Punjab tourism banks on heritage

Tourism dept reports first profits in 25 years

Golden temple is on the Punjab government's priority list. Busy drawing plans to attract more tourists to the state, officials have decided to hardsell heritage tourism.

The state government has identified two tourist circuits. Circuit One will focus on heritage and religious monuments, while Circuit Two will draw the limelight on the freedom movement.

Under the Freedom Fighters Movement Circuit, the government plans to promote places that have witnessed significant moments of history during the fight against British rule.

According to Punjab Tourism Director Jagjit Puri, this endeavour will also help educate the new generations about the sacrifices of Punjab's freedom fighters.

As part of this drive, the Archeological Survey of India has undertaken major renovation work at some of the historical monuments of Punjab.

Some projects involve the private sector too. The restoration work at Aam-Khas Bagh at Fatehgarh Sahib has been entrusted to a public-private partnership and is in final stages.

The state government had sought a grant of Rs 20 crore for the conservation of old monuments, Puri said.

The Punjab State Tourism Development Corporation has for the first time in past 25 years reported a profit of Rs 50 lakh. This is attributed more to the disinvestment and the downsize of workforce. The disinvestment of eight properties is in the process.

The Haryana government,on the other hand, has planned to restore the Yadvendra Gardens in Pinjore (near Chandigarh) at an expenditure of Rs 5 crore. The restoration project would commence from February 2006 would complete in one year. A grant of Rs 4 crore has been provided by central government and the state government would fund the rest of the project. The 400 year old garden was built by Fidayi Khan (a cousin of Aurangzeb) is famous for its citadel, intricate carvings, waterfalls, paintings and architecture.

Haryana Tourism Director Vijai Vardhan told that the annual Crafts Fair at Surajkund is also an important platform to attract tourists for cultural and heritage tourism.

For the first time in this year 20 crafts persons from Saarc countries would participate in this event. The state government has drawn a grant of Rs 15 crore to be spent in four years for the restoration of heritage monuments.

The state government is working on the strategy to distribute the funds. The state also invested Rs 55 crore in Kurukshrta, the birth place of Bhagwat Gita in the past few years to promote religious tourism in the state.