Sub-Regional Plan for Haryana Sub-Region of NCR-2021 Chapter 13 Heritage and Tourism Chapter 13 : HERITAGE AND TOURISM 13.1 Introduction The Sub-Regional plan focuses on the balanced and harmonized development of heritage and tourism sectors, keeping in mind the importance of these areas for boosting the economy and employment generation. This sector has a huge potential to grow at a fast rate in the next few years. Haryana's great culture and heritage is well preserved in its rural towns and villages. This plan particularly visualizes an integrated development of Heritage and Tourism in the region besides the development of rural areas. The effort would be to promote the following areas of tourism: Heritage, Adventure, Eco and Medical & Farm/Rural in order to promote employment opportunities while protecting environment and heritage. The main identified Tourist and Heritage sites in Haryana Sub-Region are Mewat - 27 holes golf course Panipat - Battleground of many famous wars Rohtak - Land of mythological and Historical importance Gurgaon - Urban and adventure abode Faridabad- Annual Surajkund crafts fair Jhajjar - The Ancient Temple of Pandava’s Bhimeshwari goddess and Jhajjar museum Objectives listed from Regional Plan-2021 for NCR and Haryana tourism policy for the heritage and tourism in Sub-Region are: Promote tourism as a major source of economic growth and capitalize the potential of sustainable tourism for employment generation. Promote private and public sector association for the development of tourism with government. The objective is to broaden and diversify the concept of tourism in highway tourism, ecotourism, adventure tourism, pilgrim Tourism, farm tourism, golf tourism, medical tourism and heritage tourism etc., therefore meeting new market requirements. Scale up infrastructure to global standards. Support professional excellence and provide infrastructure for human resource development. Develop sustained and effective marketing strategy and plans. 13.2 Heritage Haryana Sub-Region is gifted with natural heritage sites, seeped in mythology and history. There are 2 types of heritage areas a) Built heritage b) Natural heritage 13.2.1 Built Heritage Built Heritage pertains to those buildings, artifacts, structures, areas and precincts that are of historic, aesthetic, architectural or cultural significance. In addition they should also include natural features within such areas or precincts of the environment significance or scenic beauty such as scared groves, hills, hillocks, water bodies (and area adjoining the same), open areas, wooded areas, etc. Table 13-1 : Number of Protected Monuments in the Sub-Region by ASI Protection/ State Haryana Sub-Region Centrally Protected 63 State Protected 01 Source: Draft Revised Regional Plan 2021, NCR Different organizations works on the listing of the Built Heritage in the Sub-Region a) Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) Town and Country Planning Department, Haryana 265 Sub-Regional Plan for Haryana Sub-Region of NCR-2021 Chapter 13 Heritage and Tourism b) State Archaeological Department c) INTACH has listed various numbers of monuments. As per Regional Plan-2021 for NCR the number of monuments listed are 334 in Haryana Sub-Region. 13.2.2 Natural Heritage: The Sub-Region has the most number of natural sites in the State of Haryana as well as in the NCR. These Natural Heritage sites illustrate the bio-diversity of the Sub-Region. They can be divided as under: (a) Special Protection Areas: a) Sultanpur National Park - Gurgaon Haryana b) Bhindawas Birds Sanctuary - Jhajjar, Haryana (b) Hilly areas: Aravalis at Gurgaon, Faridabad and Mewat (c) River Systems, Wetlands and Water Bodies: Yamuna Yamuna wetland systems Damdama lake, Gurgaon, Haryana Sohna Lake / hot water spring, Gurgaon Badkhal and surrounding lakes, Faridabad Kotla Dhar Lake, Mewat All existing water bodies: manmade and natural (d) Habitations: These include urban and rural settlements, biodiversity in the vast variety of crops, livestock, green-areas and open spaces, in the developed areas where biotic resources manifest themselves. 