Usually, a readers' poll shouldn't be taken that seriously, but this one doesn't seem that far-fetched. According to the readers of Rough Guide, Scotland is the 'most beautiful country in the world'. Yes, this is quite plausible, but the whole list had some entries, which are quite surprising to say the least. 

Readers of this esteemed travel guide website were asked to vote in order to decide which is the most beautiful country in the world, and Scotland came out as the winner, claiming the top spot ahead of Canada and New Zealand, who made the second and third spots respectively.

© Scotland Now

Malcolm Roughead, chief executive of VisitScotland, was understandably thrilled with the result. He said, "We are delighted that Scotland has received this remarkable accolade from Rough Guide readers. But, of course it will not be a surprise to anyone who has encountered our wonderful country. From our awe-inspiring landscapes to our remarkable historic attractions, to our bustling but beautiful urban centres, Scotland takes people's breaths away. Of course, with great beauty comes great responsibility and we urge both visitors and residents alike to respect Scotland's natural assets to protect and preserve them for many generations to come."

Other than that, the full list is as follows:

20. Vietnam

19. Croatia

18. Ireland

17. Norway

16. Peru

15. Switzerland

14. Finland

13. India

12. Mexico

11. Slovenia

10. Wales

9. USA

8. Iceland

7. England

6. Indonesia

5. South Africa

4. Italy

3. New Zealand

2. Canada

1. Scotland

Yes, India ranked above Switzerland and Ireland. Are you as surprised as I am?

Well, Rough Guides description of India on their list is : “India is sometimes controversially described as a “Marmite” kind of country (you either love it or you hate it), but plenty of you are enthralled by this diverse nation. On Twitter, @Breathedreamgo says ‘India is culturally the most beautiful country in the world'.”

© Akshat Bahl

Twitter user @Breathedreamgo is correct, though. You can't deny how diverse and culturally rich our country actually is. Well, what do you think about this list? Do you agree with it?