Spiritual journey of foreign travellers in Varanasi
Gosain, Kashish (2024)
2024
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Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2024091125040
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2024091125040
Tiivistelmä
This qualitative research thesis is aimed to find out the motivations of international tourists visiting Varanasi. The main research question of the thesis is “How do international tourists precieve and interpret their spiritual journey in the sacred city of Varanasi and what variables affect these encounters?”The outcomes of the thesis will be beneficial for the DMC, local government, tourism stakeholders, and future international travellers.
The thesis’ theory emphasis on Varanasi and spiritual tourism with an objective to learn more about the spiritual tourism making it easy for the reader to understand the importance of it in this constantly evolving world.There is emphasis given on how Varanasi is an essential city in terms of spirituality. Varanasi is a city located on the banks of Ganga river and is considered one of the sacred cities in Hindu religion. The city offers numerous cultural practices and has temples of Hindu, Sikh, Jain and Buddhist religion. There are several cultural ceremonies practiced in the city and is also a center of educational institutions in the field of mythology.
The research is based on travellers who have shared their experience about Varanasi in past interviews, vlogs and research papers. Tourism stakeholders views on international travellers were also recorded in this research. This type of research helps in understanding the motivations of international travellers and how community responds to them.
The findings of the study show that international tourists travelled to Varanasi from different countries and their motivations were mostly identical. Most popular activity during their stay was boat excursion in morning and evenings. To experience Varanasi spirituality at first hand, tourists went to view dead bodies being burnt at the ghats of river Ganga. Other activities like visting local markets, watching Ganga Arti and Buddhist temples also gathered tourists interest. The majority of them were impressed with their spiritual trip to Varanasi whereas few of them got disappointed with their travel.
The thesis’ theory emphasis on Varanasi and spiritual tourism with an objective to learn more about the spiritual tourism making it easy for the reader to understand the importance of it in this constantly evolving world.There is emphasis given on how Varanasi is an essential city in terms of spirituality. Varanasi is a city located on the banks of Ganga river and is considered one of the sacred cities in Hindu religion. The city offers numerous cultural practices and has temples of Hindu, Sikh, Jain and Buddhist religion. There are several cultural ceremonies practiced in the city and is also a center of educational institutions in the field of mythology.
The research is based on travellers who have shared their experience about Varanasi in past interviews, vlogs and research papers. Tourism stakeholders views on international travellers were also recorded in this research. This type of research helps in understanding the motivations of international travellers and how community responds to them.
The findings of the study show that international tourists travelled to Varanasi from different countries and their motivations were mostly identical. Most popular activity during their stay was boat excursion in morning and evenings. To experience Varanasi spirituality at first hand, tourists went to view dead bodies being burnt at the ghats of river Ganga. Other activities like visting local markets, watching Ganga Arti and Buddhist temples also gathered tourists interest. The majority of them were impressed with their spiritual trip to Varanasi whereas few of them got disappointed with their travel.