International Journal for Basic Sciences and Social Sciences (IJBSS) ISSN: 2319-2968 Available Online at www.rfbss.org Vol.

1, Issue 2, August-2012 Page: 36-39

Tourism In Jorhat District: Problems and Prospects

Paresh Kalita Assistant professor, Department of History, Kamarbandha College, Golaghat, India E-mail:Pareshkalita85@yahoo.in

Abstract: Tourism, which is emerged as an eco-friendly industry in the modern world has become a global instrument of economic , cultural and social development. The country, which have plenty of natural beauty and resources like cultural heritage, archeological remains, historical ruins, bio-diversity, heritage site etc enough scope for the tourism promotions. there is little scope to develop industry may go for the tourism . In the noth-east India, Assam has immense potentials for tourism. Jorhat, the former capital of Ahom Kingdom and presently situated in the heart of the state Assam, is a hot spot for historical and cultural tourism. Jorhat has the world largest heritage river island of vaisnavite culture known as Majuli. This paper is an honest attempt to identify the places of tourist interest of the district with findings and conclusions for tourism development. Sufficient field survey is done for the same and an objective method of descriptions is applied. Key words: Eco-friendly, global instrument, tourism. Introduction Tourism is considered as the fastest growing eco-friendly industry of the world. In addition to economic significance , it has socio- cultural , educational and political significance as well . Along with the socio-economic developments it keeps the windows open for exchange of ideas , thoughts , beliefs , contemporary values , sharing of developmental progress and finally reinforcing ties among people globally. Assam also has a place of pride in this field. The beauty of cultural heritage and the richness of natures endowments make Assam a tourist paradise . It is in this beautiful land there lies the world heritage site Kaziranga National park, The home of the world famous one horned rhinoceros and the worlds largest inhabited river Island Majuli, the historical capitals and cities like Guwahati, Sivsagar, Jorhat and Jaipur which draws the due attention from the tourist across the world. Among the districts of Assam , Jorhat is situated in its heart , having lots of historical monuments and cultural mosaics, which are marketable for the tourism promotions. Objectives 1. 2. 3. To identify the tourist prospects in the Jorhat district. To find out the problems tourism development in the Jorhat district. To study on measures for the development of tourism in the study area.

Methodology This study is an analytical one. Survey on historical sites has been carried out to find out the prospects in the development of tourism . The primary data have been collected from the sample of different age bar, socio-economical status of the people, who live in the area of potential tourism. The data is also collected from the national and international tourist meet in the spot and their opinions are also cross checked. The secondary data have been collected from the sources like books, Magazines, journals, official documents available in the different district office of Jorhat district.

