Historical Tourism open course PDF

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HISTORICAL TOURISM open course - 5th semester...

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HISTORICAL TOURISM HIS5 D01

(Open Course) (For candidates with core course other than B.A. HISTORY) V SEMESTER

UNIVERSITY OF CALICUT School of Distance Education, Calicut University P.O., Malappuram - 673 635, Kerala.

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University of Calicut School of Distance Education (Open Course) (For candidates with core course other than B.A. English) (SEMESTER-V) 2019 Admission Onwards HIS5D01 HISTORICAL TOURISM Prepared by VIVEK. A. B Assistant Professor School of Distance Education University of Calicut. Scrutinized by: Dr. Sivadhasan P, Professor, Dept. of History, University of Calicut. DISCLAIMER “The author shall be solely responsible for the content and views expressed in this book”

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CONTENTS

MODULE I ......................... 5 MODULE II ....................... 71 MODULE III....................... 121

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MODULE I HISTORICISING TRAVEL IN INDIA

1.1. WHAT IS TOURISM? The word tour is derived from the Latin word torane/tornus and the Greek word tornos, meaning, one‚s turn. When we add the suffixes -ism and -ist to the word tour, it may return the meaning of moving around a circle. It is then logical to argue that a person starts from one point and reaches the same point after traveling in a circle. Therefore, like a circle, a tour represents journey in a round trip, i.e. the act of leaving and then returning to the original starting point and therefore, one who takes such a journey can be called a Tourist. “Travel makes one modest. You see what a tiny place you occupy in the world.” ― Gustave Flaubert The definition of tourism has undergone many a change during the last couple of centuries. In 1937, The League of Nations recommended that tourism covers the social activity of those who travel for a period of 24 hours or more in a country other than the one a person usually lives in. However, the limitation of this definition was that it excluded domestic and emphasised only on international tourism. The Rome Conference on Tourism, in 1963, adopted the recommendation to replace the term "tourist" with the term "visitor" and defined tourism as a visit "to a country other than one‚s own or where one usually resides and works", for the following reasons: Historical Tourism

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a) Tourism - the activity of temporary visitors staying at least 24 hours for leisure: business, family, mission or meeting. b) Excursion - the activity of a temporary visitor staying less than 24 hours but excluding people in transit. This definition also excluded the domestic tourist, although it did recognise the day visitor. The Tourism Society of Britain, in 1976, proposed to clarify the concept of tourism by saying that "Tourism is the temporary, short-term movement of people to destinations outside the places where they normally live and work and their activities during their stay at these destinations, including day visits and excursions." The International Association of Scientific Experts in Tourism (AIEST), founded in 1951, is an organisation dedicated to improving the world‚s travel and tourism industry through analysis of trends and latest developments in tourism and farsighted solutions for problems as they arise. In 1981, AIEST refined the concept of tourism and held that "Tourism may be defined in terms of particular activities selected by choice and undertaken outside the home environment. Tourism may or may not involve overnight stays away from home". These definitions indicate that tourism has expanded in its range and scope. The concept of tourism has broadened to include all forms of the phenomenon of leisure activity. It is important to note that the orientation of global tourism is concentrated in Western societies where 60% of international tourist arrivals are received and from where 70% of the tourists originate. Because the control of tourism is centered in the West, the concepts associated with tourism are 'necessarily influenced Historical Tourism

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by the social practices of these societies rather than the travel heritage of the non-western cultures and developing societies. The movement of tourists from the place of origin to the destination is further described as: 1. International tourism: when the travel is from one country to another, and 2. Domestic Tourism: when the travel is within the country, i.e., trips taken by a tourist within his or her own country or where the origin and destination are in the same way. In International Tourism you will come across two other terms: a) Inbound: This refers to tourists entering a country. b) Outbound: This refers to tourists leaving their country of origin. 1.2. ELEMENTS OF TOURISM Elements of tourism mean the basic fundamentals needed for the tourism activity to function. No tourism activity is possible without them. The concept of tourism as a phenomenon involves the movement of people within their own country or across the national borders for a certain period of time. It is basically composed of three elements, namely; 1. Man (the human element as the creator of the act of tourism),

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2. Space (the physical element to be necessarily covered by the act itself), and 3. Time (the temporal element which is composed by the trip itself and the stay at the destination).

