New York : India, fast emerging as a major tourist attraction found place among the top 10 destinations lst year, a travel and tourism company has said. According to Chicago-based iExplore.com, India's ranking as a tourist destination shot up from 36 in 2003 to five last year, a sharp rise witnessed by no other nation.

The ranking has been determined on the basis of vacation packages purchased under its adventure and experimental travellers programme.

"2004 clearly marked the rebound in exotic, farway destinations such as India," iExplore founder & CEO George Deeb said.

Peru was among the top destination, wresting the first position from Galapagos (off the Ecuadoriam coast), which was relegated to fourth position. China, which ranked fourth in 2003, improved its position to occupy the thrid spot, just behind Egypt.

Also among the top 10 in ascending order, were Alaska (six), Italy, Chile, Costa Rica and France.

Bumoed from last years top 10 were Antartica (11), Australia (20), Belize (the erstwhile British Honduras at 17) and Nepal (27).