4th International Conference on Responsible Tourism Muscat, 10-12 October 2010 10-

Responsible tourism: A case study of Sinhgad, a historical Sinhgad, tourist place, Dist. Pune, Maharashtra

BY

Dr. Nitin Ghorpade, Ghorpade,

Principal,

Prof. Savita Kulkarni, Kulkarni,

Lecturer, Dept. of Geography, Prof. Ramkrishna More Arts, commerce and Science College, Akurdi, Pune, Maharashtra (India)

What is Responsible Tourism ? New & recent concept Sustainable development through tourism Economic, social and environmentally sustainable development through tourism To minimizes negative economic, environmental and social impacts
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Responsible tourism: A case study of Sinhgad, a historical tourist place, Dist. Pune, Maharashtra Sinhgad,

What Is responsible tourism?

Greater economic benefits for local people Enhances the wellbeing of host communities Conservation of the natural and cultural heritage Maintenance of world diversity

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Responsible tourism: A case study of Sinhgad, a historical tourist place, Dist. Pune, Maharashtra Sinhgad,

Changing concept of Tourism

In older times concept of tour related to pilgrimage , it reflected simplicity, ecological purity , and self imposed discipline Today's concept of tourism - luxurious facility in the form of fine roads, comfortable transport system, good places to live and easy money to travel

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Responsible tourism: A case study of Sinhgad, a historical tourist place, Dist. Pune, Maharashtra Sinhgad,

Significance of the study

Comfortable and luxurious tourism started Affecting natural environment Environmental degradation caused with tourist infrastructure, pollution through population pressures Imbalancing the natural and cultural heritage Disturbing the lifestyle of local people There is need to preserve, conserve the natural and cultural heritage Such studies about sustainable development of tourism, responsible tourism are necessary The case study of Sinhgad exhibits a good example of sustainable development of tourist place
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Responsible tourism: A case study of Sinhgad, a historical tourist place, Dist. Pune, Maharashtra Sinhgad,

Aim of the study

To describe the concept of responsible
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tourism To highlight causes of environmental degradation To relate tourism activities with environmental degradation To suggest the control measures for degradation of natural resources To study the social, economic benefits for the local people
Responsible tourism: A case study of Sinhgad, a historical tourist place, Dist. Pune, Maharashtra Sinhgad,

The Study Area :

 Location - Extent 1821'39" N to 1821'22" N. 7345'5" E to 7345'40" E.  Local tourist place near Pune, Maharashtra, India.  It is a fort located 30 km southeast of Pune  Popular weekend destination for many residents of Pune  Attraction of trekkers, cilmbing to the top of the fort, from the base village
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Responsible tourism: A case study of Sinhgad, a historical tourist place, Dist. Pune, Maharashtra Sinhgad,

Google Image of Fort

Location : Extent- 1821'39" N to 1821'22" N. 7345'5" E to 7345'40" E

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Responsible tourism: A case study of Sinhgad, a historical tourist place, Dist. Pune, Maharashtra Sinhgad,

Location Map of Sinhgad at fort.

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Responsible tourism: A case study of Sinhgad, a historical tourist place, Dist. Pune, Maharashtra Sinhgad,

View Points on the fort

Kalyan Darwaja Pune Darwaja

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Responsible tourism: A case study of Sinhgad, a historical tourist place, Dist. Pune, Maharashtra Sinhgad,

View Points on the fort

Tomb of Tanaji Malusare Doordharshan Tower

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Responsible tourism: A case study of Sinhgad, a historical tourist place, Dist. Pune, Maharashtra Sinhgad,

View Points on the fort

Dev Take (Water Tank) Tilak Banglow

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Responsible tourism: A case study of Sinhgad, a historical tourist place, Dist. Pune, Maharashtra Sinhgad,

History of Sinhgad
 Sinhagad means 'Lion Fort  Long history :  Referred to as 'Kondhana' in a Persian poem named 'Shahanama-e-Hind', dating back to 1350 A.D.  Named 'Kondana' after the age Kaundinya  Built two thousand years back  Captured from the Koli tribal chieftain, Nag Naik, by Muhammad bin Tughlaq in 1328 A.D.
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Responsible tourism: A case study of Sinhgad, a historical tourist place, Dist. Pune, Maharashtra Sinhgad,

Famous battle of Sinhagad by Tanaji Malusare - March 1670. 1) A steep cliff leading to the fort was scaled with
the help of a Varanus (a lizard), colloquially known as a ghorpad 2) Battles between Tanaji and his men, and the fortkeeper Udaybhan Rathod and his army 3) Tanaji lost his life, but his brother Suryaji took over and captured Kondana fort
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Responsible tourism: A case study of Sinhgad, a historical tourist place, Dist. Pune, Maharashtra Sinhgad,

Physical Set Up of Sinhgad

Situated on a hill which rises 800 meters above the surrounding countryside. Perched on an isolated cliff of the Bhuleswar range of the Sahyadri Mountains, Height - 1350 m. msl The topography, soil, vegetation, drainage pattern, climate have played important role in shaping of the region Naturally protected by its very steep slopes, the walls and bastions were constructed at only key places
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Responsible tourism: A case study of Sinhgad, a historical tourist place, Dist. Pune, Maharashtra Sinhgad,

Methodology
Questionnaire method- Stall holders, Kulfi sellers, visitors and tourist Collection of the information from forest department. Assessment based on the frequency of visitors with family, friends and available facilities on the fort. Assessment of benefits to the local people
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Responsible tourism: A case study of Sinhgad, a historical tourist place, Dist. Pune, Maharashtra Sinhgad,

Local people on the fort as host 1) Come from the surrounding area and foothill

settlements 2) Poor and marginal farmers, depending heavily on traditional farming techniques 3) Tourism activities on the fort - source of income 4) Peak season on the fort holidays and weekends 5) Kulfi (ice candy) sellers, Small shops/stalls provide services for snacks like famous and tasty Pithale Bhakari, sweet curd, Kanda Bhaji
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Responsible tourism: A case study of Sinhgad, a historical tourist place, Dist. Pune, Maharashtra Sinhgad,

There are 25 to 30 small food stalls on the fort run by villager on the foot hill on the fort. Kulfi Sellers are 10 to 12 in numbers who prepares & carry Kulfies from their village. Economically it good returns to them. Stall holders get approx. Rs. 3000 Per day. Kulfi Seller also gets Rs. 1000 Per day.

