Although the definition and purposes of Tourism is no longer restricted to Heritage and Pilgrimage cities- its definitely India’s USP due to its Civilizational legacy, and being the birthplace of many religions.
In this series on Themes in Tourism Industry, we’ll start by taking a trip through History and Culture of Cities of Spiritual / Religious Importance. For its promotion Government of India has launched two schemes PRASAD andSwadesh Darshan for Development of Theme-Based Tourist Circuits.
About the PRASAD Scheme
- PRASAD means Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spirituality Augmentation Drive
- A 100% Centrally Sponsored Scheme under Tourism Ministry
- Note that funds for any CSS is given to states in installments (20% at approval stage, 60% when 20% work done and rest 20% when 60% work is finished)
- Provisions under the scheme include
- Tourism Promotion and Tourist Ecosystem
- Vocational Training for Tourists and Hospitality Business
- Hunar se Rozgar tak (HSRT) and earn while you learn programs
- Improving Tourist Infrastructure
Provisions regarding Tourist Infrastructure in PRASAD
- ATM, foreign currency exchange counters
- Rail, road water transport
- Green energy streetlights
- Water adventure sports
- First-aid centres, Wi-Fi hotspots, Parking facilities
- Green landscaping, water fountains, walkways, furniture etc.
- Removing encroachments
PRASAD versus HRIDAY?
- HRIDAY means Heritage City Development and Augmentation Yojana
- While PRASAD is under Tourism ministry <note that Culture ministry is separate from Tourism ministry> while HRIDAY is under Urban Development Ministry
- PRASAD cities are handpicked because their tourism is centered around faith, spirituality and religion. On the other hand, a HRIDAY city is chosen for its heritage status that goesbeyond faith to include aspects of culture such as Architecture (Eg- Cave temples of Badami, Kakatiya Temples of Warangal)
- HRIDAY is exclusively focused on Infrastructure that preserve the Heritage Character (Museums, Fairs, Festivals etc) , while PRASAD goes beyond that to include Vocational Training programmes and other things that make up Tourism Ecosystem
- Common outcomes of both are:
- Increase in Employment, Tourist Footfalls, Cleanliness of Heritage/Pilgrimage cities
- Decrease in Pollution, Crime rates etc
- There are 12 cities selected for both schemes, but there’s a considerable overlap in the sense that 10 cities are common to both. Only cities separate are:
- Kamakhya in Assam and Kedarnath in Uttarakhand (PRASAD)
- Badami in Karnataka and Warangal in Telangana
- Lets take a tour of those common 10 cities and the other 2 specific to PRASAD.
Map of PRASAD Cities
#1: Ajmer
- Surrounded by the Aravalli Mountains (meaning the “Invincible Hill”)
- Founded by Ajaipal Chauhan (who established The Chauhan Dynasty – 7th century.
- Ruled by the legendary Prithviraj Chauhan, the last Hindu king of Delhi.
- Dargah of the Great Sufi Saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti (aka Madina of India)
- Devotees of all sects and faiths congregate
- Annual festival of Urs (Death anniversary of a Sufi saint in South Asia, usually held at the saint’s dargah such as Chisti’s; it is celebrated rather than mourned)
- Picture of harmony and universal brotherhood.
- Variety of styles of Architecture including lndo-Islamic, Royal Rajasthani, lndo-Saracenic and Jain styles of architecture.
- Soniji Ki Nasiyan is a famous Digambara Jain temple from Ajmer
- Ajmer is also the base for visiting Pushkar (11 km), the abode of Lord Brahma and a sacred town of Hindus <Pushkar is far from Mahadeo Hills of MP, remember 2015 prelims question?>
- Artists of this area
- Carving on wood and ivory,
- Blue pottery
#2: Amaravati
- What’s in a name?
- Translates to “The town lives forever”
- Also referred as Amareswaram
- Formerly known as Andhra nagari
- Name derived from famous “Amareswara temple” dedicated to Lord Shiva
- Ancient Rulers of Amaravati
- Capital of Satavahanas who ruled from 2nd century BCE to 3rd century CE <most important period for Amaravati>
- Andhra Ikshvakus
- Pallava kings
- Eastern Chalukyas
- Telugu Cholas
- Kakatiyas in 11th century CE
- Medieval Rulers of Amaravati
- Delhi Sultanate
- Bahmani Sultanate
- Vijayanagara Empire,
- Munsuri Nayaks
- Sultanate of Golconda
- Mentions of Amaravati found in:
- Skanda Purana gives a picture of the place
- Puranic literature such as Aitreya Brahamana mentions about “Andhra-jati” ruling area we now know as Amaravati
- The Amaravati Stupa
- Buddhist stupa (Dhyana) was built during the Reign of Ashoka in 200 BCE
- Carved with panels that tells the story of Buddha
- During the period of the Decline of Buddhism, this stupa was also neglected and it was buried
- Stupa is related to the “Vajrayana” (Tibetan) teachings of Kalchakra (a festival held in 2006, Dalai Lama inaugurated)
- NOTE: Hiuen Tsang (Xuanzang) also visited Amaravati Stupa in 640 CE
- Ancient Art (Sculpture) from Amaravati
- Amaravati art as one of the three major styles or schools of ancient Indian Sculpture
- Other two being the Gandhara style and the Mathura style.
- Use of White marble (to Potrays a Greco-Roman influence)
- Physical beauty with elegance
- Narrative rather than individualistic (not deities but Humans)
- Depiction of Kings and Princes
- Direct result of the close trade and diplomatic contacts between south india and the ancient roma
- Amaravati has itself yielded a few Roman coins
- World’s finest examples of Narrative sculpture.
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