Man

Time

Space

Elements of Tourism The time element varies according to the distance between the points of departure and the destination countries or areas, transport means used and the length of stay at destination etc. These elements constitute the essential conditions for the existence of the phenomenon of tourism. There could be no tourism act without them. 1.3. TYPES OF TOURISM Tourism and tourists are of many different types depending on length of stay, mode of transport used, distance covered, purpose of trip and the price paid by the tourists. Here we will discuss about four primary types of tourism. International and domestic Historical Tourism

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tourism, long and short distance tourism are the most important types. An international tourist crosses the frontiers of many countries, uses different currencies and faces different languages. Larger countries are likely to have greater attractions for international tourism. It is simple to state that longer distances will have to be covered in this type of tourism. Yet for small size countries like Netherlands, Bangladesh, Nepal or Sri Lanka, crossing into a neighbouring country involves very short distances. On the other hand, domestic tourism concerns traveling within the home country. It does not face the problem of seeking a passport and visa or the conversion of one currency into another. Scope for its expansion is generally more in a large size country like India with rising standards of living of its people. The distinction between these two types is getting reduced with the greater ease of movement between countries. A large number of countries in Europe are now included in the groups called the ƒEuropean Union‚. So, from January 1993, all travels of the citizens of its member states are classed as domestic. The lowering of barriers between friendly countries like the U.S.A and Canada may also decrease this distinction for practical purposes. Even in case of Pakistan and India, travel is becoming easier as compared to many earlier years. Yet travel between India and Nepal has been generally free of such hindrances.

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On the basis of distance, tourism can be divided into two types. (a) Long-distance tourism is generally taken to be journeys of over 3,000 kms (b) Short-distance tourism is below that limit. This consideration is important for managing aircraft operation and for providing the marketing facilities. Greater the level of details required to be observed, larger is the level or scale of tourism. From a geographical viewpoint, tourism is also considered ranging from the local levels of home locality to regional or national level of the country and the world level areas. The flow of tourists at home or in local areas may take place in many directions. It may be between the cities or out of cities to the coast, a lake or the countryside. Availability of land, suitable Historical Tourism

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sites and favourable environment for planning the development of tourism are important determining factors at this level. At regional and national levels, the extent of area becomes larger and there is a greater variety in patterns of tourist flows. We have to keep finding new places for development of tourism to avoid the crowding of areas already developed. At the world level, there may be one dominant direction of this flow depending on the location of the areas of origin and destination of tourists. In Northern Hemisphere, it is from north to south and in case of India from west to east, e.g. from developed countries of the Western world to our country. The tourist flow between places depends upon general attractiveness of one country for another and business or cultural connections. The countries of origin of international tourism are one type of areas and those of their destination are of another type. The former is called the tourists-generating areas and the latter are tourist-destination areas. For example, the tourist generating areas of India are mostly in the countries of Western Europe and North America. These are our tourist markets. The tourist destination areas fall in our own country in this case. We have to provide amenities to the arriving tourists, for accommodating them in hotels, in tents or in the camping grounds. We have also to create attractions not generally found in their native countries. The third type of areas cover the transit routes between the places of origin and of destination. The accessibility between the two, the efficiency and comforts of transport, influence the size and the direction of flow of tourists. On the basis of purpose of tour or the motives of tourists, (a) common-interest- tourism, (b) holiday-tourism and (c) businesstourism are the three types. The purpose of visiting and the visited Historical Tourism

