SGVU J CLIM CHANGE WATER Tomar, J.S, SGVU J CLIM CHANGE WATER VOL. 7, 2020 pp 94-103 VOL 7, 94-103 ISSN: 2347-7741 TOURISM POTENTIAL IN SOUTHERN HIMACHAL- A CASE STUDY OF SIRMOUR DISTRICT
Jagpal Singh Tomar*
*Center for Climate Change and Water Research, Suresh Gyan Vihar University, Jaipur
ABSTRACT:
Himachal Pradesh is endowed with nature’s bounty and has always attracted the fascination of tourists who flock to this hilly state in large numbers to enjoy its pristine beauty. It all started with Britishers who moved to these hills attracted by its natural beauty and cool climate, even declared Shimla as their Summer Capital in 1864 placing the state firmly on the world tourist map and this state has not looked back ever since. The flow of tourists here has increased dramatically ever since. But this movement has remained more or less confined to a select historically famous tourists spots in and around Shimla, Kullu, Chamba and Mandi. The main reason for this approach was that govt of the days focussed on developing these already known spots for attracting tourists which needed fewer resources, resulting in the overlooking of places with potential for attracting tourists. Nowadays, overcrowding at these popular spots has forced tourists to look for new unexplored territories and hence districts of Lahaul & Spiti, Kinnaur etc. are seeing increased flow of tourists. In this paper, I would like to focus on the hitherto less explored district Sirmour of Himachal Pradesh as the perfect destination for visitors looking for new places for recreation. Keywords: Tourism, Destination, Wetland, Sanctuary, Culture, Heritage and Fossils.
INTRODUCTION
There is a great potential for tourism in gifted this state with snow-capped Himachal Pradesh. Its unique customs, mountains, glaciers, lakes, geysers, traditions, cultural and above all the beautiful valleys, thick coniferous forests natural attractions and topography with large variety of flora and fauna, provide excellent opportunities for which provides wide scope for the tourism development (Kanga et al., development of tourism (Kanga et al., 2011). It abounds in temples with distinct 2014). Some important tourist hill architecture that would certainly destinations in the state are Shimla, attract many visitors. Mother nature has Manali, Dharamshala, Khajjiar, Chamba, 94 | P a g e SGVU J CLIM CHANGE WATER Tomar, J.S, SGVU J CLIM CHANGE WATER VOL. 7, 2020 pp 94-103 VOL 7, 94-103 ISSN: 2347-7741 Dalhousie etc. Nowadays, overcrowding 49’40’’ East Longitude having a total at these famous spots has diverted the area of 2825 sq. kms. The district of tourist flow towards less explored Solan lies on its West while Shimla territories and hence places in districts of district lies on its North. It is bound by Lahaul & Spiti, Kinnaur etc. are seeing the state of Uttarakhand towards East, by increased flow of tourists. The success of Uttar Pradesh & Haryana towards South. tourism business in a region depends on Nearest Airport is located at Chandigarh tourism planning, its development and whereas the nearest railway station is at marketing (Chandel, R. S., and Kanga, Ambala & Chandigarh. The district is S., 2018). District Sirmour in Himachal well connected by road network with Pradesh is one such place with high national high way number 72 passing tourist potential sites waiting to be through the district.Sirmaur district explored. Despite having all the presents an intricate mosaic of high characteristics of a good tourist mountain ranges, hills and valleys with destination, this district has lagged altitude ranging from 300 to 3000 m behind due to govt apathy and lack of above MSL. There is gradual rise in basic infrastructure, prerequisites for elevation from south to north and from attracting tourists. But now the situation east to west. In general, trans-Giri terrain is rapidly changing as there is a marked exhibits highly rugged mountain terrain. improvement in facilities available due to The high peaks in Chaurdhar region govt shifting their focus away from remain snow covered for most part of the almost saturated traditional regions to year. Low denuded hill ranges of Siwalik developing and promoting new areas represent the southwestern part of the with potential of becoming tourist district. Paonta valley, trending NW-SE, hotspots. has an area of about 230 sq km and lies Sirmour district is the southern-most between the main Himalayan ranges on district of Himachal Pradesh located in the north and outer Siwalik hill range in the Shivalik range of Himalayas. It is one the south. of the twelve administrative districts of Places to visit in Distt-Sirmour Himachal. Its geographical extent lies This district has some very significant between 30o 22’ 00’’ to 31o 01’ 00’’ religious places like the temples of Ma North Latitude and 77o 01’12’’ to 77o Renuka ji, Ma Balasundari, Shirgul
