New Delhi, Aug. 9 -- The golden era of effortless travel rewards on credit cards is over. Over the past year, banks have steadily chipped away at some of the country's most rewarding travel cards by capping bonus points, removing popular transfer partners and making it harder to earn free flights and hotel stays. Several former favourites have slipped down the pecking order, while others have emerged as stronger contenders.

Mint has revisited its annual ranking of the best travel-focused credit cards, taking into account not just reward rates but also recent devaluations. As last year, the cards are divided into two categories based on annual credit card spends: Rs.10-15 lakh and above Rs.15 lakh.

Experts say the amount and where it is ...