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persons is common in the first case. Visiting friends or relatives in his type puts very low pressure on the provision of tourist facilities at the destination. Holiday-tourism is the most popular type. A fine weather favourable for sightseeing, touring, recreation and going around different cultural sites are sought after by the incoming tourists of this category. Business tourists travel to attend trade fairs and conferences pertaining to commerce or professions. Yet they combine it with recreations using the same facilities as provided for holiday tourists. 1.4. TRAVELERS AND TRAVEL ACCOUNTS 1.4.1. Megasthanese Megasthanese was an ambassador of Seleucus-I Nicator of the Seleucid dynasty to Chandragupta Maurya in Pataliputra and visited the Mauryan court somewhere between 302 and 298 B.C.E. He wrote an account of India and also that of Chandragupta‚s reign in his book titled Indica that has also been lost, but is partially available, mostly in the form of quotations, in the form of derivative works of later Roman historians and authors like Diodorus, Strabo, Pliny, and Arrian. Megasthanese‚ Indica describes India‚s geography, history, flora and fauna, economy, society and administration during the Roman period. Megasthanese visited the Mauryan capital Pataliputra, but it is not certain which other parts of India he visited. He appears to have passed through the Punjab region in north-western India, as he provides a detailed account of the rivers in this area. He must have then travelled to Pataliputra along the Yamuna and the Ganga rivers.

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During his tenure in India, he observed and noted the culture, daily routine, social structure etc of the people of the Mauryan Empire. 1.4.2. Pliny the Elder Pliny the Elder (born. 23 C.E., in Italy) was a Roman savant and author of the celebrated Natural History, an encyclopaedic work of uneven accuracy that was an authority on scientific matters up to the Middle Ages. Pliny was descended from a prosperous family, and he was enabled to complete his studies in Rome. At the age of 23, he began a military career by serving in Germany, rising to the rank of cavalry commander. He returned to Rome, where he possibly studied law. Until near the end of Nero‚s reign, when he became procurator in Spain, Pliny lived in semiretirement, studying and writing. His devotion to his studies and his research technique were described by his nephew, Pliny the Younger. When Roman emperor Vespasian ascended throne, in 69 C.E., Pliny returned to Rome and assumed various official positions. 1.4.2.1. The Natural History Out of Pliny‚s seven works, only the Natural History survives. The Natural History properly begins with Book II, which is devoted to cosmology and astronomy. Here, as elsewhere, Pliny demonstrated the extent of his reading, especially of Greek texts. In Books III through VI, on the physical and historical geography of the ancient world, he gave much attention to major cities, some of which no longer exist. Books VII through XI treat zoology, beginning with humans (VII), then mammals and reptiles (VIII), fishes and other marine animals (IX), birds (X), and insects (XI). Pliny derived most of Historical Tourism

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the biological data from Aristotle, while his own contributions were concerned with legendary animals and unsupported folklore. In Books XII through XIX, on botany, Pliny came closest to making a genuine contribution to science. Book XVIII, on agriculture, is especially important for agricultural techniques such as crop rotation, farm management, and the names of legumes and other crop plants. Books XX through XXXII focus on medicine and drugs. The subjects of Books XXXIII through XXXVII include minerals, precious stones, and metals, especially those used by Roman craftsmen. In describing their uses, he referred to famous artists and their creations and to Roman architectural styles and technology. Legacy of Pliny the Elder Pliny the Elder had left behind one of the most important accounts of India and its trade with Rome that has survived in classical literature. He gives quite a lot of detail about India, albeit not all accurate, but his observations definitely provide us with an insight into the importance wield by India in trade in those times. The following words of Pliny present a clear picture: "Coral is as highly valued among the Indians as Indian pearls. It is also found in the Red Sea, but there it is darker in colour. The most prized is found in the Gallic Gulf around the Stoechades Islands, in the Sicilian Gulf around the Aeolian Islands, and around Drepanum...... Coral-berries are no less valued by Indian men than specimen Indian pearls by Roman ladies. Indian soothsayers and seers believe that coral is potent as a charm for warding off dangers. Accordingly, they delight in its beauty and religious power. Before this became known, the Gauls used to Historical Tourism

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decorate their swords, shields and helmets with coral. Now it is very scarce because of the price it commands, and is rarely seen in its natural habitat." Pliny, Natural History (XXXII, chaps. 21, 23). The following graphical representation will help you to understand the nature of ocean trade.

