02-11-2016, 02:50 PM
1463555610-09chapter2.pdf (Size: 1.51 MB / Downloads: 255)
INTRODUCTION
Rajasthan - 'The Land of Kings, Palaces, Valor and Sacrifices'. Rajasthan
derives its name from “Rajah” “Sthana”, which literally means home of Kings.1
Rajasthan being situated in the Northwest part of India, is a land of majestic
Aravali Hills, crowned with sand dunes of Jaisalmer and Bikaner, Scenic and
serene beauty and warrior princes – the land of regal creatures bird watcher
and many more. The formation of Rajasthan in its present form has come in
gradual states after the independence of the country. The present state of
Rajasthan is effectively a union of 22 former princely states. Rajasthan has a
total area of 0.342 Sq. Kms, making it geographically the largest state in the
country. The state shares its geographical boundaries with the states of
Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat in India and
also has a long 1070-Kms west boundary with India’s neighboring country
Pakistan. The topography of Rajasthan mainly comprises of three regions,
namely, the Aravali hills range, the Great Indian Thar Desert and the Eastern
part of the state. The population of the state is around 56.5 Million according
to the 2001 census which constitutes nearly 5.5% of the nation’s population.
The principal language of the state is Rajasthani, the four important dialects
being Marwari in the West, Jaipuri in the East, Malwi in South-east and
Mewati in North-east. Hindi is widely spoken and is rapidly replacing
Rajasthani language.
Rajasthan is a land of great beauty and diversity. From the Thar Desert in the
west to the fertile Southeastern plains, Rajasthan's topography too shares in
this diversity. The state is home of brave Rajput warriors, is popular for its
culture, from the lively folk dances to the many schools of Indian classical
music. The main cities in Rajasthan are Jaipur, Jodhpur, Udaipur, Mount Abu,
1
Ashok Aima, Jaya Bhasin and Rachna Gupta, Research Paper on “Heritage
Tourism in Rajasthan: Study of Leadership Styles” in Colombo Conference of
India Tourism Congress, 14th June 2011.
Bikaner, Jaisalmer, Chittor, Bharatpur and Alwar which enjoying benefit of
tourists attraction. The customs and traditions, fairs and festivals, handicrafts,
art and music reflect the very broad spectrum of the Rajasthani culture where
much of the Rajasthani thought, philosophy and culture is being reflected all
over the state.2
Rajasthan accounts a major contributor to the country’s production of gypsum,
silver ore, asbestos, feldspar and mica and has rich salt deposits at Sambhar
and copper mines at Khetri and Dariba. The state is also famous for
production of building stones like sandstone, marble, kotastone and granite in
different colors and in large quantities. Rajasthan also has an emerging
industry sector, the main industries being textiles, manufacture of rugs and
woollen goods, vegetable oils and dyes. Traditional handicrafts such as
jewellery, marble work, embossed brass, block printing, embroidery, pottery
and decorative paintings are good foreign exchange earners for the state. The
state includes heavy industries such as railway rolling stock, copper and zinc
smelting. The chemical industry produces caustic soda, calcium carbides,
fertilizers, pesticides and insecticides. The principal industrial clusters in the
state are at Jaipur, Kota, Alwar, Udaipur and Bhilwara. Another sector that
has always played an important role in the state economy, particularly during
the last few decades is tourism. Rajasthan tourism industry has seen a strong
growth in both the domestic and international tourist arrivals over the
decades.
Tourism industry in Rajasthan is a vital breath in the economic activity.
Tourism has direct and indirect impact on financial, social and cultural life of
people. This industry is considered as leisure industry with many economic
benefits like foreign exchange earnings, regional development, promotion of
local handicrafts and artisans, infrastructure development and increasing
standard of living. The state government has already realized the potentials of
this industry for the economic development in the state and has adopted vital
measures to promote tourism in the state adopting schemes like “Padharo
Mhare Desh” means “Rajasthan Invites You”.
