RELIGIOUS TOURISM IN PROTECTED AREAS AND ECO SENSTIVE ZONES (ESZ) AND THE MANAGEMENT OF PILGRIMAGE PRESSURE

Religious sites in India often coincide with ecological areas due to our reverence for nature. Many of the country’s most significant pilgrimages are located within or nearby forests, mountains, rivers, and wildlife habitats which are ecologically very sensitive. Shrines such as Kedarnath in Uttarakhand and Sabarimala Temple in Kerala, are examples of pilgrimages located within natural ecological environment. These religious sites receive millions of pilgrims every year, creating a huge but seasonal pressure of people on the ecosystem, which is otherwise classified for conservation and ecological protection. The ecological results of large scale pilgrimage in such areas are complex and profound. Large number of pilgrim footfall generates huge amounts of solid waste, including plastic, food waste, and non-biodegradable offerings. This issue becomes more serious in mountainous areas and core areas in forests, as the infrastructure for waste disposal is generally inadequate, resulting in the piling up of waste in rivers, forests, and mountainous areas. In addition, the development of infrastructure for pilgrim centers like roads, hotels, sanitation facilities, and transport networks can cause deforestation, soil erosion, and fragmentation of habitat. The entry and movement of large numbers of people and vehicles in wildlife habitats can also disturb the migration patterns of animals and threaten the objectives of biodiversity conservation.