Journal of Indian Geomorphology Volume 3, 2015 ISSN 2320-0731 Indian Institute of Geomorphologists (IGI) Fourth Prof S.R. Basu Memorial Lecture, 2015, delivered at the 27th National Conference of the Indian Institute of Geomorphologists (IGI) organised by the Vidyasagar University at Digha, during 14–17 November 2014 Vishwas S. Kale Department of Geography, S P Pune University, Pune-411007 E-mail: [email protected] Abstract: India is a country with rich geo-wealth and geoheritage. Geo-wealth refers to all the abiotic elements (geological, geomorphological, hydrological, and pedological) of the landscape. Geological and geomorphological features occurring in different parts of the country are part of the natural assets and are precious national heritage (geoheritage), worthy of conservation. Apart from rock monuments and fossil parks, geomorphological wonders or geomorphosites have great potential to attract tourists. Such sites are also significant from the point of view of geoscience education and research. Geotourism with a focus on landscape and geology is growing rapidly all over the world and India is no exception to this. To promote geotourism in India, comprehensive information (geoinfographics) about geomorphosites should be made available to the tourists by way of websites. For this, first a peer-reviewed national inventory of geomorphosites and their classification, mapping and assessment is required. In this paper, a simple 10-digit geocoding system for four dozen potential geomorphosites in India is suggested. This coding could be used to establish a classification and the priority of geomorphosites. It is obvious that serious efforts are needed to protect the national geomorphological wonders for posterity. Introduction fold belts and rifts, and characterised by some India is a country with outstanding, of the oldest land surfaces in the world, (c) the remarkable and rich geo-wealth. India has Himalaya Mountains, the highest, youngest about 2.1% of the Earth’s land surface area and tectonically most active mountain belt in and about 8% of the world’s biodiversity. The a collisional setting, (d) the vast alluvial country is rich with unparalleled geo-wealth landscape of the Indus-Ganga-Brahmaputra and geodiversity due to – (a) large variety of Rivers occupying a large geological and rocks representing almost the entire spectrum sedimentary depression, (e) the Western Ghat of the geological timescale (>3.0 Gyr to (Sahyadri), the great escarpment of India Holocene), (b) the Indian Shield, a repository associated with the western passive margin, of economically valuable minerals, made up (f) the Deccan Traps, a large igneous of a number of Precambrian cratonic blocks, province, (g) nearly 7,500 km long coastline, 10 JOURNAL OF INDIAN GEOMORPHOLOGY: VOLUME 3, 2015 Geo-wealth Geoheritage Geological Geomorphological Heritage Heritage Rocks, Minerals, Fossils, Faults,etc. Landforms, Landscapes, Hydrology, Soils Geosites Geoparks Geomorphosites Geomorphoparks Figure 1. Classification of geo-wealth (geoheritage) (h) the monsoon climate, (i) variety of value due to human perception or geomorphic processes (e.g. hillslope, fluvial, exploitation” (Panizza, 2001). Greater is the coastal, aeolian, glacial, etc.), and (j) presence number of physical elements in an area, the of all the major ecosystems of the world. greater is the geomorphic diversity or Geo-wealth is a descriptive term that refers geomorphodiversity (Panizza, 2009; Pellitero, to all the abiotic elements (geological, et al., 2011) geomorphological, hydrological, and pedological) of the landscape. As this geo- India’s World Heritage Sites and National wealth has been transmitted or inherited from Geological Monuments the past, it is described as geoheritage (Brocx Geotourism is defined as “a form of nature and Semeniuk, 2007). Geoheritage may be tourism that specifically focuses on landscape further classified as geological heritage and and geology” (Dowling, 2011). The subject of geomorphological heritage (Fig. 1). The geotourism is growing rapidly all over the former deals with the geological features world, and India is no exception to this. While (rocks, minerals, fossils, folds, faults, etc.), historical monuments, archaeological sites and the latter refers to the geomorphological and ancient temples are major drivers of features and elements (landforms, landscapes, tourism in India, attracting millions of tourists drainage network and soils). every year, the number of tourists visiting Geomorphological heritage includes sites or a national parks (Nanda Devi, Kaziranga, collection of sites, called geomorphological Sundarbans, Manas, Kanha, etc.), biosphere sites or geomorphosites, which are reserves (Nilgiri, Mannar, Similipal, Nokrek, geomorphological landforms or landscapes Pachmarhi, Kanchanjanga, Dehang