Revitalising the sacredscape of Omkareshwar

Abstract

In India, the land of sacredscapes and living heritage, the phenomenon of Pilgrimage-Tourism is emerging as the new ‘trend’. Tourism industry is already one of the major economic boosters of a developing nation, and when it is clubbed with the phenomenon of pilgrimage it puts forth tremendous number of opportunities and at least an equal number of challenges. Indian Sacredscapes being highly sensitive fabrics of development and existence, it becomes crucial to identify the appropriate strategies for their development as sites for pilgrimage-tourism. The thesis, hence, is aimed at understanding and analysing the reasons, succeeded by the methods of revitalising Indian Sacredscapes. The site chosen for this purpose is the sacred town of Omkareshwar in Madhya Pradesh. The identified issues in Omkareshwar revolve around visitor sensitisation and lack of adequate infrastructure. The design solution is translated into a welcome centre, an interpretation centre, and visitor accomodation.