Experts list ways to boost tourism in Maharashtra during rains

The rains transform our home state into a sea of green. Sadly, our authorites need to do a lot more to ensure that our forts, valleys and stunning landscapes get more mileage. We get the experts to spell out a monsoon master plan

It’s an open secret that the monsoon is the best time to explore and enjoy Maharashtra. The manner in which the landscape transforms from a dry, dull brown shade to a green carpet, with gushing waterfalls, roaring rivers and gurgling streams, is a marvel of nature.

Ruins of Tikona fort. Pic Courtesy/Dhananjay Kulkarni

Travellers of every kind eagerly wait to experience this phenomenon. While nature does its job pretty well, there’s much the Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) can do to enhance the monsoon experience for travellers and trekkers.

Kaas Valley near Satara is abloom post monsoons. Pic/Sachin Kalbag

Who better than our travel operators and tour planners to throw light on ways and solutions to put things in the right perspective and give the home state its due?

A stream in full flow near Purushwadi. Pic Courtesy/Grassroutes

1) More power to the local
Area of concern
A common solution from most experts is to involve local residents to manage and maintain the tourism destinations. Inir Pinheiro of Grassroutes explains, “Tourism during monsoons is centered on waterfalls, streams and forests, and these fall under the jurisdiction of the Forest Department or village panchayats. Tourists, while enjoying nature, end up littering these sites. Apart from making the area unsafe and unclean for future tourists, such actions destroy it in the long run.”

Solutions
Fees and fines: Pinheiro proposes empowering local communities to charge a fee from the tourists frequenting their villages, and also impose a fine on tourists who create nuisance (after consuming alcohol/drugs) or dirty the area. This will not only ensure cleanliness and safety but also become a source of livelihood for the villagers.

Livelihood matters: They could also be trained to offer support in case of falls and accidents, which are frequent due to the wet terrain. Sudeepta Sanyal of The Blueberry Trails feels involving local youth and training them to become certified trekking leaders will be helpful for the trekking enthusiasts in the state. “These youth know their region like the back of their hands, so it will be a case of utilising their knowledge and providing them with employment,” she adds, “Our tourism department should support homestays and encourage ecotourism as it will create an additional source of income for villagers. It should also give a thrust to local cuisine, art forms, and other activities as part of its tourism promotion activities.”

Route cause: Rajesh Math of ByeByeCity suggests managing and promoting the many trekking trails, again by involving locals. He elaborates, “The State Tourism and Forest departments can join hands to involve locals in maintaining the trekking routes. People in the base villages can be roped in to provide parking facilities, guide services, camping support, and food for a fee.” He suggests that they can also help chart trekking routes so trekkers don’t get lost and maintain a record of people going for and returning from the trek so that a rescue operation can be launched if anyone does not return.

A top view of a reservoir in Bhandardarapic/Fiona Fernandez

2) Protect, maintain, facilitate
Area of concern
A state with the highest density of forts in India, Maharashtra could create its own Machu Picchu, if those with power also have the passion to do so, we feel. But sadly, most of these monuments are in a bad condition. Prateek Deo of Life Away From Life wonders why these proud possessions of the state are neglected. These forts attract many people across the year.

Solutions
Information is key: Deo has a few suggestions, “Provide easily available information on the forts and directions to reach; provide/improve sanitation facilities; and provide better medical facilities.”

Regulate sites: He also wants the State Government to regulate trekking to these monuments and create and implement clear dos and don’ts on treks so that the area retains its beauty and sanctity.

Better Infrastructure:  Sanyal points out road development as a key issue. Well-maintained state highways will help do away with the bumpy rides that are now required to reach the interior towns and villages, away from any national highway. According to Pinheiro, providing changing rooms near waterfalls will be an added advantage for tourists. Again, villagers can manage such facilities. Women travellers will find it very convenient as they can also enjoy a good drench, he suggests.

A treacherous slope along the Western Ghats. Pic Courtesy/Life Away from Life

3) Showcase the monsoon
Area of concern
Considering that Maharashtra is mesmeric in monsoon, Sanyal feels that the Tourism Department needs to do more to promote it as a monsoon destination. Also, the state in general, is considered safe for women. Sanyal feels promoting this aspect will encourage women who want to travel but may not do so, considering the safety aspect.

Solutions
Tie-ups are crucial: Jayesh Paranjpe of Western Routes suggests MTDC should tie up with private travel organisations and travel enthusiasts. “They should plan and execute one-day or weekend trips from cities such as Pune, Mumbai, Nashik, Aurangabad, and Nagpur to different monsoon destinations. Such MTDC-branded trips can have stays arranged in different MTDC resorts,” he believes.

The vantage point to view Malshej Ghat in all its glory. Pic/Dhara Vora

Customised tours: In addition, each MTDC property can offer conducted tours or customised day trips with guides to interesting places close to the property. Paranjpe also hopes that MTDC actively promotes season-specific tours via diverse channels for it to reach all tourists across ages and interests. He strongly feels that MTDC needs to function more professionally, the way Madhya Pradesh, Kerala, or Goa Tourism departments do. The possibilities are endless. What we lack is the will, or is it the passion? As travellers who have extensively covered Maharashtra, we feel the state could give Kerala a run for its money if the authorities only put their heads together and showcase the home state's many wonders and treasures across its rich topography.

Log on to: www.travlewithacouple.com to read more about Bindhu and Unny's many travels as they await another monsoon to drench, splash, slip, slide, and roll, and in general, have fun.

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