Tourism toppers: India marks a presence in the best of the decade

The results of the awards - a departure from its annual best in travel poll held since 2005 and covering airlines, airports, destinations and hotels - were released on Monday

An 18th century pleasure palace built by a prince, made famous as a Bond girl’s nest in Octopussy (1983) and on a firm perch since as a fairytale heritage hotel. The iconic status of Taj Lake Palace on the hospitality map has just been reaffirmed, as it ranked second in the category of Asia’s most romantic hotels listed by online magazine Smart Travel Asia as part of its Best of the Decade Awards (2010-19).

The results of the awards — a departure from its annual best in travel poll held since 2005 and covering airlines, airports, destinations and hotels —