Images above and below: Views of The Khalsa Heritage Complex in Anandpur, at night.
Travel
A Glimpse Into India's Strategy on Punjab & Sikh Tourism
INDIAN EXPRESS
Hundreds of thousands of tourists from various parts of the country and abroad are expected to participate in the Hola Mohalla festival at Anandpur Sahib from March 7 to 9 this year.
So much so, that the district administration of Ropar is fearful that the Khalsa Heritage Complex would not be able to manage the crowds.
Their solution to the problem?
More staff? Better security? Increased resources? Longer hours? Better parking?
Na-a-a-h!
The top brass in the district came up with the brilliant idea that the heritage museum should be shut down during these days in order to avoid "too many tourists".
Fortunately, the proposal was struck down at the eleventh hour by the higher-ups who said major tourist attractions are not temporarily closed fearing the visitors. Duh-h-h!
Imagine the disappointment of the tourists had the administration managed to have its way!
[Edited for sikhchic.com]
March 6, 2012
Conversation about this article
1: Baldev Singh (Bradford, United Kingdom), March 06, 2012, 1:53 PM.
For those of us lucky enough to visit Amritsar and Anandpur Sahib on significant days of the year, the chaos of the numbers and the complete disorder is an embarrassing farce! And amidst the real danger of being crushed to death is the only ironic 'consolation' that several million devotees/tourists have actually stayed away to make the present state of affairs seem like a picnic! All that is needed is a radius of empty space around each venue to ensure safety and full participation! But will selfish politicians or the jealous Central Government do anything? NO!
2: Jaspal Singh (England), March 06, 2012, 2:34 PM.
I have had the opportunity to visit the Khalsa Heritage Complex the last time I visited Punjab. The memorial is no doubt a state-of-of-the-art and brilliant piece of work, but the number of people who can visit at one particular time is limited. If large numbers are allowed at a time, they won't be able to experience it fully. It'll have to be rushed, which takes away from the experience. What the management can do to facilitate things and manage the rush is sell tickets in advance, using the internet, the phone as well as retail outlets in the city.
3: Baldev Singh (Bradford, United Kingdom), March 06, 2012, 11:04 PM.
Selling tickets for any event in India is always a disaster! Just a while ago I rushed from Delhi to Mohali Cricket Ground to see a test match, expecting to buy tickets at the 'Gate', but was sent to a 'specially designated bank' which the taxi driver could not locate! So we stopped and asked every few hundred yards until we finally found it because of a crowd of anxious people outside the actual bank, asking the price and conditions of purchasing the tickets! Needless to say, the stadium was almost empty!