Ashfaq, M: Pilgrimage Tourism in Jammu and Kashmir

Tourism being fastest growing economic activity in the world has the tendency to boost or uplift socio economic status of even economically backward areas. Needless to mention tourism over the period of time has evolved as a major industry ing the economic outlook of a nation. The Himalayan state of Jammu and Kashmir is home to variate tourist spots and pilgrimage centres of almost all the major faiths of the world. Subsequently this state has been enticing numberless pilgrims from every nook and corner of the world and consequently pilgrimage tourism has become the backbone of economy of this hilly region. The present book deals in detail the motivational factors and experiences of the pilgrims visiting holy shrines Mata Vashino Devi, Shahdara Sharief and Amarnath. Notwithstanding the fact that pilgrimage tourism has influenced the socio-cultural and economic domain of Jammu and Kashmir. The book is expected to emulate to the requirement of the students, academicians, research scholars, policy makers, Yatris/tourists and those who have chosen Pilgrimage as their field of study and research.