Pilgrimage Tourism

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The Garhwal Himalaya is rich in natural resources that include water, timber, minerals, and biodiversity. Equally important is the rich cultural heritage of Garhwali peoples. As a desired. destination for many tourists, migrants. and pilgrims, Garhwal Himalaya also offer a place of rest, solitude, adventure, recreation, and scenic beauty. For centuries, the relative remoteness and isolation of the region has resulted in less human implications and higher resource sustainability than in many lowland regions. With the combined advances in extractive resource technology and increases in leisure time, however, the implications of human activity in the regions have increased significantly. The extraction of resources has advanced with little or no reinvestment into either the ecology or the local communities that are the traditional stewards of ecosystems. Tourism in the Garhwal Himalaya represents a significant fraction of this activity, although it is probably not as important as tourism to coastal or urban areas. Here, tourism is comprised of mass tourism to popular sites, the ski industry, adventure tourism (trekking, climbing, rafting), cultural tourism, ecotourism, and pilgrimage tourism. Tourism depends on and is influenced by a number of special features related to high altitude and relative isolation. This book is a noble effort to discuss economic and environmental implications of tourism in the Garhwal Himalaya. It is divided into seven chapters Introduction, Environmental set-up, Historical and Socio-religious Background. Tourism Potentials and Types, Economic Impact of Tourism, Environmental Impact of Tourism, Pilgrimage Tourism, and Conclusion. This book will be useful for researchers, academicians, administrators. planners, and the students who deal with tourism development in mountain regions.

NIRMALA SATI (b. 1971) did M. Sc. in Zoology in 1995 from the HNB Garhwal University, Srinagar Garhwal, Uttarakhand. In 2006 she did MA in Geography from Jiwaji University, Gwalior, MP and topped university. She got Ph. D. Degree from Jiwaji University Gwalior in 2009. She received 'Contingency Grants' from ICSSR for perusing her Ph. D. Currently she is working as 'Project Fellow' in a UGC founded Major Research Project. Her area of interest is Natural Resources Management, Environment, and Development.

I.K. MANSOORI (b. 1964) did his Ph. D. in Population Studies from Jiwaji University, Gwalior. He visited U. K., China, and Nepal where he presented papers and participated in the International Conferences. He co-authored three books and published four papers so far. Currently he is working as Deputy Registrar in Jiwaji University, Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh.

Tourism has become one of the world's largest and fastest growing economic activities. Its growth has large impact on employment, foreign currency earnings, balance of payments, and the economy in general. Most of the studies since the 1980s have, in particular, measured the impacts of tourism operations on employment, income, or overall economic activity. According to the estimates from the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) in 2004, tourism generates around 214.7 million jobs worldwide (or 8.1% of world employment) and accounts for over 10% of global Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The recent expansion and proliferation of tourism has spurred debates at all levels of government around the world. There may be debates about the precise scale of tourism's impact on the world economy, but few would argue against its major contribution.

The Garhwal Himalaya is an abode of Gods and Goddesses (Devbhumi) bestowed with snow-clad peaks of the Greater Himalaya, glaciers, green pastures, dense vegetal cover (sub-tropical to alpine). and gorges in the river valleys, gigantic waterfalls, hill towns, and pilgrimages. The world famous pilgrimages (four dhams)-Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri, and Yamunotri are located here. These pilgrimages have been the centers of believes and symbols of Hindu identity for centuries.

The Garhwal Himalaya is economically backward as it is lagged behind in terms of economic development. Its economy is largely depended upon the cultivation of traditional cereal crops while, the region has numerous places of tourist interest. Development of tourism may enhance the economy of the region and income level of the local populace. It will also augment the employment opportunities as tourism needs much human resource. The pilgrimage tourism has the potentials to enhance economy and conserve culture and custom in the Garhwal Himalaya. It is noticed that the adjacent areas of the pilgrimage centers have already attended considerable position in terms of increase in seasonal economy and earnings of the populace.

Five major rivers drain the Garhwal Himalaya i.e., the Vishnu Ganga (Alaknanda River), the Dhauli Ganga, the Nandakini, the Pindar, and the Mandakini and known as the land of Panch Prayag' These five drainage basins and their numerous sub-basins have special entity in geo-physiology, agro-ecology, and socio-economy. Religiously, it is believed to be a holiest place since the five temples of Lord Vishnu (panch Badris) and the five temples of Lord Shiva (panch Kedars) lie in this region. It is a major part of Uttarakhand State (a Himalayan state) and a comissionary. Tibet in north, Kumaon Himalaya in east, Uttar Pradesh in south, and Himachal Pradesh in west and northwest delimit its boundary.

The present work is a result of doctoral thesis of Nirmala Sati the first author, was supervised by Dr. I.K. Mansoori co-author. We acknowledge our sincere thanks to our family members for their moral support from time to time. Without their support, it was impossible to complete the work. We also acknowledge our sincere thanks to all departments related to tourism and dedicate this work for those, who are working for the cause of humanity and development.

**Contents and Sample Pages**