Lesser adjutant stork

The lesser adjutant stork is a large wading bird, closely tied to wetland habitats, including marshes, swamps, flooded fields, and mangroves, across India. Significant populations are found in Assam, West Bengal, Bihar, and Jharkhand.

Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board received the Best State Tourism Board Award at the India Travel Awards 2025, held earlier this week in New Delhi. The Union Minister for Tourism and Culture, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, presented the award at a ceremony hosted at Le Meridien. The recognition placed emphasis on Madhya Pradesh?s progress in innovation, excellence, and sustainable growth within India?s tourism industry.

Minister of State for Tourism, Culture, and Religious Trusts and Endowments, Dharmendra Singh Lodhi, remarked that the honour stood as a source of pride for the people and cultural heritage of Madhya Pradesh. He added that under the leadership of Chief Minister Shri Mohan Yadav, the government had resolved to make tourism a driver of development. Lodhi stated that the state was committed to gaining global recognition for its heritage, natural wealth, and folk traditions, while the award provided renewed motivation to establish tourism as both an identity of the state and a medium for employment and self-reliance.

Additional Chief Secretary for Tourism, Culture, Home, Religious Trusts and Endowments, and Managing Director of MPTB, Sheo Shekhar Shukla, observed that the award reflected the team?s collective effort and vision. He expressed that the goal was not only to create new destinations but also to strengthen local economies, empower women, preserve culture and traditions, protect natural heritage, and promote sustainable tourism. Shukla noted that this recognition would inspire further efforts to make Madhya Pradesh ? known as the Heart of Incredible India ? a unique destination where tradition, nature, and modernity come together.

The award reaffirmed MPTB?s commitment to showcasing the state?s cultural and natural richness to a wider global audience. The board has consistently advanced eco-tourism circuits, encouraged community-based homestays, expanded adventure and experiential tourism, and invested in hospitality infrastructure to provide visitors with a world-class experience.

By combining cultural preservation with sustainable development, the state has positioned itself as an evolving global destination. With ongoing initiatives in eco-tourism, heritage promotion, and local empowerment, the Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board continues to build momentum towards its vision of offering a holistic travel experience that blends tradition, nature, and modernity.