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 and Swadesh 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 goes beyond 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

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#1: Ajmer

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• 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

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• 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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Published with inputs from Amar