KASHMIR, INDIA, March 23, 2003: Pilgrims planning to visit the famous Amarnath Shrine in South Kashmir this year will now have another option for travel. A helicopter service, sponsored by the Jammu and Kashmir government, and approved by the Amarnath Shrine Board, was adopted in order to attract more pilgrims but also to attract tourists. This year the month-long pilgrimage will start on July 12th and end on August 12th. Governor G.C. Saxena, head of the Amarnath board says, “The pilgrimage has the potential to contribute US$1,489,361 to $1,702,127 to the state’s economy annually. Forty percent of the Amarnath pilgrim traffic gets dispersed to various tourist places in the valley, and this trend needs to be promoted further.” HPI adds: One wonders the impact of this plan upon the holy pilgrimage now accomplished only after arduous trekking up to the cave. Especially the proposal to bring “tourists” seems questionable, as this is one of the great sacred places of Hinduism and not a mere tourist attraction.
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