95 | P a g e SGVU J CLIM CHANGE WATER Tomar, J.S, SGVU J CLIM CHANGE WATER VOL. 7, 2020 pp 94-103 VOL 7, 94-103 ISSN: 2347-7741 Maharaj, Ma Bhangayani, Bhurshing outside the sanctuary has been declared Maharaj, Gurudwaras at Paonta Sahib, as a buffer belt. According to forest types Bhangani Sahib, Baru Sahib etc. Some classification, the area falls under dry very scenic places include Renukaji lake mixed deciduous forest and & zoo, Haripurdhar, Churdhar, Peach dry Sal forest. This place is the site of an Valley, Habban Valley, etc. Shivalik annual international fair held in Fossil Park located here is one of a kind November known as Renuka fair which not only in India but whole of Asia if not attracts people from within the district, world. the neighboring district of Shimla, Renuka lake adjoining parts of Haryana and Jhonsar Renuka lake is the largest natural lake of & Bhabar areas of Uttarakhand. Tourists Himachal Pradesh located in about 38 can visit this place for religious or kms east of Nahan in Sirmour district. recreational purposes. This elevation of this lake is 672 m Ma Balasundari Temple, Trilokpur above mean sea level and its Trilokpur is a place of great religious circumference is about 3214 m. This importance located on a hillock about place is considered as the birthplace of 24 km south-west of Nahan at an Lord Parshuram, the sixth incarnation of elevation of about 430 m. The temple of Lord Vishnu and the lake derives its Ma Balasundari here is an amalgam of name from goddess Renuka, his mother. Indo-Persian styles of architecture. It is It is a designated Ramsar site since considered to be the childhood place November 2005 (Ramsar Sites of Maa Vaishno Devi. This temple was Information Service, Kumar et al 2019). built in marble by Sh Ram Dass, a local This lake has boating facility and is well trader with help from the Maharaja of connected by road. The area around this earstwhile Sirmour state in 1573 AD. In lake is a Reserve Forest out of which 1823, the temple was renovated by 4.028 km2 has been converted into a Maharaja Fateh Prakash and by Maharaja sanctuary. This sanctuary boasts of a lion Raghubir Prakash in 1851. Since the safari and a zoo consisting of leopards, temple's inception, the descendants of black bears, cheetals, wild cats etc. A Lala Ram Dass have been performing the bird sanctuary is also located here. An main Puja here. An important fair is held area of roughly about 3 km² that lies at Trilokpur twice a year i.e. during
96 | P a g e SGVU J CLIM CHANGE WATER Tomar, J.S, SGVU J CLIM CHANGE WATER VOL. 7, 2020 pp 94-103 VOL 7, 94-103 ISSN: 2347-7741 navratras in the months of Chaitra and from different parts of the globe (Singh, Ashvina. This temple attracts a lot of R. B., and Anand, S.) and plays an pilgrims annually from all over Northern instrumental role in generating public India. Mata Bala Sundri is the Kul Devi awareness about this field of study and of many Castes (i.e. Brahmana, Baniyas, enquiry. The park has a display of the Rajput etc.) in Himachal and Haryana. fossil finds and an open-air exhibition of Hence this place can be promoted as a six life-sized fibreglass models of extinct religious place of very high significance. mammals i.e. Huge land tortoise, gharial, Shivalik Fossil Park, four–horned giraffe, sabre-toothed tiger, Also known as Suketi Fossil Park, large tusked elephant, and hippopotamus. (Chatterjee, R., 1974) this park is situated (The Tribune. 2003 and Mukerji, A. B., in the picturesque Markanda Valley of 1992). A museum, within the precincts of the Shivalik hills of district Sirmour the park exhibits stone items belonging located 20 kms to the south of Nahan. It to Early Paleolithic Man. Also preserved is Asia's biggest fossil park and is a in the museum are fossils of two genera notified National Geo-heritage of extinct primates, Sivapithecus and Monument fossil park (Ministry of Mines Ramapithecus. (Geological Society of Press release, 2016) developed by the France 1994 and Aitken, B., 2003). The Geological Survey of India, in museum also houses the remains of collaboration with the Himachal Pradesh Asia’s oldest human ancestor and other government. The park, extensively antiquities unearthed by Captain forested, is spread out over an area of 1.5 Cautley in the area (Geological Society square kilometres (0.58 sq mi) at Suketi. of France 1994). The site has been (Geological Survey of India). This park developed to give a panorama of Plio- is the first one in Asia to be situated on Pleistocene period (2.5 million years the same site where the actual fossils ago) through massive afforestation which were unearthed, and has a collection of has provided a green cover to the Park vertebrate fossils and skeletons that date besides enhancing its beauty. It is a site back to the Plio-Pleistocene period (2.5 worth visiting for Geoscientists, million years ago). The park facilitates Paleoscientists and general public. international studies in this field by Simbalbara National Park research scholars, who visit the park This park is located in the Paonta Valley