3
The former president of
USA, Bill Clinton’s visit to Rajasthan helped to turn the world’s spotlight on
this popular tourist destination and the state is already witnessing an
increasing tourist traffic ever since. No doubt officials of Rajasthan tourism are
very enthusiastic about this welcome development and pitching with their
efforts to make Rajasthan a most preferred destination in the world. There are
good reasons to believe why tourism in Rajasthan is being accorded the
priority it deserves? The Chief Minister of Rajasthan has declared tourism as
one of the key area of economic development and termed this sector as the
“Hope Sector” for Rajasthan.
No wonder that Rajasthan has been called the “Designer State” as far as
tourism is concerned because of its people, culture, cuisine, costumes,
clothes and its numberless art forms. In the end it can be said that tourism is
poised to become a people’s industry in Rajasthan by 2010. Really for
Rajasthan Tourism sky is not the limit”. Tourism in Rajasthan is a major
source of revenue earnings and it contributes about 15% of the economy of
Rajasthan. Rajasthan contributes about 11.2 per cent and 3.3 per cent share
in India's foreign and domestic tourist arrivals respectively. To enhance the
role of tourism in the state the Rajasthan government has brought down the
luxury tax from 10% to 8% to boost the tourism industry in the state. Hence
the state Rajasthan has all potential to attract more number of tourists by
providing various types of tourism facilities which play an important role for
growth of the economy.
Rajasthan is a popular tourist spot in North India and emerged as one of the
popular tourist destinations in India for both domestic and foreign tourists. The
royal land dotted with numerous tourist attraction sites. The rich tourist
attractions of Rajasthan includes numerous forts and palaces, monuments
and structures, lakes and mountains, sand dunes and desert beauty, national
parks and wildlife destinations. Even the cities and towns of Rajasthan are
worth exploring. The state is known for its diversity in terms of natural
resources, cultural heritage, historical as well as archaeological wonders and
rare wild life. The forts and palaces, heritage hotels, colourful fairs and
festivals, local art and handicrafts has been a unique selling proposition for
tourists coming to the state. The desert environment in the Western parts of
the state is also a major attraction for visitors, particularly for foreign tourist.
Rajasthan has emerged as one of the leading state in India and Rajasthan
was the third preference of tourist after Goa and Kerala as travel destination
in India.4
However four decades ago tourism in Rajasthan was small industry that was
largely confined to the selected foreign tourists and domestic pilgrim traffic.
Tourist arrivals were restricted to a few thousand annually and were primarily
recorded in select places such as Jaipur, the state capital, Udaipur and
Jodhpur for foreign tourists and the pilgrim centers of Ajmer, Pushkar and
Nathdwara for domestic tourists. The employment in the sector and the
sector’s contribution to the state economy were limited. However, over the last
few decades, due to the focused efforts of Rajasthan Tourism, various state
government agencies and selected entrepreneurs, tourism has grown from an
elite and pilgrim phenomenon to a mass phenomenon putting Rajasthan firmly
on the foreign and domestic tourist map. Also, as compared to the past,
where the tourism in the state meant only for desert tourism, heritage tourism
and pilgrim tourism, today the tourists have a wide canvas of places,
attractions and activities to choose from the state, which enhances the overall
tourism experience. Thus, Rajasthan recognized the potential attractions of
tourism and it takes various efforts to enhance tourism in the state.