Debang, “that have acquired a great scientific, cultural/ Dibru-Saikhowa, etc.), Ramsar sites (Wular, historical, aesthetic and/or social/economic Lokta, Chilka, Sambhar, Vembanad), as well 11 Table 1. UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites in India world's cultural and natural heritage are Sr. No. Natural Properties inscribed on the UNESCO’s World Heritage 1 Kaziranga National Park List. As of November 2014, India has 32 World Heritage Properties (Table 1). Of these, 2 Manas Wildlife Sanctuary seven are listed solely for their outstanding 3 Keoladeo National Park natural value and the remaining 25 are cultural 4 Sundarbans National Park properties (Fig. 2). In addition, a large number 5 Nanda Devi & Valley of Flowers of cultural and natural properties from 6 Western Ghat different parts of India have been submitted 7 Great Himalayan National Park between 1998 and 2014 to the World Heritage Sr. No. Cultural Properties Committee for recognition. These 46 1 Agra Fort properties on the tentative (or waiting) list 2 Ajanta Caves include – the river island of Majuli in 3 Ellora Caves midstream of Brahmaputra River in Assam, 4 Taj Mahal the Chilka Lake in Odisha, Desert National 5 Group of Monuments Mahabalipuram Park in Rajasthan, Kangchendzonga National 6 Konark - Sun Temple Park in Sikkim, and Narcondam Island in 7 Churches and Convents of Goa Andaman. 8 Fatehpur Sikri The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) 9 Group of Monuments at Hampi has listed 3,683 ancient monuments and 10 Khajuraho Group of Monuments archaeological sites and remains as sites of 11 Elephanta Caves national importance. Three-fourth of the ASI’s 12 Great Living Chola Temples national heritage sites are located in eight 13 Group of Monuments at Pattadakal states of India, namely, Uttar Pradesh (742), 14 Buddhist Monuments at Sanchi Karnataka (506), Tamil Nadu (413), Madhya 15 Humayun's Tomb Pradesh (292), Maharashtra (285), Gujarat 16 Qutub Minar and its Monuments, Delhi (202), Delhi (174), and Rajasthan (163). 17 Mountain Railways of India To provide a unique spectrum of the 18 Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park national geoheritage and geodiversity, the Geological Survey of India (GSI) has declared 19 Mahabodhi Temple Complex at Bodh Gaya some of the most fascinating and scientifically 20 Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka significant geological features as National 21 Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus Geological Monuments (Table 2). These rock 22 Red Fort Complex, Delhi monuments, geological marvels and fossil 23 The Jantar Mantar, Jaipur parks (Fig. 2) provide an insight into the past 24 Hill Forts of Rajasthan environments and formations as well as the 25 Rani-ki-Vav (The Queen’s Stepwell) palaeo-flora and fauna of the subcontinent (Anantharamu et al. 2001), and are important as geoheritage sites (Ladakh, Lonar Crater, from the standpoint of tourism/recreation, Jog Falls, Varkala Beach, Mawsmai Cave, public education, and sustainable economic Borra Cave, Mt. Abu, Araku Valley, Nilgiri, development. Of the 26 National Geological Mahabaleshwar, etc.) is steadily increasing. Monuments in India, seven fossil sites have Places that provide best examples of the been declared as Geological Parks (Fig. 2). 12 JOURNAL OF INDIAN GEOMORPHOLOGY: VOLUME 3, 2015 Majority of the GSI’s monuments are are in fact distinctive or outstanding concentrated in Rajasthan (10) and three landforms, such as waterfalls, pothole- southern states, viz. Karnataka (4), Andhra studded channels, gorges, canyons, beaches, (3), and Tamil Nadu (3). natural arches, mesas, plateaux, escarpments, badlands, alluvial fans and cones, terraces, Geomorphological heritage sites in India inselbergs/bornhardts, sand dunes, karst caves In addition to the geological monuments with stalactites and stalagmites, etc. and fossil parks, general public is also Scientifically and educationally significant attracted to natural or “geomorphological geomorphological heritage sites include those wonders”. These geomorphological wonders with text-book features and landscapes. A few 13 Figure 3. Geomorphosites in India (After Kale, 2014b). Numbers correspond with IUCN geo-theme numbers given in Table 4 attempts have already been made to identify and several sub-provinces of India display a and list some of the potential geomorphosites large variety and complexity of landforms and / geomorphoheritage sites in India processes. The three main geomorphic (Ranganathan and Jayaram 2006; Raina and provinces of India are (Kale, 2014c) – the Srivastava 2008; Kale, 2009; Reddy 2013; Indian Peninsula (the Indian Shield), the Vaidyanadhan and Subbarao, 2014; Kale, Himalaya Mountains (the Orogenic Belt), and 2014a). Potential geomorphosites listed by the Indus-Ganga-Brahmaputra