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International Journal for Basic Sciences and Social Sciences (IJBSS) ISSN: 2319-2968 Available Online at www.rfbss.org Vol.1, Issue 2, August-2012 Page: 36-39
Analysis and Interpretation The Jorhat district is situated at the heart of Assam covering the land area of 2851 square kilometers. It is about 308 km. from Guwahati . The Ahoms established their fifth as well as last capital in Jorhat in the year of 1790, in April by the Ahom king Sargadeo Gourinath Sinha. Being a historical city, Jorhat has bored numbers of historical monuments which are the major attractions for the tourist. The places of tourist Importance of Jorhat district are given below. Majuli, the biggest river Island of the world along with its heritage as cultural capital of Assam, also has enormous attractive spots of natural beauty . The tourist attractions of the greatest river island are the Satras and its vaisnavite art and culture . Among the numbers of Satras Garmur, Kamalabari , Auniati Bengenaati, Samaguri and Dakhinpat are largest and important one. Majuli was the meeting place of the two pioneer Vaishnavite saints of Assam , Sri Sri Sankardeva and Sri Sri Madhabdeva at Belguri in west Majuli in the 15th century . Apart from the religious activities the cultural activities of the satras are practice of satriya dance and music, these includes Bargeet, Satriya dance, Apsara dance, Doll dance, Jumora dance, chali dance, Notua dance, Nande vringee dance, Satriya Krishna dance and Dasavatar dance etc. The Rash Mahotsav, Bhaona and the traditional craft of musk making are also getting due attentions from the tourist. Thousand of migratory birds like ducks , geese and lots of other verities are getting due attentions from tourist. Pelicans, Siberian, cranes and adjutant storks are some of the rare migratory birds that are found in Majuli. The Gibbon sanctuary , which situated 19 k.m away from jorhat town is famous for Hollock gibbon. The Mouchapori of Nimati ghat and kakilamukh shanty Ashram are noteworthy places of tourist attraction. Dhekiakhowa Barnamghar is one of the famous holy places of Assam which was established by saint social reformer Shri Shri Madhavdev in 1528 A.D. From the time of Sankardev and Madhavdev, Dhekiakhowa Barnamghar has been serving as an important centre of Vaishnava religion in Assam. It has Madhabdeva Sangeet Maha-vidyalayas- music school, Rangamancha- ampetheater, a well furnished tourist guest house, library, market complex, cultural complex etc. Different Hindu religious festivals are observed here. A month long Pal nam is observed every year in the Assamese month of Bhada (August 15 to Sept. 15) . Buri Gosani Dewalay, Which is built by Ahom king Kamaleswar Singha in the .., serves as an important centre of Sakti worship is also a place of tourist attractions. Kaliapani Satra, one of the important branch of vaisnava religion is situated only 4 k.m. away from important business center of the district called Teok. At present, there are three idols of lord Krishna at the satra and these idols are of three hundred years old . The monocot is richly decorated with gold , silver and bronze flowers and articles . Various pictures and stories related with the life of lord Krishna are nicely depicted on the walls of the satra with traditional design and style. The well decorated gateway with two majestic elephants draws the attention of the people. The maidans are the noteworthy monuments of the Ahom kingdom which can be regarded as the pyramids of Assam. There are two maidams on the south bank of the river Tocklai. One is recognized as Swargadeo Purandar Singha built in 1847. The next remarkable Maidam of Lachit Borphukan the great Assamese hero of the Saraighat battle of 1671 is located at Holongapara Mouza near Narahiloidhari gaon, at a distance of 12 k.m. in the east of Jorhat town. During the Ahom rule many beautiful ponds were dug in Jorhat. They are Rajmow pukhuri, Hatigar pukhuri , kataki pukhuri , Mithapukhuri , Bongal pukhuri , Kuwari pukhuri, Choladhara pukhuri etc. The first tea garden in Assam was set up by the Britishers in the Jorhat district. This led to socio, economic and sports activities in the district. The oldest and biggest tea research centre in northeast India Tocklai was established in 1911 A.D. at the heart of the Jorhat town. The famous British tea planter D. Slimmon established Gymkhana club in 1878, the tea planter in the first of the 19th century introduced Horse Race, Gulf Cricket , Polo etc. Jorhat district is still famous for the games like Golf, cricket, polo Billiard etc.