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Responsible tourism: A case study of Sinhgad, a historical tourist place, Dist. Pune, Maharashtra Sinhgad,

Impact on fort
Last 10 years there is inflow of tourist on the fort because increase in transportation facilities and easy access 1) Several ecological and cultural consequences 2) Pressure on natural resources like water on the fort 3) Tourist disturb the flora and fauna, soil cover. Land is cleared to erect the Dhabas. , 4) Over-crowding, traffic problems, accidents and environmental pollution Cultural impact - liquor parties with non-veg. food nonon the fort
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Responsible tourism: A case study of Sinhgad, a historical tourist place, Dist. Pune, Maharashtra Sinhgad,

Tourists on the fort

On Sunday and holidays are the peak season for the place. There is pressure on natural resources like water on the fort. The only source of water on the fort is Dev Take (tank : natural source of water)
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Responsible tourism: A case study of Sinhgad, a historical tourist place, Dist. Pune, Maharashtra Sinhgad,

Pressure of tourist disturbs the flora and fauna, soil cover. Some land is cleared to erect the Dhabas. Dhabas.

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Responsible tourism: A case study of Sinhgad, a historical tourist place, Dist. Pune, Maharashtra Sinhgad,

Parking facility in not enough to accommodate sufficient number of vehicles on a holiday or in a peak season. It causes Over-crowding, traffic problems, accidents and environmental pollution in the area. Road to fort is very narrow and steep. Many times it results into accidents and traffic problem. On Sunday and holidays there is rush on the fort. It creates the parking problem, traffic jam. Accidents happen because of narrow and sloping roads
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Responsible tourism: A case study of Sinhgad, a historical tourist place, Dist. Pune, Maharashtra Sinhgad,

The stall holder do not follow any laws or code. These food stall create plastic garbage food wastes. Tourist leave behind the plastic carry bags, plastic covers of eatables, empty liquor bottles. Cultural impact : Big threat on the fort was the liquor parties with non-veg. food on the fort. It started to threaten the tourist attractions.

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Responsible tourism: A case study of Sinhgad, a historical tourist place, Dist. Pune, Maharashtra Sinhgad,

IMPACT ON TOURIST ACTIVITY

All these resulted into the decrease in the no. of tourists. To conserve the environment of the fort, and heritage it was necessary to take some active steps. Forest Dept. and NGO s took initiative and various steps were taken to attract tourist on the fort.

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Responsible tourism: A case study of Sinhgad, a historical tourist place, Dist. Pune, Maharashtra Sinhgad,

Steps taken to save the environmentRole of Forest dept and NGOs Erected a check post at the entry point. Started to collect the entry fee from vehicle owners Started to check if the visitors are drunken or carrying liquor with them.

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Responsible tourism: A case study of Sinhgad, a historical tourist place, Dist. Pune, Maharashtra Sinhgad,

N G O : Ex student association of N.M.V. School Pune and Pune Municipal Corporation started a awareness program to reduce garbage on the fort. Money is collected from the visitors who are leaving some sort of garbage. Stall holders are strictly warned to keep the area clean. The funds collected are used for the maintenance of the fort and the roads.
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Responsible tourism: A case study of Sinhgad, a historical tourist place, Dist. Pune, Maharashtra Sinhgad,

Awareness towards environment :

The actions taken by Forest Dept are geting fruitful results and again the inflow of tourist has increased. Visitors are also aware about the solid and liquid waste left by them. Now the fort is ecologically healthy and culturally safe for the tourist. It is one of the best example of checking environmental degradation and strike harmony between tourist and ecology. These steps will help in the development of the fort by making avail the facilities to the tourist as well as it will also help to keep the environment clean.
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Responsible tourism: A case study of Sinhgad, a historical tourist place, Dist. Pune, Maharashtra Sinhgad,

Suggestions:
1) Hospitality management training should be given to the local people so that they will be able to provide good services to the visitors. 2) Management Training as tourist guide to the local people will start income source for the local people. 3) All necessary facilities to develop the tourist centre i.e. roads, drinking water, toilets should be provided.

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Responsible tourism: A case study of Sinhgad, a historical tourist place, Dist. Pune, Maharashtra Sinhgad,

Suggestions:
4) Visitors and local people should be made aware about culture and heritage. 5) NGOs help should be taken to develop the place as a tourist centre. 6) Directional, informative, instructional boards may be provided. 7) Internal infrastructure should be developed 8) Natural sites at the fort should be protected. Zoos or national park may be created.
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Responsible tourism: A case study of Sinhgad, a historical tourist place, Dist. Pune, Maharashtra Sinhgad,

Suggestions: ..
9) Establishment of restaurants and facilities for the tourist. 10) Highest priority should be given to improve the economic and social standard of the villagers. 11) Infrastructure should be developed to attract foreign tourists residential

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Responsible tourism: A case study of Sinhgad, a historical tourist place, Dist. Pune, Maharashtra Sinhgad,

Thank You

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Responsible tourism: A case study of Sinhgad, a historical tourist place, Dist. Pune, Maharashtra Sinhgad,