in India. 

Mahindra Holidays & Resorts India Limited Managing Director and CEO Kavinder Singh said that between 2000 and now, the visits from local tourists have risen exponentially. He added that while exploring the country and coming face-to-face with its rich heritage, culture and cuisines, tourists do wish to know more about the other aspects that India can offer. However, while 66 per cent respondents try to enjoy the local cuisines while travelling with families, 41 per cent are unaware that appam is a part of the cuisine in Kerala. And 39 per cent being unaware about the Khajuraho Festival being celebrated in Madhya Pradesh. The study observed the same trend around the geographical knowledge of Indians when it came to their Motherland like Gir being the only natural habitat of the Asiatic lions was unknown to 39 per cent respondents while 33 per cent did not know that Udaipur is called the ‘City of Lakes’.