97 | P a g e SGVU J CLIM CHANGE WATER Tomar, J.S, SGVU J CLIM CHANGE WATER VOL. 7, 2020 pp 94-103 VOL 7, 94-103 ISSN: 2347-7741 of Sirmour district, Himachal boundary of district Sirmour and Shimla. Pradesh, along its border with Haryana It is famous for dense Coniferous forests, and is spread over an area of about 27.88 serene valleys and abode of Shirgul square kilometres (10.76 sq mi). This maharaj, a local deity revered highly by park was initially created as a protected the people of Sirmour, Choupal, Shimla, area in 1958, then known as the Solan and Jhonsar and Bhabar areas of Simbalbara Wildlife Sanctuary, with an Uttarakhand. There are two main routes area of 19.03 km². In 2010, 8.88 km² area to reach this peak which are normally was added to it and it was made into a preferred by people visiting this place. National Park. (Department of Forest, First one is a14 km long trek with Government of Himachal Pradesh, July moderate climb from Nohradhar in 2010, and Sharma, A., 2011). The district Sirmour and another one is 8 km vegetation consists of dense Sal forests steep climb from Sarahan in district with grassy glades (Kanga et al., 2013). Shimla (himachaltourism.gov.in, 2010). There is a perennial stream in the valley. Other routes include the ones from The Travel and Tourism department Haripurdhar and Rajgarh, both lying in of Himachal Pradesh has preserved the district Sirmour, and many more. park in its natural form (Simbalbara Surrounding this peak is a sanctuary sanctuary@ surfindia.com). spread over an area of 56.16 square Goral, Sambhar, Chittal, Indian Muntjac, kilometres as notified on 15 November Wild Boar, Rhesus Macaque, Indian 1985. Churdhar Wildlife Sanctuary Muntjac, Crested Porcupine, Langurs, (CWS) is one of the few remaining Himalayan Black Bear, and Leopard etc. citadels of biodiversity that covers wide are the common animals found here. altitudinal ranges (Subramani et al., There are walking trails also in the 2014). The densely forested area is adjoining forests. October and November composed of mixed coniferous forests are the best times to visit the park type interspersed with vast plantations of (https://himachaltourism.gov.in). Kharu Oaks (Kanga et al., 2014). There Churdhar Peak & Sanctuary is an abundance of cedar, blue pine and Churdhar Peak with an elevation of 3,647 spruce giving these forests a lush green metres (11,965 feet) is the highest peak colour. This region is also home to a in the outer Himalayas, located on the wide variety of medicinal herbs. Fauna
98 | P a g e SGVU J CLIM CHANGE WATER Tomar, J.S, SGVU J CLIM CHANGE WATER VOL. 7, 2020 pp 94-103 VOL 7, 94-103 ISSN: 2347-7741 found here includes Leopard, Himalayan hence very popular among people who Black Bear, Gorals, Indian Muntjac, come here from far of places from within Canine teethed Musk Deer, Langurs, and outside state. Due to its beautiful Monal Pheasant, Kalijj Pheasant, Red setting and high religious importance, Jungle Fowl, etc. This place attracts this town has the potential of attracting pilgrims, nature lovers and adventure tourists in large numbers. seekers alike. The Habban Valley Haripurdhar Valley and Ma Bhangani The Habban Valley is a natures paradise Temple and hitherto unexplored area located in Haripurdhar is a small hilly town in the Rajgarh Development of District Sirmour district surrounded by thick Sirmaur, at a distance of 70 km from coniferous forests on the one side and Solan. Also known as the Peach Valley, mixed deciduous oak forest on the other, this lush green area is situated at an situated at its northern borders with elevation of 2000 mts surrounded by district Shimla. It This town is at a dense coniferous forests. The weather is distance of about 86 kms from Nahan usually pleasant around the year. The and 100 kms from Solan at an altitude of wildlife in the area consists of Goral, 2500 metres above sea level. It is situated Barking Deer, Himalayan Black Bears, on a high ridge overlooking a deep Musk Deer, Leopard. There are also valley. One can enjoy cool temperatures various trails within Habban Valley of 10 º to 15º during summers and thick which include a 7-km trek to Banalidhar white blanket of snow during winters. or take a longer trek (15 km) to This place is full of scenic beauty and Churdhar. Habban is located only 10 kms greenery. away from neighbouring Shaya village Another important attraction of this place which contains the shrine of highly is the temple of Maa Bhangayani, revered Shirgul Devta. Habban valley situated atop a hill about 2 kms away contains thick coniferous and oak forests, from here towards Chaupal. The location as well as orchards of apples and of this temple is such that it gives a 360º peaches. This place is an excellent view of the beautiful valley surrounding destination for people looking for this area. This deity is famous for secluded virgin valleys. fulfilling the wishes of its devotees, Baru Sahab