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International Journal for Basic Sciences and Social Sciences (IJBSS) ISSN: 2319-2968 Available Online at www.rfbss.org Vol.1, Issue 2, August-2012 Page: 36-39
The famous Assamese tea planter Raibahadur Sivaprasad Bruahs Bhawan, Thengal Menor is another tourist attraction spot in Jorhat district , situated at jalukani, Titabar . This majestic palace with its imposing lawns well come the visitors for a glimpse of Assamese culture. Apart from these , the upcoming Sukapha kala khetra just by the NH-37 at Mohbandha, at a distance of 11 k.m. from the Jorhat town, Rajmaopukhuri , Tinikunia pukhuri, Health Resort Ayur Sanjeeva in Tilikiam, planty of beautiful Tea estates etc. are the tourist attractive spots in Jorhat district. Findings Jorhat district has wider prospects in tourism developments. The water highway of Assam, mighty Brahmaputra, flows through north-eastern border of the Jorhat town. There are wider scope on water transport, water sports etc for international tourist. Majuli-Nimatighat ferry services have sufficient prospects of tourism developments and should be maintained with maximum standard. Despite having immense potentialities of the tourism sector in Assam, especially in Jorhat is facing a lots of serious problems. The specific problems are as follows: (1) The tourism sector in Jorhat district is getting lack of attentions form the government and proper exposures in the domestic and international field. (2) The infrastructure of Jorhat district is too poor for the tourism development. Jorhat district have the limited and poor quality infrastructural facilities in terms of road , rail and air communication. The facilities like accommodations, food, shopping and entertainment are major impediments to the growth of tourism in Jorhat district . (3) Hotels are an important segment of tourism infra-structure. Unfortunately there is no any five star hotels in Jorhat which may provide up to date accommodation to the foreign tourists. (4) The government of Assam has not taken required steps to preserve the historical monuments of the district, the main attractive spot Majuli itself subjected to the fury of recurring floods of the mighty Brahmaputra. (5) There is lack of awareness regarding prospects of tourism among the people of Jorhat district . Even most of them are not aware of the value of tourism. Without cooperation from the masses the government could not execute the schemes of tourism development properly . Recommendation After analyzing the prospects and problems of Jorhat district on the basis of the primary data the following measures are recommended for the development of tourism in the Jorhat district. (1) More publicity about the prospects of tourism both in the national and international level about the Jorhat district should be given. (2) Local masses awareness program about the tourism developments and its positive impact should be lounged in the grassroots level. (3) Infrastructure and transport service of the Jorhat district should be improved. Tourist busses of international standard should be flying on the road. (4) Cleanliness and hygene of the Jorhat city should get proper attentions.

(5) The existing airport of Jorhat should be improved to the international level. There should be a provision of tourist information counter for airlines, trains, hotels, and tourist information centre at the airport and district head quarter with proper facilities. (6) It is necessary to set up five star hotels and few special category of heritage hotels.

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International Journal for Basic Sciences and Social Sciences (IJBSS) ISSN: 2319-2968 Available Online at www.rfbss.org Vol.1, Issue 2, August-2012 Page: 36-39
(7) The beautification and refurbishment of the historical monuments of Jorhat district should be given priority. Master plan should be prepared for the attraction of the tourist spots. Beautiful ponds like Rajmao and Tinikunia can be beautified with providing boating facilities to attract and tourist amusements. The river beach of the Brahmaputra should also be developed for the spread of tourism . (8) Tourism staff should be organized towards tourist welfare. Tourism information service should be made more efficient . (9) There must be peaceful law and order atmosphere in the district.

(10) Handloom and Handicrafts and dance and music festivals should be organized for the attractions of the international tourists in Jorhat district . Conclusion To conclude, there are lot of prospects for the development of tourism industry in Jorhat district which is expected to provide employment facilities along with the socio-economic growth of the state. It is clean from our findings that Jorhat has bright prospect of tourism on conditions that the tourism promotional schemes should be properly implemented.

REFERENCES

Bora, Shiela and Bora . M.C., The story of tourism , An Enchanting journey through Indias North East, UBSPD, New Delhi 2005. Bhattacharya Prasanta , Tourism in Assam Trend and potentials , 2004, Bani Mandir, Ghy -3. Bhatia. A.K. , Tourism Development Principles and Practice , (2003) Sterling publishers Pvt, Ltd. New Delhi Gogoi Jayanta, A Minor Research project on problem and reference to Sivsagar , Jorhat and Golaghat district. Mahanta Kumar P., Majuli , Grantha Sanskriti. Jorhat (2001) Neog. M. Pobitra , Assam , Lawyers book stall. Guwahati (1991) prospect of tourism Industry in Assam with special

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