THE WEEK Heritage Awards 2026: Ayodhya, Hampi, Khajuraho Among Top Winners

Spread love

By TRH News Desk

The second edition of the awards recognised states, destinations, festivals and innovative projects, with Union Culture and Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat presenting the honours in New Delhi.

New Delhi, October 27, 2026 — The WEEK Heritage Awards 2026 have recognised destinations, cultural festivals, states and tourism initiatives for their contributions to preserving India’s heritage and promoting sustainable tourism.

Union Minister for Culture and Tourism Gajendra Singh Shekhawat presented the awards at the Prime Ministers’ Museum and Library in New Delhi on Friday. The second edition of the awards, organised by THE WEEK magazine, recognised achievements across nine main categories, with Golden Banyan and Silver Banyan awards presented in each category. Eight additional Special Editorial Awards acknowledged initiatives contributing to heritage conservation and promotion.

Among the prominent winners, Deepotsav in Ayodhya received the Golden Banyan Award for Best Cultural Festival/Destination, while Hampi in Karnataka won the Golden Banyan Award for Best Tourist Circuit. Khajuraho in Madhya Pradesh was recognised as the Best Heritage Tourism City/Site, and Rajasthan received the award for Best State in Heritage Tourism.

Maharashtra won the Golden Banyan Award for Best Creative Campaign for its “You Will Find India Here” campaign. Kerala received the Silver Banyan Award in the same category for its “Hello Zindagi” campaign.

The awards highlighted heritage initiatives across several regions. Madhya Pradesh’s Maheshwar won in the Riverside Heritage category, while Ujjain received the Golden Banyan Award for Spiritual Tourism. Goa was recognised for Sustainable Tourism, and the Ex-INS Guldar underwater tourism project in Maharashtra won in the Best Innovation category.

Other winners included Ganeshotsav in Mumbai/Pune, the Warangal Circuit in Telangana, Old Goa, Tamil Nadu, Patrat u in Jharkhand, Srisailam in Andhra Pradesh and Ahobilam in Andhra Pradesh.

The eight Special Editorial Awards recognised initiatives including Haridwar’s emergence as a spiritual tourism destination, Chandigarh’s architectural heritage, the Gyan Bharatam Mission, preservation of India’s living textile heritage, Meghalaya’s open-air museum at Wahmawpat village in Mawsynram, Odisha’s eco-wildlife circuit, Durga Puja in West Bengal and Bodh Gaya in Bihar.

Speaking at the ceremony, Shekhawat said India’s cultural heritage could become a source of knowledge, employment and global influence as the country advances towards the goal of Viksit Bharat by 2047.

He emphasised the need to treat heritage as a strategic national asset and tourism as a means of bringing that asset to life. The minister also congratulated THE WEEK and the Malayala Manorama Group for bringing heritage conservation and tourism development into public discussion.

The ceremony included discussions on developing heritage destinations beyond well-known monuments, improving visitor experiences and ensuring that local communities benefit from tourism. A separate panel examined the role of traditional crafts, textile heritage and artisan communities in sustaining cultural identity and livelihoods.

Ashwini Lohani, Director of the Prime Ministers’ Museum and Library, delivered the keynote address on tourism. The programme also featured an expert talk on experiential tourism and cultural performances.

The awards seek to highlight how heritage conservation, cultural traditions and tourism development can work together to support local economies while preserving India’s diverse historical legacy.

Follow The Raisina Hills on WhatsApp, Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, and LinkedIn