Abstract
The work purports to present how the Shri Kashi Vishwanath Temple Corridor (SKVTC) Project has propositioned its roadmap of 'Extension and Beautification' of a densely-populated pilgrim hotspot (Kashi Vishwanath Mandir Visistikaran- Saundrikaran Yojana). The scope of this study includes the rediscovered historical temples of the region that were saved from encroachment as a result of this Corridor. The present study fills the gap of a systematic study of the Corridor in terms of relevance in pilgrimage tourism, particularly in the context of the rediscovered historical temples, focusing on heritage sustainability to support the revival of Varanasi's tangible and intangible heritage. The findings of the study, which discussed the rapidly changing landscape of the most important site of the city, the Kashi Vishwanath temple, enabled local communities, tourism stakeholders, and academicians worldwide to encapsulate the diverse complexities of the SKVTC Project and its impact on pilgrimage activities and tourism.
TopIntroduction
Pilgrimage presented ‘tourism mobility’ in societies centuries before the modern-day concept of tourism (Noga, 2020). These pilgrimages were part of sacred travels performed by ardent religious followers (Pawar, 2019). The city of Varanasi, a popular ‘sacred pilgrimage’ center, is currently seeing the sharpest rise in pilgrimage tourism since the inception of the Shri Kashi Vishwanath Temple Corridor (SKVTC) in 2019. It also becomes crucial to mark the distinction that ‘pilgrimage tourism’ also includes tourism done with a strong inclination for experiencing religious or religion-related activities (Morinis, 1992). The 2017 International Congress on Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage, organized jointly by the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), reflected on the role that pilgrimage tourism plays in the socio-economic and sustainable development of the pilgrimage site. The nature of interaction that pilgrims have during their tour of any city is comprehensive and detail-oriented as there is a need for distinction for specific sites that evoke the sacred (Griffin and Raj, 2017). A key method of achieving this has been through preserving the spirit of the destination, which is further accomplished through tangible and intangible means of displaying heritage. The SKVTC Project has thus far been successful in harnessing these integral factors while being accessible to the majority of the pilgrim population. Therefore, it is imperative to discuss the operational factors that have nurtured the pilgrimage attractiveness of the Shri Kashi Vishwanath Temple at Varanasi.
The present paper focuses on the direct relationship between trans-regional pilgrim mobility on the stakeholders of Varanasi’s cultural inheritance. Cultural inheritance in the contemporary urban landscape of Varanasi entails determining maximum efficiency in visitor experience that enables them to perceive heritage as a proponent of collective identity and a source of understanding the present (UNESCO, n.d.). The ambitious SKVTC Project, started off on March 08, 2019, by the Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi, completed its Phase I on December 13, 2021. This Project gains considerable momentum as a driving force for emboldening aspects of heritage preservation, its connection with the geographical landscape of the city, the related historical mythologies, and the impact of a sustainable approach to religious infrastructure development in a generally perceived ‘sacred’ city like Varanasi (Divya, 2021).
This study purports to present how the SKVTC Project has propositioned its roadmap of ‘Extension and Beautification’ of a densely-populated cultural hotspot (Kashi Vishwanath Mandir Visistikaran- Saundrikaran Yojana). The scope of this study includes the rediscovered historical temples of the region that were saved from encroachment as a result of this Corridor. These rediscovered temples are placed in the milieu of Varanasi’s growing religious heritage. Shri Kashi Vishwanath Special Area Development Board (SKVSADB) has been conserving the rediscovered historical temples, which represent the artistic and cultural legacy of the city in the last three hundred years.
The Corridor’s planning has been corroborated with a Detailed Project Report and current status of the Project’s Phase. A systematic understanding of new developments at the site, along with its efficiency and impact is required, and the paper attempts at filling this research gap. The heritage conservation process of the Corridor has been evaluated in the context of transforming congested lanes, modern amenities-based architecture, and overall tourism infrastructure (Wan et al., 2018). The strengthening of tourism infrastructure can yield rapid improvement in the quality of pilgrimage tourism to the city as well (Bausch, 2020). Pilgrimage sustained through optimum heritage experience is one of the many effective ways of reaching the sustainable goal of transforming and transferring cultural legacy from one generation to the future (UNESCO, n.d.).
Key Terms in this Chapter
Cultural Heritage: The set of core values (tangible and intangible) inherited by a community represented through tangible and intangible means.
Heritage Planning: The practice towards preserving, restoring, and managing heritage resources for sustainable purposes.
Pilgrimage Tourism: Pilgrimage and recreation performed in the milieu of consuming religious cultural heritage (tangible and intangible) outside one’s place of residence.
Rediscovered Temples: These temples from within the Corridor area were hidden from plain sight due to encroachment; although there was active worship in some of these temples, their significance had been largely diminished due to absence from pilgrimage routes.
Heritage Corridor: A designated area enriched with historical/cultural heritage aspects that has been earmarked for the purposes of sustainability.
Pilgrimage Attractiveness: A place of interest that pilgrims visit, particularly for its exhibited sacred/religious value.