99 | P a g e SGVU J CLIM CHANGE WATER Tomar, J.S, SGVU J CLIM CHANGE WATER VOL. 7, 2020 pp 94-103 VOL 7, 94-103 ISSN: 2347-7741 In the hills of district sirmour at about Bhureshwar Mahadev Temple 60 km from Nahan, there was a village This temple is located on a beautiful Baru presently called Baru Sahib, which hilltop which is a part of the Shivalik is the home to an internationally foothills just 2 kms off the National acclaimed University called the Akal Highway No. 907A at Kwagdhar near Academy. It all started with the vision of Sarahan (Pachhad), district Sirmour. It is Sant Attar Singh Ji, Mastuane Wale about 48 kms from Nahan, 40 kms from (1866–1927), who, in the early twentieth Solan and 68 kms from Chandigarh. century envisaged a place in These foothills provide a majestic view the Himalayas from where young souls of the Himalayas on one side and the equipped with the amalgam never-ending vast plains on the other. of spiritual and modern scientific There is a legend about this place that education will spread the message of from here Mata Parvati and Lord Shiva universal brotherhood throughout the saw the Kurukshetra War, as described in world. In 1959, 82 years old Sant Teja the Mahabharata. Chandigarh is clearly Singh Ji accompanied by 15-20 devotees visible from here. This place is also set up camp and built a mud-hut, in suitable for adventurous activities and is which began the first Akhand Path. In an ideal camping site. Due to its beautiful 1986, the now famous Akal Academy natural setting and location on National had its beginning in the Ashram building Highway with proximity to Chandigarh, with just five students which has now this place has enormous scope for grown into an 11-storeyed building and development as a prominent tourist spot. has 1538 boys and girls on its rolls. Of SCOPE OF THIS STUDY: these, 200 are overseas students; 100 1. District Sirmour has lagged behind in from the US alone. 350 students are attracting tourists as compared to some getting free education. This place is a of the more popular districts like perfect example of how people from Shimla, Kullu, Chamba, etc. Through completely different religions, culture, this study, I want to put things in language and social backgrounds can live perspective and promote this district as a in complete harmony with each other. worthy option to the overcrowded This place is a must visit to tourists of all popular tourist destinations of the state. faiths. 2. Through this study, I would also like to
100 | P a g e SGVU J CLIM CHANGE WATER Tomar, J.S, SGVU J CLIM CHANGE WATER VOL. 7, 2020 pp 94-103 VOL 7, 94-103 ISSN: 2347-7741 draw the attention of the State exchequer by way of taxes earned. Government towards these potential Hence, proper planning and efficient tourist destinations mentioned above, execution at all levels from state to which have not been on the must visit village level is required for transforming list of the tourists coming to this state this district into a much sought-after till now. But with some help from the tourist destination. govt. with regards to improvement in ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS: infrastructure, all this can change for Jagpal Singh Tomar (Research Scholar) good. performing the research work and data 3. Migration to industrial areas of Paonta collection; Dr. Shruti Kanga (Associate Sahib, Kala Amb, Nalagarh and Baddi Professor and Coordinator, C3WR, in search of jobs is a common trend in SGVU) responsible for performing the the rural areas of this district. Increased guidance of research work. tourist inflow to the district will result in REFERENCES employment opportunities to the people Aitken, B. (2003). Footloose in the near home. This study aims at not only Himalayas, ISBN 978-81-7824-052-7. stopping this outflow but also ultimately reversing the trend in the long run. Chandel R. S. and Kanga, S. (2018). Use CONCLUSION: of Geo-Spatial Techniques to manage It can be safely concluded that district the Tourists & Administration: A case Sirmour is a richly endowed region study of Mount Abu, Rajasthan. Environ. having all the ingredients needed for We Int. J. Sci. Tech., 12, 63-78.
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