Indian Pilgrimage Tours 51 • Maharashtra • Nanded • Nanded is a famous Sikh pilgrimage site where devotees come from all parts of the world. • This holy city attracts devotees in great numbers during the celebration of the birth anniversary of Guru Govind Singh in the month of December every year. • The Sachkhanda Gurudwara serves as the venue for the celebration and is also a great attraction of Nanded. The town also has several other Gurudwaras. • Situated on the banks of the Godavari River in Marathwada region of Maharashtra, Nanded is a destination worth a visit. • Nanded has also enjoyed being an important centre of Vedant studies, dramas, classical music, literature and arts www.cuidol.in All right are reserved with CU-IDOL
Indian Pilgrimage Tours 52 • Maharashtra • Nasik • Nasik is a well-known pilgrimage centre of the Hindus. • According to the popular legend Nasik is the place where Lord Laxmana (brother of Lord Rama) cut off the nose of Shupranakha, the sister of Ravana (the demon king). • Nasik is also the place from where Ravana kidnapped Goddess Sita (consort of Lord Rama). • Nasik is located in the northwestern part of the state of Maharashtra. Situated on the banks of the river Godavari, Nasik offers wonderful views of natur www.cuidol.in All right are reserved with CU-IDOL
Indian Pilgrimage Tours 53 • Mahabaleshwar • Occupying a respected place in the hearts of the Hindus, Mahabaleshwar is a famous pilgrimage of them. • The holiness and the natural beauty of Mahabaleshwar offer a rewarding experience to visitors. Mahabaleshwar is a mesmerizing hill station located in the Satara district of Maharashtra. • Mahabaleshwar is also famous for its juicy strawberries and mulberries. Several rulers established their supremacy in Mahabalipuram in the bygone era. Mahabaleshwar is a Sanskrit word, which means ‘The God of Great Power’. Offering captivating views of the Krishna and Koyna valleys, Mahabaleshwar is located at an elevation of 1372 m. Mahabaleshwar is a land of beautiful temples. • It got its name from the famous Mahabali temple located in old Mahabaleshwar, around 4 km from the main city. The five sacred rivers namely Krishna, Venna, Koyana, Savitri and Gayatri originate from Mahabaleshwar only. www.cuidol.in All right are reserved with CU-IDOL
Indian Pilgrimage Tours 54 • Gujarat • Palitana • Attracting attention of the tourists from across the globe, Palitana is famed for its architectural marvels – The Jain Temples. Palitana is an important pilgrimage centre of the Jains who come here from far and wide. • The holy place Palitana is located in the state of Gujarat. • Palitana is dotted with numerous Jain temples, which are simply arresting. • The fascinating Shatrunjaya hills, located only one km from Palitana, is dotted with around 900 temples, each having its own beauty and charm. The height of human creativity can be clearly seen in these beautiful temples. • The Shatrunjaya hills are the sacred sites where all the tirthankars, except Neminath, attained nirvana. • It is also believed that the three Pandavas, Yudhishthir, Bheem and Arjun attained Nirvana on the Shatrunjaya Hills. This place also has a connection with Rishabhdev, the first tirthankar. • The temples here are known for their exquisite carvings, beautiful idols and images, decorated statues and intricate toranas. These Hills also offer great views of sunrise. • Dwarka • Dwarka is a sacred city visited by the devotees of Lord Krishna in large numbers throughout the year. Located wwown.cutihdeol.winestern coast of Gujarat state, Dwarka is deeply associated with Lord KrishnaAallndrigihttiasrebreelsieervveddwtihthaCt Uit-IDOL
Indian Pilgrimage Tours 55 • Dwarka • Dwarka is a sacred city visited by the devotees of Lord Krishna in large numbers throughout the year. • Located on the western coast of Gujarat state, Dwarka is deeply associated with Lord Krishna and it is believed that it was once the kingdom of the Lord. • It is an ancient city and one of the most important pilgrimage sites of the Hindus. • Tourists from India and abroad come to Dwarka to experience its peaceful aura, which has a charm beyond description. • During the ancient times, the city was called Swarna Dwarka (golden Dwarka) as it was a prosperous city. The city of Dwarka also finds mention in the great Hindu Epic Mahabharata. www.cuidol.in All right are reserved with CU-IDOL
Indian Pilgrimage Tours 56 • Rajasthan • Pushkar • Pushkar is a sacred place located on the bank of the holy lake Pushkar, on the edge of wonderful Rajasthan. • Pushkar is one of the most important Hindu pilgrimages held in high respect by the Hindus. • Being one of the oldest cities of India, Pushkar finds mention in the great Hindu Epic Ramayana. • According to a legend, saint Vishvamitra performed yagna in Pushkar. • Surrounded by rolling hills on three sides, and dotted with several beautiful temples Pushkar is a beautiful place, whose attractions have brought it international fame. www.cuidol.in All right are reserved with CU-IDOL
Indian Pilgrimage Tours 57 • Kerala • Guruvayoor • Guruvayoor occupies an important place on the map of Kerala. • It is one of the famous pilgrimage centre having a rich cultural heritage. • For its sanctity, it is popularly known as ‘Dwarka of the South’. Guruvayoor is a holy town located in the Thrissur district of Kerala. • Devotees from across the globe come to Guruvayoor to take blessings of the heavenly deities at its famous Guruvayoor Temple. • It is believed that by offering prayers at this shrine, one can get rid of any health problem. Guruvayoor is also known as Bhoolokavaikunta, meaning ‘heaven on earth’. • • www.cuidol.in All right are reserved with CU-IDOL
