Sports Tourism in India Journal

India’s Summer Headache: Pilgrimage Tourism

By Tripti Lahiri and Preetika Rana

Agence France-Presse/Getty Images Hindu devotees on the Amarnath Yatra, June 29.

While rescue efforts are still underway for pilgrims trapped by rainfall and floods at Himalayan shrines in the state of Uttarakhand, India must now also turn its attention to a different pilgrimage challenge: Kashmir’s Amarnath Yatra.

For the next 55 days, starting Thursday, hundreds of thousands of devout Hindus will trek to a high-altitude cave in the mountains overlooking Muslim-majority Kashmir valley. There they hope to catch a glimpse of a holy icicle believed by many to represent Shiva, the Hindu god of destruction.

After floods in June in Uttarakhand killed over 800 people, and, as of this week, left more than 4, 000 still in need of rescue, authorities in Kashmir have asked disaster response teams to make sure they respond promptly if needed.

The tragedy in Uttarakhand also has turned a spotlight on the challenges posed to authorities by the rise of pilgrimage tourism in India. In summer, millions of pilgrims journey to the Himalayas where several beloved Hindu and Sikh shrines are located.

At Mata Vaishno Devi, located in the Himalyan ranges of Jammu and Kashmir, for instance, the number of visitors has surged more than 50% in the last five years to 10.6 million. The Amarnath Yatra, in the same state, gets well above 600, 000 visitors each year, up from 50, 000 a year in the 1990s. In 2011, the mountains saw a high-altitude traffic jam with the final 14 kilometers of the Amarnath trek taking 20 hours, rather than 8 to 10 hours.

Pilgrims visiting Vaishno Devi and Amarnath make up a large chunk of the approximately 13 million domestic tourists who travel to Jammu and Kashmir each year.

Associated Press The Kedarnath shrine in ruins after the deadly floods in Uttrakhand, June 20.

In 2012, Uttarakhand’s Kedarnath shrine got 575, 000 visitors, up 22% from five years earlier. The state’s Badrinath shrine got over a million visitors and saw a 16% increase from five years earlier. The two spots are part of the Char Dham pilgrimage, or “Journey” in Hindi, which involves visiting four holy spots over six months. Most survivors rescued from Uttarakhand, disaster manager officials say, were Hindu devotees on the ongoing Char Dham Yatra, which began in May this year.

Tourism anywhere creates pressure on local services and conflict with residents – but that is particularly true of India’s Himalayan destinations whose shrines were once reached only by hardy devotees on ascetic spiritual journeys. Now palanquins and helicopters aren’t uncommon.

Source: blogs.wsj.com April 18, 2014 – 01:50 pm
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New Zealand

2006-09-02 22:57:26 by guy-from-another-forum

It will be midsummer there. There are beaches but nobody gives a crap about what you look like in a swimsuit. It is very relaxed and there is a lot to do.
You could do the Bay of Islands for beaches, sailing, big game fishing or scuba diving.
Or Auckland is good for a city vacation. City stuff, go to the museum and aquarium, go up the volcanoes, out on the ferries to the vineyards on Waiheke Island or the bird sanctuary on Tiritiri Island, out to the west coast side for big surf, scenery and solitude.
Rotorua/Waitomo Caves/Taupo loop for adventure sports and the geothermal tourism stuff, hiking, or trout fishing

Agreed

2006-11-02 20:47:38 by --

I'd go for Peru, myself. Chile next. But definitely, need more details to give any helpful input. Argentina was less interesting to me than I expected -- I think Buenos Aires is probably pretty great if you want a city experience, but then I'm not sure how much there is for you outside of that. (Having said that, I haven't been to Bariloche, and would still plan to. But only as a side to a mostly-Chile expedition.) Costa Rica is great, but also has a seriously tourism-driven economy, and is really best if you want to do adventure tours/sports or just completely relax. Peru and Chile I like because there are just lots of options, at least as long as you don't crave a metropolis and want more culture, outdoors, whatever

Information about Nepal

2011-04-05 02:54:41 by advmaypoletreks

Nepal is a land of unparalleled scenic beauty located within one of the most diverse geographical areas on earth. Nestled high in the Himalayas between China and India, it has retained its essentially agrarian and medieval character. Its wondrous history and geography are still the defining aspects of everyday life.
Since Nepal first opened its frontiers to foreign visitors in the fifties, it has been the epicenter of Himalayan adventure activities. Climbing and trekking holidays in Nepal Himalaya has become highly sought after adventure sports throughout the world soon after the advent of tourism culture

Going to Peru? Ask a Native tour operator.

2006-08-01 17:43:25 by CuscoExpert

My family is from Cusco, Peru. (Your destination in order to visit Machu Pichu). I've lived in the SF Bay Area for fifteen years and I go to Peru at least once a year. This is my third year organising tours to Cusco and Machu Picchu. Because tourism is the main industry in Cusco most of my family and friends have been involved in tourism for many years. This gives me an insider look, and puts me in a great position to get the best values.
Cusco is one of my favorite travel destinations. There is something interesting for every body. Great history, magnificent architectural complexes, wonderful arts and crafts, beautiful music, exotic customs and traditions,unique scenery and wildlife, varied and exciting adventure sports, as well as a fun night life

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  • Avatar Navaneetha priya List of all english magazines in india!?
    Mar 04, 2007 by Navaneetha priya | Posted in Magazines

    • A Magazine on India - information and news
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      Ajeetweekly.com. - Weekly Portal
      Art of Jewellery - Jewellery buffs
      ASAPP Media Pvt Ltd. - Magazine about construction industry
      Asiana Magazine - Indian Lifestyle -
      c …r - illustrated news
      The India Brand Equity Foundation(IBEF) - information
      The Week - politics, business, sports, art, culture
      TheIndianProgrammer.com - IT
      Tourism in India - Tourism
      Vedic Astrology - Vedic Astrology
      VIBE India - literary magazine