Mumbai, July 13: With religious tourism emerging as the new mantra, Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) and leading players in the hospitality sector are geared up to promote pilgrim spots in the state as popular tourist destinations. MTDC has taken steps to provide easy and economical accomodation to tourists visiting the famous pilgrim destinations such as Shirdi, Aundha-Nagnath, Ganpatipule, Akloli, Bhimashankar, Titwala, Harihareshwar and Lonar to boost tourism.
Shirdi, which has emerged as the second largest pilgrim centre in the country after Tirupathi, is undergoing constant upgradation thanks to the efforts taken by the government and the private sector, MTDC sources said. Shirdi falls under the Special Area Development Plan of Maharashtra which envisages public policy management schemes.A helipad is being planned to fly the devotees to the shrine and steps have been taken to augment accomodation facilities through new dormitaries and five star hotels.
At Harihareshwar, MTDC has set up Konkani cottages with AC and non-AC rooms. This coastal town is famous for its historial Kalbhairav Temple, believed to have been visited by the Pandavas of Mahabharata period. On the north side of the bay is the place where the peshwas or prime ministers of the Maratha kingdom resided. At Aundha Nagnath, housing one of the 12 jyotirlingas of the country, MTDC has rooms to accomodate 70 persons, MTDC sources said.
In Bhimashanker, near Pune, MTDC has set up rooms to house 20 persons. Bhimashanker also has another jyotirlinga which is historical. The dense forests of Bhimashankar are an added attraction for the tourists.
Ganpatiphule in Ratnagiri has become another popular tourist spot with MTDC constructing accomodation facilities for tourists on the sea shore near the famous Ganpati Temple. Bureau Report