The government of Rajasthan has granted the status of industry to tourism
sector in the year 1989 and all the facilities and concession available to
industries in the state would also be available to tourism units in the state as
per rules in force. The government of Rajasthan takes many measures to
enhance the role of tourism such as efforts will be made to arrange special
tourist trains such as Palace-On-Wheels which has been launched in the year
1996-97 and it has proved to be extremely popular for International tourists
and NRIs, special Intra-state and Inter-state package tours would be
encouraged through private tour operators and travel agents, the state also
encourage air taxi service and helicopter service by air taxi operators within
the state so that tourists visiting the state can visit many places within the
available time and establishing modern well equipped Tourist Reception
Centers (TRC) at important tourists’ destinations which provides important
information like package tours, fairs and festivals and paying guest
accommodation. In order to facilitate dissemination of information to the
tourists from foreign and domestic market, the state will origin such literature,
films, videos and other published material. The special efforts identified in
major areas such as overseas publicity about Rajasthan as a tourist
destination, private marketing and publicity linkages would be established with
the help of travel agents and tour operators to promote tourism in Rajasthan
in the world tourism market. The state also encourage private investment in
developing ancient buildings and heritage properties as tourist resorts,
government and various NGOs operate many fairs and festivals especially
Desert Festival and Pushkar Cattle Festival to attract more number of tourists.
To enhance the role of human resource development in tourism sector, the
state select and train appropriate number of tourists guides at all destinations
and tourist circuits within the state, so that they provide their unique facilities
to tourists.
Tourism in Rajasthan is an important economic activity which has vital impact
on financial, social and cultural life of people. This industry gives the benefits
of infrastructure development, increasing standard of living, earning foreign
exchange and development of local handicrafts and culture. The tourism
potential and future promise of Rajasthan is very well known and well
documented all over the world. Each and every corner of Rajasthan is an
enjoyable experience in its own way and there are many of tourist attractions
in the state which can offers to tourists. Different cultures, customs and
traditions, fairs and festivals, heritage and pilgrimage places, forts and
palaces and the most hospitable local people can make Rajasthan as the
most peaceful and safest tourist destination of India as well as in South Asia.
The state government of Rajasthan introduces many new tourism products
such as eco-tourism, a canal cruise in river Chamble, camel and horse
safaris, camp tourism, new package tours at reasonable rates, special tax
rebates and exemptions for the tourism sector.
Tourism has a significant multiplier effect on the state economy. It increases
employment opportunities, generating revenue, developing infrastructure,
increasing investment opportunities and revival of traditions and heritage
conservation and management5
. It is estimated that every rupee spent by a
tourist changes hands 13 times and that every hotel room generates direct
employment to three persons and indirect employment to eight persons. In
Rajasthan, tourism is the third largest employer after agriculture and textiles
sector. Today the tourism industry in Rajasthan employs many people directly
and indirectly. Its contribution to the State economy is estimated to be over Rs
2000 Crores.
No doubt tourism industry in Rajasthan suffer some social and environmental
problems such as increase in begging, prostitution, cheating and pressure on
local community by influencing their customs and traditions, deforestation,
unplanned or unregulated management of tourism programmes, damage to
heritage and pilgrimage places, environment pollution, lack of connectivity and
shopping malpractices. Though it is true that state made many efforts to
increase tourism in the state and to provide tourist facilities government of
Rajasthan establish Department of Tourism (DoT), Rajasthan Tourism
Development Corporation Ltd. (RTDC), Rajasthan Institute of Travel and
Tourism Management (RITTMAN) and many other organizations which play a
vital role for increasing tourism in the state. Also the government of Rajasthan
has undertaken many steps for the improvement and development of tourism
trade in the state yet there is a room to think, to plan and to implement new
and attractive way to give a further boost to this trade. In connection to this
the major new dimensions for the advancements of tourism suggested are
improvement in transportation network by rail, road and air connectivity,
adequate fund allocation to tourism sector and free loans to tourism projects,
human resource development, increasing private sector participation,
preservation of rich heritage palaces, and encouraging new area of tourism
such as MICE tourism, rural tourism, adventure tourism.
TOURISM PRODUCTS IN RAJASTHAN
Tourism in Rajasthan is one of the fast growing industry which gives higher
contribution in state by increasing revenue, increasing standard of living,
providing platform to local artisans and culture and developing infrastructure.
