Minister of State (/IC) for Culture & Tourism, Shri Prahlad Singh Patel has informed that The Ministry of Tourism has identified Adventure Tourism, Eco Tourism and Sustainable Tourism as some of the Niche Tourism Products to promote India including Assam and other North Eastern States as a year round destination and to attract tourists with specific interest for ensuring repeat visits for the unique products vis-à-vis competing destinations. In addition, adequate focus is also being accorded for development of religious and pilgrim tourism.
Ministry of Tourism under its flagship schemes of Swadesh Darshan and National Mission on Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual, Heritage Augmentation Drive (PRASHAD) is giving due emphasis for development of tourism infrastructure and facilities. Under the Swadesh Darshan Scheme, 15 themes have been identified for developing theme based circuits. These themes include Buddhist Circuit, Coastal Circuit, Desert Circuit, Eco Circuit, Heritage Circuit, Himalayan Circuit, Krishna Circuit, North-East Circuit, Ramayana Circuit, Rural Circuit, Spiritual Circuit, Sufi Circuit, Tirthankar Circuit, Tribal Circuit and Wildlife Circuit.
Under the PRASHAD Scheme, 41 religious cities/sites in 25 States have been identified for development which are Amaravati and Srisailam (Andhra Pradesh), Kamakhya (Assam), Parasuram Kund (Lohit District, Arunachal Pradesh), Patna and Gaya (Bihar), Balmeshwari Devi Temple (Rajnandgaon, Chhattisgarh), Dwarka and Somnath (Gujarat), Gurudwara Nada Saheb (Panchkula, Haryana), Maa Chintpurni (Una, Himachal Pradesh), Hazratbal and Katra (Jammu & Kashmir), Deogarh and Parasnath (Jharkhand), Chamundeshwari Devi (Mysuru, Karnataka), Guruvayoor, St. Thomas International Shrine (Malayattoor) and Cheraman Juma Mosque (Thrissur, Kerala), Omkareshwar and Amarkantak (Madhya Pradesh), Babedpara, West Jaintia Hills and Sohra (Meghalaya), Aizwal (Mizoram), Kohima and Mokokchung Districts (Nagaland), Trimbakeshwar (Maharashtra), Puri (Odisha), Amritsar (Punjab), Ajmer (Rajasthan), Kanchipuram and Vellankani (Tamil Nadu), Tripura Sundari (Tripura), Varanasi and Mathura (Uttar Pradesh), Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamunotri (Uttarakhand) and Belur (West Bengal).
The details of projects sanctioned under Swadesh Darshan and PRASHAD Schemes in Assam and other North East States are given below:
Swadesh Darshan (Rs. in Crore)
| Sl. No. | State/UT | Name of the Circuit | Name of the Project | Amt. Sanctioned |
| Year 2014-15 | ||||
|
|
Arunachal Pradesh | North-East Circuit | Development of Mega Circuit at Bhalukpong- Bomdila and Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh. | 49.77 |
| Year 2015-16 | ||||
|
|
Manipur | North-East Circuit | Development of Tourist Circuit in Manipur: Imphal- Khongjom | 72.23 |
|
|
Sikkim | North-East Circuit | Development of Tourist Circuit linking Rangpo (entry) – Rorathang- Aritar- Phadamchen- Nathang-Sherathang- Tsongmo- Gangtok-Phodong- Mangan- Lachung-Yumthang- Lachen- Thangu-Gurudongmer- Mangan- Gangtok-TuminLingee- Singtam (exit) in Sikkim. | 98.05 |
|
|
Nagaland | Tribal Circuit | Development of Tribal Circuit Peren- Kohima- Wokha, Nagaland | 97.36 |
|
|
Mizoram | North East Circuit | Integrated Development of New Eco Tourism under Swadesh Darshan-North East Circuit at Thenzawl & South Zote, District Serchhip and Reiek, Mizoram. | 94.91 |
|
|
