One has scenic beaches and lush vegetation, and attracts nomads from around the world to God’s own country. The other has undulating hills, meadows and a killer view, and known the world over for its adventure sports and recreation activities.
But Mararikulam, on the Kerala coast, and Bir, in the Dauladhar mountain ranges of the Western Himalayas, have one thing in common — a particularly warm and welcoming approach to travellers.
Bir has been adjudged India’s most welcoming city in the annual Traveller Review awards for 2025 by Booking.com. The Kerala beach destination comes in as runner-up.
Perhaps helped by the two locations, Himachal Pradesh and Kerala emerged as the most welcoming regions in India in 2025, closely followed by Goa.
This is the 13th annual edition of the global awards. Mararikulam was the champ last year, with Jaisalmer coming in second and Bir at the third position.
Himachal Pradesh was the most welcoming region in the country last year as well.
Globally, Sigiriya in Sri Lanka was adjudged the most welcoming city on earth. The Travellers Review is based on over 36 crore verified customer reviews left by users of booking.com over the past one year.
“From the majestic Himalayas in Leh to the tranquil backwaters of Alleppey, this year's awards showcase the incredible diversity of experiences that await travellers across India,” said Santosh Kumar, booking.com's country manager for India, “We’re proud to stand alongside these remarkable partners, supporting them as they continue to create truly unforgettable memories for travellers exploring these incredible destinations.”
After Bir and Mararikulam, the third most welcoming city in the country was Leh, the capital of the Ladakh union territory. Rounding off the rest of the top ten most welcoming cities in the country were Jibhi (Himachal Pradesh), Jaisalmer (Rajasthan), Mukteshwar (Uttarakhand), Agonda (Goa), Thekkady (Kerala) and Alapuzha (Kerala).