Guardians of heritage celebrated at The Week Heritage Awards 2025; here is the list of winners

Heritage is not just about monuments, but about people, traditions and culture. That spirit defined The Week Heritage Awards 2025, held at The Oberoi, New Delhi, where 19 awards were presented across categories ranging from heritage tourism and riverside rituals to crafts, festivals and creative campaigns.

The evening opened with a soulful sitar and tabla jugalbandi by Megha Rawoot and Kapil Sharma, which set the mood for a celebration rooted in tradition.

Union Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat lit the ceremonial lamp and delivered a keynote that called for a renewed commitment to preserving India’s past. “Our heritage gives us pride in being Indian. Previous generations handed it to us, and if we do not protect it together, future generations will not forgive us,” he said.

He described the government’s efforts as a “mass movement,” reminding the gathering that India’s tangible and intangible traditions must be safeguarded not just as relics, but as a responsibility.

Throughout the evening, cultural custodians, administrators and experts shared their reflections on what heritage means to them. Sreevatsa Kota, Joint Metropolitan Commissioner of Hyderabad, said, “It is vital for today’s generation to preserve and value heritage.”

Debaki Rani Purty, Tourism Development Officer from Odisha, described heritage as “our living connection to the past.” Sharon Longchari, Joint Resident Commissioner of Nagaland, reflected on how India stands out globally, pointing to the depth, diversity and resilience of its culture.

Professor Alok Tripathi, Additional Director General of the Archaeological Survey of India, spoke about the responsibility of institutions, noting that “the ASI has been working tirelessly to preserve our monuments, manuscripts and sites. Protecting heritage is protecting our identity.”

For The Week, the awards were an extension of its editorial mission. “Our journalism has always been about the human touch, and tourism is no different. It is the human stories behind monuments, traditions and landscapes that make heritage come alive,” said Riyad Mathew, Chief Associate Editor and Director The Week.

Performances gave the evening a sense of continuity between past and present.

Classical dancer Bharti Shivaji moved the audience with her recital, while a dastaangoi performance brought the ancient art of storytelling back to the stage. Together with the awards, these moments highlighted how heritage continues to live and breathe through art, memory and practice.

List of winners

Heritage Tourism – Best State

• Golden Banyan Award: Madhya Pradesh
• Silver Banyan Award: Gujarat

Heritage Tourism – Best City / Site

• Golden Banyan Award: Karaikudi, Tamil Nadu
• Silver Banyan Award: Hyderabad, Telangana

Riverside Heritage Tourism

• Golden Banyan Award: Rishikesh (Ganga Aarti), Uttarakhand
• Silver Banyan Award: Hampi, Karnataka

Best Tourist Circuit / Trail

• Golden Banyan Award: Char Dham Yatra, Uttarakhand
• Silver Banyan Award: Buddhist Trail, Himachal Pradesh

Pilgrimage and Spiritual Tourism

• Golden Banyan Award: Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh
• Silver Banyan Award: Deoghar, Jharkhand

Traditional Skills, Crafts and Creativity

• Golden Banyan Award: Rajasthan
• Silver Banyan Award: Maharashtra

Best Cultural Music and Dance

• Golden Banyan Award: Cherry Blossom Festival, Meghalaya
• Silver Banyan Award: Hornbill Festival, Nagaland

Best Creative or Campaign

• Golden Banyan Award: Rajasthan
• Silver Banyan Award: Kerala

Special Editorial Awards

• Odisha for its living heritage
• Goa for promoting tourism through festivals
• Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) for exemplary work in conservation and preservation