Tourism Development: Lesser Known Destinations in Madhya Pradesh

 Madhya Pradesh Profile

Being the second largest State of India, Madhya Pradesh or MP is covered to large extant by forests with good crown cover and destinations that are ideal for ecotourism. The state is culturally rich with iconic monuments created by erstwhile ruling dynasties. The indigenous tribal culture dominates the hinterlands and is equally robust and colorful with impactful cultural ethos and some spectacular architecture and artisanal industry.

Kundawara Forest

MP is well known as a tiger state thanks to a large number of protected areas notified as National Parks, Tiger Reserves and WLS. With scenic locales and impressive wildlife comprising of mega fauna and flora,  birds, reptiles and butterflies, the State promises tremendous ecotourism potential. It is not only the major tiger reserves that attract tourists but hill resorts and places with rich architecture and lifestyle do as well. The State is rich in geographical features with diverse terrain in which major rivers like Narmada, Son, Chambal as vital life support systems enriching societies and culture as they flow towards their final immersion.      

MP is diverse, politically stable, safe, and has sound infrastructure in terms of roads and highways. Tourism is being conducted since decades and has brought International fame with overseas tourists throbbing year on year in ever growing numbers. However the tourism potential is much more than is evident, with greater reach and development in lesser known destinations it will lead to an economic bounty in terms of revenue, increase in employment with emphasis on empowering local communities and thus culminating in better conservation and preservation of our heritage wealth.

Rani Durgavati Wildlife Sanctuary 

Lesser Known Destinations in Central India & Development

Just as the title portrays unknown, undiscovered destinations with tourism potential abound in the State. With focus on few major destinations the potential is not being properly utilized. In order to develop and attract tourism an innovative, broadminded and committed approach is a prerequisite.    

Developing tourism in lesser known destination calls for greater vision and effort aided by planning and strategic actions in a calibrated manner keeping potential, size and remote distances in mind. 

Some Points to be Noted Are:

       A) Study & Highlighting  

 

1)      Highlighting Potential Destinations

2)      Making A Feasibility Study

3)      Listing in Preferential Order

4)      Core Focusing of Key Features

5)      Initiating Development & Funding 

B) Preferred Destinations – Action

6)      Development of Road Infrastructure

7)      Re-engineering Assets Present For Utilization

8)      Enhancing Destination Potential

a)      Conservation Initiatives

b)      Institutional Empowerment

c)      Training of Local Work Force

 

9)      Bolstering Safety Measures

10)  Establishing Additional Recreation Venues

a)      Ecotourism/ Heritage Museums and Interpretation Centers

b)      Canteens

c)      Encouraging Heritage Shopping

d)     Encouraging Tribal/Local Performers

e)      Encouraging Local Artisans

f)       Inclusion of Nearby Interesting Spots   

11)  Establishing Hospitality Infrastructure     

a)      Encouraging Hotels & Resorts

b)      Encouraging Home Stays

c)      Facilitating Small Restaurants/Dhabas

d)     Encouraging Travel Service Providers

e)      Enhancing  Financial Facilities

f)       Creation of Viable Land Banks

g)      Single Window Clearance

h)      Adequate Security Measures

 

12)  Propaganda on Global/National Scale

 

Tourism Development A Holistic & Non Conventional Approach

Encouraging Private Participation

India as a country has instituted tighter administrative controls over all its heritage wealth and to some extent potential destinations. Though stringent rules and regulations are a must in case of sensitive places like the conservation units, the same approach is followed in case of imperishable heritage wealth and ecotourism centers sans indicator species.

The tighter institutional control has to be done away with in places with imperishable heritage wealth and ecotourism centers in non protected areas. And this calls for private participation in order to increase innovative approach, funding and supervision.

Cave Paintings 

 

Benefits of Participatory Enterprise Model

Inviting Private Enterprises & Business Houses

 

A participatory enterprise economic model (PEEM) will result in better infrastructure development, innovative/diverse tourism practices, investment in and development of public properties facing neglect for better utilization and preservation.