There are many tourism products in the state which attracts tourists such as
forts and palaces, shopping, safari tours, wildlife sanctuary parks, heritage
and pilgrimage places, lakes in Rajasthan and many more
The Royal state of Rajasthan offers many grand forts and palaces, which are
part of the heritage of India and attract a large number of tourists from all over
the world. The capital city Jaipur and other cities such as Jaisalmer, Udaipur,
Chittorgarh and Jodhpur are major popular cities for their historical forts and
palaces in the state. The Hawa Mahal, City Palace, Amber Fort, Jaigarh Fort,
Nahargarh Fort and Jantar Mantar are most visited forts and palaces in the
pink city Jaipur. The city of Jaisalmer is also dotted with many significant
golden fortresses, historical carved havelies.6
Jaisalmer (Sonar) Fort in
Jaisalmer is one of the major attractions for domestic and foreign tourists in
Jaisalmer. The majestic Mehrangarh Fort and Umaid Bhavan Palace
represent the city of Jodhpur which is known for its magnificent palaces. Similarly Juangarh Fort in Bikaner, City Palace and Lake Palace in Udaipur
are the major attractions for tourists to enjoy heritage of Rajasthan. As all
these forts and palaces in Rajasthan attract more and more tourists in the
state which gives knowledge about history and royal life of king’s who ruled in
the state.
Rajasthan Safari Tours
The state of Rajasthan in western India is a treasure trove of natural beauty,
historic monuments and an amazing wildlife. Rajasthan tourism is one of the
best organized tourism in India and the results of its efficiency, the authorities
have handled tourism which can be seen in the rise in the number of tourists
every single year. Rajasthan has a varied landscape that comprises
magnificent golden sand dunes, majestic hills and good-natured lakes. The
best way to explore this vast land is organized by safaris. The Rajasthan
safari tours offer a different way to explore various tourist destinations in the
state. There are many famous forts and palaces in the state which attract a
large number of tourists from all over the world. The Rajasthan safari tours
are fast becoming the preferred options for most tourists, especially the adventurous. The most popular safaris are camel safari, horse safari,
elephant ride and jeep safari.7
The camel safari provides tours to certain places in Rajasthan on camel back,
accompanied by the trainers of the animals and tourist guides. The camel
safaris are very popular in the regions of Jodhpur, Bikaner and Jaisalmer.
Camel safaris can be quite an experience in Thar Desert which is a part of
Rajasthan.8
Similarly Jeep safaris are quite popular among the tourists owing
to the speed and maneuverability of the vehicles. They can be used to go to
places where the normal tourist vehicles cannot access and where horses
and camels will take a lot of time to reach. Jeeps are particularly useful in
exploring the wildlife in Rajasthan. Jeep safari tours throughout Rajasthan is
an all together new concept which is born to give immense excitement as it is
unique in its kind. Jeep safaris are one of the fastest ways for visit of colorful
Thar Desert. Some of the most popular jeep safari routes in Rajasthan are
Bikaner, Jaisalmer and Jodhpur.
Rajasthan and horses are like the two sides of the same coin. The Rajputs on
horseback, with swords symbolize the royalty of the place. Horse safaris in
this kind of a land are the most innovative, exciting and adventurous way of
leaving behind marks of enjoyment across the sands of Rajasthan. Horse
safaris are relatively a recent addition to the safari tours of Rajasthan. In
Rajasthan, region around Jodhpur, Bikaner and Udaipur are covered by most
horse safaris. In recent times horse safari is organized by some private tour
operators also. The Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation organizes a
safari on request which starts from Jaipur and the duration of the safari is four
days. The places which could be visited are Anokhi, Shikarbadi, Aodhi and
Ghanerao. The horse safaris during Pushkar fair take the tourist trotting long
the cultural present and reminiscent past of Rajasthan. Elephant ride was
usually arranged by the archaeological department of the state in the past
years at Amer, but since last few years it is operated by the tourism
department on rotation system and is very popular among the tourists