Hyderabad Wins National Culinary Destination Award at India Today Tourism Awards 2026 in Goa
Goa, June 15 (TNT): Hyderabad has been honoured with the National Culinary Destination Award at the India Today Tourism Awards 2026, further cementing its reputation as one of India’s leading food and tourism destinations.
The award was presented during the India Today Tourism Summit in Goa on Monday.
Telangana Tourism Minister Jupally Krishna Rao received the award from Union Tourism and Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat in the presence of Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, India Today Group Chairman and Editor-in-Chief Aroon Purie, Group Editorial Director Raj Chengappa, tourism ministers and industry stakeholders from across the country.
Speaking on the occasion, Jupally said the award reflected Hyderabad’s rich culinary legacy and Telangana’s growing prominence on India’s tourism map.
He said Hyderabad’s globally acclaimed food culture, led by the iconic Hyderabadi Biryani, Irani Chai and traditional Telangana cuisine, continues to attract visitors from across India and abroad.
The Minister said the recognition reaffirmed Telangana’s position as a preferred tourism destination known for its heritage, culture, hospitality and culinary traditions.
Jupally noted that under the leadership of Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, the state government has been implementing several initiatives to promote tourism by showcasing Telangana’s heritage sites, eco-tourism circuits, spiritual destinations, adventure tourism locations and cultural attractions.
He said Telangana was witnessing a steady rise in tourist arrivals and growing interest in heritage, eco, medical, spiritual and culinary tourism segments.
The Minister added that the government remains committed to strengthening tourism infrastructure, improving connectivity and enhancing visitor experiences across destinations.
The award comes shortly after Hyderabad was featured among the world’s leading food destinations, further boosting its standing as one of India’s premier culinary capitals.
Dedicating the award to the people of Telangana and stakeholders in the tourism and hospitality sectors, Krishna Rao said the recognition would provide further momentum to efforts aimed at positioning Telangana among the country’s top tourism destinations.
The India Today Tourism Awards recognise excellence in tourism promotion, destination development and visitor experience across India.
Telangana Tourism Development Corporation Managing Director Gauthami was also present on the occasion.
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