Tourism and Heritage Resources in Garhwal Himalaya

Book excerpt: While Tourism Has A Relatively Recent Origin As A Global Phenomenon, The Origin And Evolution Of Tourism In Garhwal Popularly Known As Pilgrimage (Tirth Yatra) Seems To Be As Old As Their Civilization. Apart From Having Myriad Places Of Pilgrimages; The Region Is Widely Appreciated For Its Scenic Beauty, Snow Capped Peaks, Fascinating Valleys, Lush Green Forests, Gushing Rivers, Enchanting Lakes, Idyllic Hill Towns, Beautiful Himalayan Meadows, And Richly Diverse Flora And Fauna. Besides Rich Natural Heritage, The Region S Rich Cultural Heritage, Is Represented By Its Important Historical And Religious Sites, Tribal Settlements, A Myriad Of Dialects, Dress Styles, Food Habits, Settlement Pattern, Religious Observances, Art And Craft And Fairs And Festivals. Hence This Region Is A Dreamland Not Only For The Tourists Of Diverse Motivations But Also For The Bio And Geo-Scientists, Economists, Anthropologists, Sociologists, Environmental Scientists And Travel Writers. This Book Identifies Systematically The Heritage And Tourism Products Of The Region And Suggests Viable Strategy To Manage And Promote Them. It Contains Eight Chapters Supported By Maps And Relevant Data. For The Newly Created State Of Uttaranchal, Tourism Sector Has A Key Role To Play For Its Development. For This Scientific Approach For Sustainable Development Of Tourism Should Be Evolved. In This Context, The Present Work Is A Sincere Effort, Which Gives An Over View Of Natural, Socio-Cultural Heritage Of The Region, And Identifies New Tourism Products. This Book Will Prove To Be Useful For Students, Tourists, Researchers, Planners And As Well As For Tourism Industry. Contents Chapter 1: Introduction, Chapter 2: Natural Heritage Tourism Products, Chapter 3: Religious And Architectural Heritage, Chapter 4: Socio-Cultural Heritage, Chapter 5: Evaluation Of Tourism Infrastructure, Chapter 6: Tourist Traffic, Chapter 7: Approach To Tourism Planning, Chapter 8: Conclusion And Recommendations.