Neither Bali Nor Manali: This Central Asian Country Remained India's Most Googled Travel Destination

The Year In Search 2024 list included the top searches movies, TV shows, sports events, people and travel destinations. This year, the most searched travel destination was a Central Asian country. 

Azerbaijan

Source : Flickr

Which travel destination was India's favourite this year? As the year 2024 comes to an end, Google like every year has released its Year In Search 2024 list, which offers a view of what India searched most for on the search console. 

The Year In Search 2024 list included the top searches movies, TV shows, sports events, people and travel destinations. This year, the most searched travel destination was neither Bali nor Manali. 

Azerbaijan in Central Asia, which offers a blend of natural beauty, historical sites and unique architecture, remained the top searched country in India in 2024.

While Azerbaijan topped the list, Bali in Indonesia, famous for its stunning beaches, came second, followed by Manali. Kazakhstan, another country in Central Asia, came fourth while Jaipur in Rajasthan came on the fifth spot.

The list of most searched travel destination also included Georgia, Malaysia, Kashmir and South Goa.

Ayodhya, which recently emerged as a sought-after destination following the inauguration of the Ram Temple in January this year, secured the eighth spot on the list.

Why Azerbaijan Became A Travel Sensation?

While traditional travel destinations like the UAE, Thailand, and the USA have topped the list of places where Indians love to travel to, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Bhutan have emerged as the leading the emerging destinations chart.

 

Azerbaijan, sandwiched between Russia and Iran, has emerged as a popular destination for its natural beauty, adventure and nightlife. The country offers tourists a mix of tradition and prosperity. While the Asian country has a culture more similar to Iran, it offers a blend of central Asian, Middle Eastern and European cultures. 

 

In recent years, the country has seen an increasing influx of Indian tourists. In 2023, Azerbaijan received more than 1.15 lakh tourists from India, nearly double the number of arrivals in 2022. The rise of Indian tourists in the country could be guaged from the fact that 

India is the fourth largest source of inbound tourists for Azerbaijan after Russia, Turkey and Iran. Leaving aside the neighbours, India is the largest source of tourists for Azerbaijan.