Indian Pilgrimage Tours 58 • Karnataka • Hampi • Steeped in architectural beauty and mythology, Hampi is a fantastic destination in Karnataka. • A land dotted with breathtaking ancient temples, Hampi is a World Heritage Site. It is popularly known as the temple village of the state of Karnataka. • Proud of its rich history, Hampi is now almost in ruins. • Symbolizing glorious heritage of Hampi, the temples here are so fascinating that they leave the visitors spell bound. • The foundation of Hampi was laid in the 14th century by the two local kings namely Hakka and Bakka. It was once the capital of the well-known Vijayanagara Empire. • Several rulers ruled over Hampi and made great contributions to its architectural heritage. • Hampi finds mention in the Great Hindu Epic Ramayana. • It is believed that Lord Hanumana took birth in Hampi and also met Lord Rama for the first time in Hampi only. • The Matanga Hill located in Hampi is the place where Sugriva took refuge after a battle with his brother Bali. • Gokarna w• ww.cuidol.in All right are reserved with CU-IDOL
Indian Pilgrimage Tours 59 • Gokarna • Celebrated as a famous Hindu pilgrimage and as an important Sanskrit learning centre, Gokarna occupies a prized place on the travel map of Karnataka. • Located in the captivating state of Karnataka on the banks of Arabian Sea, Gokarna literally means ‘the ear of a cow’. • There is a legend associated with this holy place, which goes that it is at this place where Lord Shiva emerged from the ear of a cow. • This sacred place finds mention in the great Hindu scripture named Gokarnam Purana. In the scripture, Gokarna has been described as the place of liberation. • Gokarna is considered to be one of the seven Mukti Sthalas of Karnataka. Gokarna is also famous for its wonderful beaches and scenic beauty. www.cuidol.in All right are reserved with CU-IDOL
Summary 60 • Heritage tourism as traveling to experience the places, artifacts and activities that authentically represents the stories and people of the past and present. • It includes cultural, historic and natural resources. • Heritage tourism is often seen as synonymous with cultural tourism, historical tourism, arts tourism, nature tourism or attractions-related tourism. • It is the branch of tourism oriented towards the cultural heritage (both the tangible and the intangible) of the location or destination in which the tourism occurs. • Heritage tourism encompasses natural heritage, such as caves, nature reserves, gardens and marine parks, as well as built heritage, like museums, monuments and historical buildings. • It also observes cultural events, festivals, performing arts and other forms of popular culture. • India has a beautiful culture, which astonishes tourists from other parts of the world. It is not just because the culture is several thousands of years old. • It is beautiful because of its ability to be secular and at the same time stick to the essence of each cultural group. India’s unique culture has led to several celebrations, traditions, and customs. • Most of these customs have been rooted in texts and scriptures, which are older than science and have been scientifically proved to be advantageous for mental and physical health. www.cuidol.in All right are reserved with CU-IDOL
Summary 61 • Cultural tourism in India takes the travelers beyond exotic beaches and beach resorts, picturesque hills, and utmost lavishness. • It takes you through the famous historical places in India, the various art forms, and the authentic food trails. • A pilgrimage is a journey, often into an unknown or foreign place, where a person goes in search of new or expanded meaning about the self, others, nature, or a higher good, through the experience. • It can lead to a personal transformation, after which the pilgrim returns to their daily life. • Pilgrimage Tourism has emerged as an instrument for employment generation, poverty alleviation and sustainable human development. • Pilgrimage Tourism promotes international understanding and gives support to local handicrafts and cultural activities. • It is an important segment of the country’s economy, especially in terms of its contribution towards foreign exchange earnings, generation of additional income and creation of employment opportunities. www.cuidol.in All right are reserved with CU-IDOL
Reference 62 • Andrew, E. (2003), Religious Influences on Personal and Societal Well-being, Social Indicators Research, Dordrecht, 62(1), pp. 144-149. • Angie Kiesling (2002), What Customers Want?, Publishers Weekly, New York, 249(38), pp. 5-8. • Ankomah, P.K., Crompton and Baker (1996), Influence of Cognitive Distance in Vacation Choice, Annals of Tourism Research, 23(1) pp. 133-138. • Costa, P. (1991), Managing Tourism Carrying Capacity of Art Cities, The Tourist Review, 46(4), pp. 8-11. • Garlick, S. (2002), Revealing the Unseen: Tourism, Art and Photography, Cultural Studies, 16(2), pp. 289-305. • Gartner, W.C. (1993), Image Formation Process, Journal of Travel and Tourism Marketing, 2(3), pp. 191-216. • Gisbert, R. (1992), Forms of Religious Tourism, Annals of Tourism Research, 19(1), pp. 51-67. • Goswami, B.K. and Raveendran, G. (2003), Text Book of Indian Tourism, Pilgrim Tourism, 9(4), pp. 15-67. • Gronoss, C. (1978), A Service-oriented Approach to Marketing of Services, European Journal of Marketing, 12(8), pp. 588-601. • Gronoss, C. (1989), Defining Marketing: A Market-oriented Approach, European Journal of Marketing, 23(1), pp. 52-59. • Hughes, H.L. (1989), Tourism and the Arts, Tourism Management, 10(2), pp. 97-99. www.cuidol.in All right are reserved with CU-IDOL
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