Figure 1. First century Indian Ocean Trade

The Romans paid in gold for Indian goods. Hence the Roman senators complained that their women used too many Indian spices and luxuries, which drained the Roman Empire of precious metal. No wonder Pliny the Elder called India “the sink of the world’s gold!”

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"If the wind called Hippalus is blowing it is possible to arrive in forty days at Muziris.... Travellers set sail from Muziris on their return to Europe, at the beginning of the Egyptian month of Tybia, which is our December, or at all events before the sixth day of the Egyptian month Mechir, the same as our Ides of January; if they do this they can go and return the same year." -Pliny the Elder 1.4.3. Fa -Hien Fa-Hien was born in 337 C.E. in Pingyang Wuyang, modern Linfen City, Shanxi (China). Fa-Hien was orphaned at an early age and spent most of his adult life in Buddhist monasteries. He left China in 399 C.E. to set forth on an expedition through Central Asia to India, and ultimately Sri Lanka. His mission was to visit the land of the Buddha and search for Buddhist texts. In Purushapura (Peshawar), he recollected how Buddha had predicted the birth of a king named ƒKanishka‚, who would build a magnificent stupa at this place. Fa-Hien made his way towards Northern India and took note of very different vegetation from his own land of Han (China). The only familiar plants he noted were bamboo, pomegranate, and sugarcane. As Fa-Hsien visited India in the early fifth century during the reign of Chandragupta II. At Pataliputra, in a Mahayana monastery, he found a copy of the Vinaya Pitaka, containing the Mahasanghika rules written in Sanskrit. Hence, he lived in Patliputra for nearly three years, learned Sanskrit, and wrote out the Vinaya rules. He travelled to many cities associated with the life of the Buddha – Sravasti, Sarnath, Bodh Gaya, Vaishali, Rajagriha, etc., and wrote about Taxila, Pataliputra, Mathura, and Kannauj. An Historical Tourism

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important city that Fa-Hien visited was Mathura. He indicates that the city was prosperous, peaceful and that most people seemed to be teetotallers and vegetarians. He followed the course of the Ganga eastwards, reached Champa and then Tamralipti (was an ancient city in West Bengal) He travelled across Pakistan, Nepal, Northern India, and eventually to Sri Lanka, and claimed that demons and dragons were the original inhabitants of Ceylon. Fa-Hien spent two years in Sri Lanka and decided to return, along a precarious sea route, to China. Today, there is a cave in the district of Kalutara in Sri Lanka named after Fa-Hien. It is believed that he resided there. After he returned home at the age of 77, the next decade until his death, he translated the Buddhist Sutra along with the Indian Sramana Buddha-Bhadra and compiled a travelogue filled with invaluable accounts of what life was like, the places he saw, and the nature of Buddhism at the turn of the 5th century. He recorded his observations in a travelogue titled Fo-Kwo-Ki (A Record of Buddhistic Kingdoms; also known as Fa-Hsien‚s Account). Fa-Hien died in Jingzhou in China, at the age of eightyeight. 1.4.3.1. Recordings of Fa-Hien Fa-Hien did not record anything specifically about the political condition of India. He did not even mention the name of Chandragupta II during whose reign he visited the country. He simply inferred that the administration of the Guptas was liberal, the people enjoyed economic prosperity and the burden of taxes on them was not heavy. Mostly, fines were exacted from the offenders and corporal punishment was avoided and, probably, the death penalty was absent. Historical Tourism

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The primary source of income of the state during that time was land revenue and peop...