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| Pilgrim tourism can be backbone of J&K's economy | | | Those who are still doubtful about
the tremendous potential Jammu and
Kashmir state has in terms of luring pilgrim traffic to its ancient shrines and mountain caves need to read the latest report indicating that as many as three lakh pilgrims visited the Shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi during the just concluded nine-day Navratra festival. Those who rely on the figures dished out by the Shrine Board have no other alternative but to believe that the state can get a vital boost to its economy once the Government initiates measures for upgrading the infrastructure and the facilities for pilgrims in and around the historical shrines and temples. The annual pilgrim traffic to Vaishno Devi shrine and to the holy cave of Amarnath has been found to be over one crore against the annual tourist arrival of between three to six lakhs. During the last three years the number of pilgrims to Vaishno Devi has shown consistent increase.
If it was 67.97 lakhs in 2008,the number swelled to 82.34 lakhs in 2009 ,87.49 lakhs in 2010 and over one crore in 2011. Unlike Amarnath pilgrimage no restriction is being imposed on the daily pilgrim trek to the mountain shrine and the result was that during the nine-day Navratra festival about 30,000 pilgrims visited the shrine per day. In case of the Amarnath yatra the government and the Shrine Board cannot allow more than 10,000 pilgrims to trek to the 13500 ft high holy cave, believed to be the abode of Lord Shiva and his consort, Parvati,per day.
This restriction has been in force during the last 20 years following death of a number of pilgrims owing to weather related problems. Despite these restrictions not only on the number of yatris who can trek to the mountain cave per day but also limit being imposed to the duration of the yatra between three lakh and four lakh pilgrims make it to the shrine during the 45 days to two month long yatra period. What seems to be important for the government and the agencies connected with tourism to make a note is the least impact militancy related incidents and violence has had on the tourist traffic to Jammu and Kashmir.Between 1990 and 1994 not more than 10,000 to 20,000 tourists visited Kashmir per year.Even before the rise of militancy related violence the annual total number of tourists visiting the Kashmir valley ranged between six lakhs and eight lakhs,including over 65,000 foreigners. Whatever may have been the compulsions tourist traffic to Kashmir was hit hard by militancy related activities.
It was but natural for tourists to be away from Kashmir lest their money and mood could be spoiled during their in the valley rocked by gun and grenade attacks. But there has been no impact of insurgency on the pilgrim traffic to Amarnath cave and to Vaishno Devi. Before the rise of insurgency in Kashmir between 8,000 and 10,000 pilgrims would offer prayers in the mountain cave of Amarnath and most of the pilgrims belonged to Jammu and Kashmir. After the advent of militancy the annual pilgrim traffic to Amarnath cave has swelled to three to five lakhs. The pilgrim traffic to Vaishno Devi has already crossed one crore.
Though Vaishno Devi shrine is yet to reach the pilgrim rush theTirupati temple has been registering (five crores per year) with additional facilities the pilgrim traffic to the Katra shrine may touch a new record within next five years. Once it does it would give a new boost to the state's economy and generate additional resources for hoteliers, transporters, traders, porters and others. Hence Government needs to focus its attention on promoting pilgrim tourism. |
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