Ecosystem of tourism in North Bihar
A number of publications and conventions keep assessing the relationship between tourism and biodiversity, and finds the way that tourism can contribute to the protection of biodiversity and enhance its role as a main resource for tourism destinations. In north Bihar, we are witnessing the gap between the expectations and satisfaction of tourists who visit the historical and religious places like Vaishali, Sitamarhi, East Champaran and other districts of north Bihar. Taking lessons from the past few years we can understand that in addition to the attributes of a destination, several other factors can affect the image of destination and satisfaction of the visitor.
Enabling support to the sustainability of tourism in Bihar, Government can make the arrangements to protect the biodiversity and tag the biodiversity rich location with the historical places of the state. They are critical for sustainability of tourism, influencing tourism development and revive sustainability of the tourism in the short or long term. State has the notified natural forest in 7.27 percent of the total geographical area spread in West champaran, kaimur, Rohtas, Aurangabad, Gaya, Jahanabad, Nawada, Nalanda, Munger, Banka and Jamui districts.The north Bihar except West champaran do not have any notified natural forest. The important tree species are Shisham, teak Gamhar, Kadam, Semal, Neem Pipal, Bargad, Arjun, Sal, Pakad, Asan and Mahua.
In addition to that the state is rich in wild animals, aquatic animals and bird species. Different natural wetlands like Kanwar lake, Baraila lake, Kusheshwarsthan lake, Nagi and Nakti dam has been declared as bird sanctuary. About 5.2 percent of total cultivable land of North Bihar is chaur, which can be developed for aquatic and bird species with a cooperative fisheries project.
Over exploitation and deforestation was the major threat to biodiversity in the State, it is stable and improving now but the potential is huge, the way habitants of this state manage land, migrated people to urban area are changing the pattern of land use and prefer plantation in their agriculture land, but the government authorities can contribute the progress by controlling the invasive species and introducing more suitable species. The water resources should be protected in the districts of north Bihar. Invasive species like Jalkumbhi needs to be controlled.
It is generally believed that the attractiveness of a destination is enhanced the more attributes the destination has. Attractiveness of a destination depends on the relationship between the availability of existing attractions and perceived importance of such attractions. The supplements attributes can be natural environment, rivers and aquatic life with existing religious, historical and cultural sites.
For an example, In Sitamarhi district of north Bihar. The district possessed core assets are religious temples like Punaura Dham and others, the historical, mythological and religious attributes and the additional attributes are natural environment. A dried river bed of river with spiritual, cultural and historical importance has been revamped in 18 kms stretch and the river has revived and now flows through two districts. The district administration under the leadership of District Magistrate have done the commendable work to get it possible and now they’ve started painting the religious places and the other buildings with mithila painting (a best known genre of Indian folk painting)
Another example is of Vaishali. The important destination of Buddhist circuit, the birth place of Lord Mahavira and the first democracy of the world. Though the core asset has cultural, religious, historical attributes but the primary element of the destination appeal is not at par. There was a Narsan chaur/lake and Baya river in its vicinity. Both of which are dying now.
Likewise in Madhubani district Uchchaith sthan temple at Benipatti, Balrajgarh and Rajnagar palace are the destinations with religious, cultural and historical attributes and in Darbhanga district Ahilya sthan, postal training centre and University campus are with archeological, historical, mythological and religious attributes. And the enduring legacy of Vidyapati in these two districts and Samastipur could be repainted in natural colors by surrounding them with life affirming natural elements
