New Delhi: At an event held on the ocassion of World Tourism Day, Madhya Pradesh in Central India bagging eight awards in different categories.

Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, Union Tourism Minister G.K.Kishan Reddy and Union Minister of State for Tourism Ajay Bhatt conferred the awards for the state to the Culture and Tourism Minister Sushri Usha Thakur.

Religious tourism destination Ujjain bagged the ‘Swachh Paryatan Sthan (clean tourism place)-Western Region’ award. The ancient Shiva temple at Bhojpur (Raisen) got the award for ‘Best maintained and disabled friendly monument.’ This is the second time that the Bhojpur temple has bagged the award in this category. Earlier it got the award in 2013-14. Also, the state has received this honour for Sanchi Stupa in 2017-18 and Amarkantak temple in 2014-15.

‘The Devi Ahilya Bai Airport’, Indore has received the award for ‘Best Airport-Rest of India’ for the third year in a row. The state bagged the ‘Excellence in publishing – Hindi’ award for Bhitti Chitra (mural) of Malwa. Earlier, this award was received for the Simhastha brochure in 2015-16.

The state has received awards in the categories ‘Clean tourism place’-Western Region’ and ‘Incredible India bed and breakfast’ awards for the first time. The guides of Madhya Pradesh have been honoured for the fourth time in a row with the ‘Best wildlife guide’ award.