India Ajanta–Ellora Conservation and Tourism Development Project
India Ajanta–Ellora Conservation and Tourism Development Project Evaluator: Kenichiro Hidaka and others1 (World Heritage Studies, University of Tsukuba) Norio Ishijima (Kokusai Kogyo Co., Ltd.) Field Survey: January, February, and May 2007 1. Project Profile and Japan’s ODA Loan パPaキkistaスタnン Newニュ ーデDelリhiー China中国 ネパールNepal Bブータhutanン バングラデシBangladesh インドIndia Myミャanンmマaーr プロProjeジェクトサct siteイ ト Map of Project Area Example of Project Component 1.1 Background India is a country where diverse cultures developed in its many regions over the course of its 4000 year-plus history, and it is known for having sites endowed with “outstanding universal value” in the cultural and natural domains. India is home to a total of 27 World Heritage Sites, including 22 cultural sites and 5 natural sites, and of these, the Ajanta and Ellora rock-cut cave temples are important, massive-scale cultural heritage sites which are also the first places in India to be registered as World Heritage sites, together with the renowned Taj Mahal and Agra Fort, in 1983. In recent years, conservation of these sites, use of them as tourism resources, and balance between such conservation and use have become important issues transcending state and national borders. The state of Maharashtra, where the cave temples are located, has a population of 96.879 million (2001), and with a gross state product is 3,284.59 billion rupees (the highest in India), the state has driven the Indian economy based on its economic hub, Mumbai, the state capital. The state has been putting effort into promotion of tourism as a vital force for further economic development.
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