13.3 Tourism 13.3.1 Types of Tourism in Haryana Sub-Region (e) Eco Tourism: Ecotourism entails the sustainable preservation of a naturally gifted area or region. This is becoming more and more significant for the ecological development of all regions that have tourist value. Various eco tourism destination spots are located in the Sub-Region such as Sultanpur Bird Sanctuary and Bhindawas Bird Sanctuary. (f) Farm Tourism: Haryana has primarily an agrarian economy; therefore, Haryana Tourism has taken the initiative to introduce the concept of farm tourism in India. The farms offer you an experience of a lifestyle that's true of a real India - rich in age old traditions, ethnic arts and crafts. The farms are located near Delhi. Almost 14 farms are located in Haryana Sub-Region. (g) Golf Tourism: Haryana has many lush green plain lands and meadows making it ideal for Golf. This tourism is about providing excellent golfing facilities, latest amenities to attract golfers from all over the world and Sub- Region becoming a prime destination for golf tourism in India. Currently a number of international level golf courses are located in Gurgaon, Faridabad and Mewat. (h) Adventure Tourism: Adventure tourism is popular amongst the youngsters. It has recently gained prominence in India. This involves exploration of remote areas and exotic locations and engaging in various activities. Adventure tourists in Haryana prefer trekking, climbing, boating etc to places near hills, lakes, wildlife, etc. Town and Country Planning Department, Haryana 266 Sub-Regional Plan for Haryana Sub-Region of NCR-2021 Chapter 13 Heritage and Tourism (i) Heritage Tourism: Heritage tourism is a branch of tourism oriented towards both, the built heritage and natural heritage of the location. In the Sub-Region though heritage tourism is in all districts, it is prominent in Panipat, Gurgaon and Faridabad. (j) Cultural Tourism: Haryana is known for its rich cultural and religious elements, like the various fairs and festivals. In the Sub- Region tourists can visit the annual Surajkund mela, Faridabad. 13.4 Existing Scenario of Tourist Flow in Haryana Sub-Region 13.4.1 State and its Surroundings Though the Sub-Region has excellent infrastructure, but it is lacking in the field of tourism. In the Domestic tourism sector, Haryana scored third rank after Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan. About 1348.3 lakh domestic tourists visited various tourist places in Uttar Pradesh, 255.6 lakh in Rajasthan, 64.1 lakh in Haryana and 20.4 lakh Delhi in 2009. In the international tourism sector, Haryana had the least number of foreign tourists in the year 2007, 2008 & 2009 as compared to Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan. Table 13-2: Number of Tourist Visits and Percentage share in Haryana and its Surrounding States State/Year Domestic Tourists(in lakh) Foreign Tourists(in lakh) 2006 2007 2008 2009 2006 2007 2008 2009 All India 4,623.1 5,265.6 5629.2 6,500.4 117.5 132.7 141.1 137.2 Haryana 60.2 62.5 59.7 64.1 0.7 0.6 0.9 1.4 Delhi 22.4 23.9 21.3 20.4 19.7 20.2 23.4 19.6 Uttar Pradesh 105.5 1,162.4 1,248.4 1,348.3 13.3 15.2 16.1 15.3 Rajasthan 234.8 259.2 283.6 255.6 12.2 14.1 14.8 10.7 Source: India Tourism Statistics 2007, 2008 & 2009, Ministry of Tourism, Government of India. Annual growth rate of tourists in and around Haryana has increased slightly for domestic tourists from 3.82% in year 2006-07 to 7.37% in 2008-09. While it is still lowest in comparison to surrounding states and has witnessed negative growth for foreign tourists. (As shown in above table) 13.4.2 Sub-Region and its Surrounding Analysis of present status reveals that maximum foreign and domestic tourists choose to visit Faridabad district, not only at Sub-Regional level but also at the state level. Also as evident in Table 13-3, the Sub- Region includes maximum tourist potential sites out of the State. In the Sub-Region the least foreign and domestic tourist conspicuous sites exist in Rohtak & Jhajjar districts respectively in 2011. Table 13-3: Number of Tourist Spots and Tourist Visited the Haryana Sub-Region Tourist Visitors (2007) Tourist Visitors (2011) Percentage Change District Total Total Total Indian Indian Indian Foreigner Foreigner Foreigner Panipat 2 Spots Tourist 5078 444,591 449,669 161 235,650 235,811 -96.83 -47.00 -47.56 Sonipat 1 596 123,299 123,895 1,674 327,596 329,270 180.87 165.69 165.77 Rohtak 2 14 162,661 162,675 7 114,129 114,136 -50.00 -29.84 -29.84 Jhajjar 1 2 97,153 97,155 444 55,935 56,379 22,100.00 -42.43 -41.97 Faridabad* 8 21,586 1,551,916 1,573,502 130,207 1,848,474 1,978,681 503.20 19.11 25.75 Gurgaon** 4 5,791 295,942 301,733 978 337,816 338,794 -83.11 14.15 12.28 Rewari 2 3,885 110,481 114,366 4155 127,927 132,082 6.95 15.79 15.49 *Faridabad includes Palwal ** Gurgaon includes Mewat Source: Statistical Abstract Haryana 2006-07 & 2011-12 Haryana has many heritage and tourist destination sites that are yet to be developed. Many of those destinations lie inside Haryana Sub-Region. Town and Country Planning Department, Haryana 267 Sub-Regional Plan for Haryana Sub-Region of NCR-2021 Chapter 13 Heritage and Tourism 13.4.3 Key features of Haryana Sub-Region: Sub-Region has heritage sites at Panipat and Surajkund, Vicinity of Delhi, U.P. and Rajasthan which have major tourist attractions in India Gurgaon, Mewat and Faridabad have strong connectivity to Indira Gandhi International airport Haryana has adventure tourism sites at Gurgaon and Jhajjar besides excellent resort facilities.