Article summary
Abstract
In the post COVID era, tourism in Varanasi has gained considerable momentum owing to the increased religious movements, the promotion of religious tourism by the state and huge infrastructural interventions to make Varanasi visible nationally and internationally. Varanasi, a major focus for pilgrimage of the Hindus, is one of the oldest continuously inhabited urban centres in the world, and is a key hub in India’s growing tourist economy. The paper has explored the multifaceted relationship between tourism led urbanization and its impact on the conservation of heritage and the resultant urban congestion through both secondary and primary sources, which comprised government reports, policy documents, tourism statistics, academic literature and media analysis and discussions with the residents, shop keepers, boatmen, vendors, transport workers, pilgrims and other stakeholders. The results indicate growing concerns among the local community about the decreasing quality of life in the town, the increased cost of living, the lack of public areas and the loss of traditional neighbourhood systems. This is exacerbated by seasonal peaks and major religious events which add to mobility problems and lead to acute stress on transport and public infrastructure. Meanwhile, urban governance mechanisms are challenged to find a balance between the speed of modernization and preservation of the historic, cultural and spiritual heritage of Varanasi. The study proposes that integrated development strategies such as traffic control, environmental management, decentralization of tourists’ flows and institutionalized community participation are suggested for the sustainable development of tourism. These are necessary to ensure sustainable growth in tourism and the protection of Varanasi’s unique heritage.