Initiation of private participation will lead to greater exploration and enhancement all venues of recreation and experiences for visitors leading a holistic approach to nature/cultural tourism.

PEEM will lead to availability of greater funds and managerial capabilities due to induction of experience and skills through diverse staffing.

Inherent Benefits 

In case of MP distant spread of niche tourism will lead to reduction in crowd pressure on popular tiger reserves and hill resorts. Greater exploration efforts will lead to discovery of unknown heritage wealth for better preservation and conservation initiatives.

The benefits will roll down to local communities as well which is essential for a poverty ridden country and states.  Revenue generation is vital for the State Economy. And a proactive broadminded approach towards tourism will lead to crucial revenue generation.    

Amarkantak

Some of the Potential Destinations Under Scope

 

1)      Amarkantak  Biosphere Reserve

 

Origin of Narmada & Son

Spiritual Importance

Includes Achankamar Tiger Reserve

Amarkantak Hill Resorts 

 

Potentia:l Wildlife Tourism & Walking Holidays

 

2) Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuary 

   

Tiger Translocation

Slated for Cheetah Translocation

Easy Access From Jabalpur Airport/ Sagar Town

 

Potential: Wildlife Tourism

 

3) Rehta Pani Tiger Reserve

 

Bhimbetika Cave Paintings

Easy Access Bhopal (Capital)

Potential: Wildlife Tourism    

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Uday is a blogger and offers Seo + Content For Digital Marketing Services. 

He teaches digital marketing (SEO) in Jabalpur.

He freelances as a naturalist/birder at Kanha National Park

He can be contacted at: 

pateluday90@hotmail.com

09755089323

Author

Raipur Amazing Rise

Many years back I was on my first trip to the City of Raipur in the then-erstwhile State of Madhya Pradesh in Central India. An important part of extensive land of the state of MP, Raipur nevertheless was neglected. Though culturally and economically rich telescopic management was taking its toll. 

Too big to manage with rising insurgency, the extra dimension of the state was eventually bifurcated and a new State of Chhattisgarh was born. New State, New Government catapulted Raipur into a state of unprecedented development in India.          

Amarkantak - Neeraj Vegad

Development surge has not taken place solely because new capital was being established. Raipur and its surroundings are endowed with many productive features which came into the picture as the city emerged from submergence and started to scale the growth map of India.    

There is one distinct characteristic of the State of Chhattisgarh and that is its charismatic beauty, Endowed with large tracts of forests, natural phenomena, and unique topography - a virtual greenery pervades all over.    

Dominated by tribal communities, the state is experiencing an economic resurgence thanks to abundant natural resources in form of minerals and ores. Raipur now the Capital City is experiencing the fastest growth followed by neighboring Bilaspur. 

Development and economic growth has spurned the tourism industry as well. Wildlife tourism and sightseeing have emerged as segment leaders. Chhattisgarh comprises of Sal & mixed forests some of which have been brought under state protection and declared as National Park and wildlife sanctuaries.  

Hotel Celebration Raipur

Albeit at a nascent stage, tourism is growing by leaps and bounds. Some of the destinations that could boost tourism are Guru Ghasidas NP, Sanjay Dubri TR, Kanger Valley NP, Indrawati TR, Achanakmar TR and Amarkantak Hill Resort              

Tiger

The State abounds in places of tourist interest, apart from natural places, it is rich in cultural inheritance from ancient times. Chhatisgarh is one of the least explored places in India. 

From the earlier impression of a sleepy town lost in the remote confines of a large state, Raipur City was a big surprise whence I last visited it.  The dimensions of the capital city were burgeoning with the fast development, businesses, offices, high-end hotels, restaurants, eateries, and malls, all indicating towards a rising business hub. In time to come, Chhattisgarh will outpace many other states of India.