These are India’s favourite hotels, airlines, and destinations of 2026

In an age of information overload, word of mouth remains one of the most trusted ways to cut through the noise. As algorithms increasingly shape our choices and marketing-led recommendations blur the line between discovery and promotion, the counsel of fellow travellers carries a particular weight. Travel, after all, is an experiential pursuit—its true worth can only be understood once the journey has been made. Until then, every decision rests on a proxy for trust.

This is the thinking behind Condé Nast Traveller India’s Readers’ Travel Awards, which invite readers to vote for the destinations, hotels, homestays, airlines, airports and other travel experiences that have left a lasting impression.

This year, Rajasthan emerged as India’s favourite leisure destination, followed by Jammu and Kashmir and Goa, each offering its own distinct interplay of place, culture and pace of life. Air India was voted India’s favourite domestic airlinewith IndiGo also among travellers’ preferred carriers, while Emirates took the top spot for international travel, followed by Singapore Airlines and Qatar Airways. For road trips, Ladakh, Rajasthan and Meghalaya led the way, from Ladakh’s high-altitude moonscapes and Rajasthan’s timeworn caravan routes to Meghalaya’s rain-fed roads winding through dense, cloud-draped forests. Check out the full list of winners below.

IN THIS ARTICLE

DESTINATIONS

FAVOURITE LEISURE DESTINATION IN INDIA

At first place is Rajasthanwhich continues its hold over Indian travellers with its endless reserves of royal heritage and history. Jammu and Kashmir’s gorgeous vales and lush plains propel it to the second spot. Goa’s beaches and bohemia appeal to a wide swathe of tourists, landing the state in the third spot.

1. Rajasthan
2. Jammu and Kashmir
3. Goa
4. Ladakh
5. Kerala

FAVOURITE OVERSEAS DESTINATION

The winner of this category–Singapore–has it all: an electric food-and-drink culture, a vibrant art scene and the coolest shopping hubs. Second place belongs to the Maldives, synonymous with stunning ocean views and five-star retreats. The United Arab Emirates is third for its glitzy hotels and luxe life while France, a bouquet of pristine nature and captivating culture, is fourth. The United Kingdom, ever-popular among globetrotters, stays steady at fifth place, unchanged from last year.

1. Singapore
2. Maldives
3. UAE
4. France
5. UK

FAVOURITE INDIAN STATE FOR ROAD TRIPS

This year, road trippers favour zipping along Ladakh’s high-altitude vistas the most, while Rajasthan’s well-connected highways that run through desert-swept landscapes take second place. Meghalayawhich is third, beckons the more daring, while Maharashtra’s roads winding through plateaus and ghats grab the fourth place. For its Himalayan pastures and valleys, Jammu and Kashmir claims the fifth spot.