Assam | Wildlife Circuit | Development of Manas– Probitora– Nameri– Kaziranga– Dibru– Saikhowa as Wildlife Circuit in Assam. | 95.67 |
|
|
Arunachal Pradesh | North East Circuit | Integrated Development of New Adventure Tourism in Arunachal Pradesh | 97.14 |
|
|
Tripura | North East Circuit | Development of North East Circuit : Agartala – Sipahijala – Melaghar – Udaipur – Amarpur- Tirthamukh- Mandirghat– Dumboor- Narikel Kunja- Gandachara– Ambassa in Tripura | 99.59 |
| Year 2016-17 | ||||
|
|
Meghalaya | North East Circuit | Development of Umium (Lake View), U Lum Sohpetbneng-Mawdiangdiang – Orchid Lake Resort, Meghalaya. | 99.13 |
|
|
Manipur | Spiritual Circuit | Development of Spiritual Circuit – Shri Govindajee Temple, Shri Bijoy Govindajee Temple – Shri Gopinath Temple – Shri Bungshibodon Temple – Shri Kaina Temple, Manipur. | 53.80 |
|
|
Sikkim | North East Circuit | Development of Tourist Circuit Linking Singtam– Maka- Temi-Bermoik Tokel- Phongia- Namchi –Jorthang- Okharey- Sombaria-Daramdin- Jorethang- Melli (Exit) in Sikkim. | 95.32 |
|
|
Nagaland | Tribal Circuit | Development of Tribal circuit (Mokokchung–Tuensang-Mon) in Nagaland | 99.67 |
|
|
Assam | Heritage Circuit | Development of Tezpur – Majuli – Sibsagar as Heritage Circuit in Assam under Swadesh Darshan scheme | 98.35 |
|
|
Mizoram | Eco Circuit | Development of Eco-Adventure Circuit Aizawl -Rawpuichhip – Khawhphawp – Lengpui – Durtlang – Chatlang- Sakawrhmuituaitlang – Muthee – Beratlawng -Tuirial Airfield – Hmuifang under Eco circuit theme of Swadesh Darshan Scheme | 99.07 |
| Year 2018-19 | ||||
|
|
Tripura | North East Circuit | Development of North East circuit: Surma Cherra- Unakoti- Jampui Hills- Gunabati-Bhunaneshwari- Matabari- Neermahal- Boxanagar- Chotta khola- Pilak- Avangchaarra in Tripura | 65.00 |
|
|
Meghalaya | North East Circuit | Development of West Khasi Hills (Nongkhlaw- Krem Tirot – Khudoi & Kohmang Falls – Khri River- Mawthadraishan, Shillong), Jaintia Hills (Krang Suri Falls- Shyrmang- Iooksi), Garo Hills (Nokrek Reserve, Katta Beel, Siju Caves) | 84.97 |
PRASHAD Scheme (Rs. in Crore)
| Sl. No. | State | Name of the Project | Project Cost |
| Year 2015-16 | |||
| 1 | ASSAM | Development of Kamakhya Temple and Pilgrimage Destination in and around Guwahati | 30.71 |
| Year 2018-19 | |||
| 2 | NAGALAND | Development of Pilgrimage Facilities in Nagaland | 25.26 |
The Swadesh Darshan and PRASHAD Schemes Guidelines have provision for developing nature and environment friendly destinations for both global and domestic tourists. The Ministry has made it mandatory for the State Governments/UT Administrations to prepare the Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) involving eco-tourism aspects viz. use of clean/renewable energy; eco-friendly materials and equipment, recycling & reuse while submitting proposals under the PRASHAD and the Swadesh Darshan Schemes.
Ministry of Tourism is regularly promoting adventure tourism, religious tourism and eco-tourism as part of Incredible India 2.0 Campaign in domestic and overseas markets. Ministry of Tourism is also releasing specific media campaigns for promoting tourism destinations in North East States. North Eastern States are also being showcased on the Incredible India website. These destinations and niche tourism products are also being promoted on regular basis by India tourism offices in exhibitions and fairs held in India and abroad.
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.