Rajasthan
Lack of airport pulls back tourism potential of abode of fine temples | Jaipur News
Jalore and Sirohi districts, which together have eight assembly seats, are known as much for religious tourism as the fierce political battles that take place there. The two districts house some of the country’s most well-known temples such as the Jain temples at Dilwara and Pavapuri, the Saraswati temple at Ajari, and the Mahadev templeat Kambeshwar.But not much has been done yet by the elected representatives to promote tourism in these two southwestern districts.
Both Jalore and Sirohi have a sizeable population of businessmen settled in states like Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Delhi, Kerala, Karnataka and Telangana. Whenever they visit their native places, they complain of lack of facilities like an airport at Abu Road or Sirohi.
“A domestic airport is badly needed in this region. We have magnificent temples in Sirohi and Jalore, but religious tourism cannot be promoted without air connectivity. This has been a long-pending demand, and I admit that not much has been achieved so far,” said Sanyam Lodha, the independent MLA from Sirohi who is contesting the assembly polls next month on a Congress ticket from the same seat.
During a family trip to Mount Abu, Harjiram Deval, a Sirohi resident settled in Bengaluru, wondered about the lack of air connectivity in the region. “Leaders like Buta Singh (Congress) and Sushila Bangaru Laxman (BJP) have represented Jalore in parliament, but they showed no vision to set up a domestic airport here to boost regional connectivity,” said Deval. “While tourist cities like Jaipur, Jodhpur, Udaipur and Ajmer have an airport each, here we have just a train to Udaipur and journey by buses or other vehicles through dilapidated roads to reach the temples,” he lamented.
BJP leader Devji Patel, the MP from Jalore-Sirohi Lok Sabha seat who is now contesting the assembly election from Sanchore, echoed similar sentiments. “If BJP forms the government in Rajas- than, I assure we will take a decision on an airport here and clear all the bottlenecks to set it up. I have been getting memorandums for air connectivity,” he said.
Ratan Devasi, a former Congress MLA from Raniwara (2008 to 2013) who lost the 2019 Lok Sabha election, believes that a domestic airport in Jalore or Sirohi will boost the state’s economy. “We have famous tourist spots like Mount Abu and some of the best temples, which are visited by celebrities from Mumbai every year.
An airport is a must here. I admit nothing much has been done for it so far,” he said. Another famous place in the region is the Gautam Rishi temple. “Such is the devotion of the people from Sirohi and Jalore settled in other states that they donate for these temples whenever needed. You will find good temples even in small villages here,” said Harish Rathore, a resident of Sirohi.
Both Jalore and Sirohi have a sizeable population of businessmen settled in states like Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Delhi, Kerala, Karnataka and Telangana. Whenever they visit their native places, they complain of lack of facilities like an airport at Abu Road or Sirohi.
“A domestic airport is badly needed in this region. We have magnificent temples in Sirohi and Jalore, but religious tourism cannot be promoted without air connectivity. This has been a long-pending demand, and I admit that not much has been achieved so far,” said Sanyam Lodha, the independent MLA from Sirohi who is contesting the assembly polls next month on a Congress ticket from the same seat.
During a family trip to Mount Abu, Harjiram Deval, a Sirohi resident settled in Bengaluru, wondered about the lack of air connectivity in the region. “Leaders like Buta Singh (Congress) and Sushila Bangaru Laxman (BJP) have represented Jalore in parliament, but they showed no vision to set up a domestic airport here to boost regional connectivity,” said Deval. “While tourist cities like Jaipur, Jodhpur, Udaipur and Ajmer have an airport each, here we have just a train to Udaipur and journey by buses or other vehicles through dilapidated roads to reach the temples,” he lamented.
BJP leader Devji Patel, the MP from Jalore-Sirohi Lok Sabha seat who is now contesting the assembly election from Sanchore, echoed similar sentiments. “If BJP forms the government in Rajas- than, I assure we will take a decision on an airport here and clear all the bottlenecks to set it up. I have been getting memorandums for air connectivity,” he said.
Ratan Devasi, a former Congress MLA from Raniwara (2008 to 2013) who lost the 2019 Lok Sabha election, believes that a domestic airport in Jalore or Sirohi will boost the state’s economy. “We have famous tourist spots like Mount Abu and some of the best temples, which are visited by celebrities from Mumbai every year.
An airport is a must here. I admit nothing much has been done for it so far,” he said. Another famous place in the region is the Gautam Rishi temple. “Such is the devotion of the people from Sirohi and Jalore settled in other states that they donate for these temples whenever needed. You will find good temples even in small villages here,” said Harish Rathore, a resident of Sirohi.
