Dark Tourism understanding the inspiration and impulse

Dark Tourism
Introduction

Dark tourism (also Thana tourism, black tourism, morbid tourism or grief tourism) has been defined as tourism involving travel to
places historically associated with death and tragedy. More recently, it was suggested that the concept should also include reasons
tourists visit that site, since the site's attributes alone may not make a visitor a "dark tourist". The main attraction to dark locations is
their historical value rather than their associations with death and suffering. Holocaust tourism contains aspects of both dark tourism
and heritage tourism. While there is a long tradition of people visiting recent and ancient settings of death, such as travel
to gladiator games in the Roman colosseum, attending public executions by decapitation, and visiting the catacombs, this practice has
been studied academically only relatively recently.
Characteristic features of Dark Tourism
Dark tourism seemingly was a bothersome conception which started achieving consideration as a tourism product
from the early 90s, but it has no evidence about the conceptualization and the designation. As a matter of fact,
other designations were used to describe the same occurrence:

“Black Spot” that is a commercial improvements of grave and location sat which popular personalities or corpus
people has faced with sudden and violent deaths.

“Thana tourism“-It is travelling to a place inspired with an aspiration to watch actual death or symbolic encounters
with death.

“Atrocity Tourism”- It is a type of tourism that takes the individual to visit holocaust sites.

“Morbid Tourism”-It is the travel to places which emphasis on accidents and sudden violent death
Dark Tourism in India
One of the most fast-developing forms of tourism in India, Dark Tourism, is often described as a form of travel associated with places
that have experienced death, mystery, and pain. It is popular amongst people who are interested in history and want to explore the
deep and dark untold stories that are buried deep in the past. It is gruesome and scary but has become popular because of its
unconventional nature and experience.

1. Jallianwala Bagh, Amritsar

2. Kala Pani, Andaman & Nicobar Islands

Built in 1906 by the Indian British Government to torture and isolate the Indian freedom fighters, Kalapani was often known as the
prison of death. It was often said that very few who were sent there, made it back alive. The cellular jail still has all the equipment that
was used to punish the prisoners. It paints a very gruesome and sad picture and visitors mostly feel acute depression after the visit.
3. Roopkund, Uttarakhand

Skeletal remains at Roopkund lake Popularly known as the 'lake of skulls', this stunning lake is present at an altitude of around 5,000
meters above the sea level. It has a presence of almost 200 human skeletons around it. Scientists have concluded that the skeletal
remains belonged to people from the ninth century who must have been hurt by something and died, probably a glacial storm. The
lake remains frozen for most part of the year, but when the lake melts, remains of flesh, hair and skeletons are found here.
4. Taj Mahal, Agra

What is today known as one of the '7 wonders of the world' and is a UNESCO world heritage site, has been a source of pain to many
people. There exist many stories about how Shahjahan got the thumbs of the workers chopped off after they were done with the
construction of Taj Mahal. His own wife, Mumtaz Mahal sleeps in her grave just below the Taj Mahal
5. Kuldhara Village, Rajasthan

Once a town of 83 villages in the early 19th century, Kuldhara today, is a lonely ruin. It is said that Kuldhara was abandoned by the
early 13th century. It was once inhabited by Paliwal Brahmins, who fled overnight because of the dwindling water supply or because
of persecution by Jaisalmer's State minister, Salim Singh. Today the Rajasthan government has developed it as a tourist attraction.
6. Union Carbide subsidiary plant, Bhopal

Bhopal Gas Tragedy Often considered world's worst industrial disaster, Bhopal Gas Tragedy was a gas leak incident on the night
of December 3, 1984 at the UCIL pesticide plant in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh. Over 5 lakh people were exposed to 42 tonnes of methyl
isocyanate gas, which is considered to be a highly toxic substance. People reported burning sensation in their lungs and thousands died
immediately. According to the government records, the death toll went up to 3,787. Today, this site is one of the most popular dark
tourism destinations in India. Dark tourism or Black tourism or Grief tourism involves traveling to places historically associated with
death, suffering, torture and tragedy. This concept is becoming popular day by day especially among youth.
7. Sites of Indus Valley Civilization
The sites of the Indus Valley Civilization were excavated in 1921 by an archaeological campaign under Sir John Hubert Marshall.
Marshall, Rai Bahadur Daya Ram Sahni and Madho Sarup Vats began excavating Harappa in 1921, finding buildings and artifacts
indicative of an ancient civilization. More than 1,400 sites have been excavated in India. The reason for the sudden decline of the
Indus civilization is still based on assumptions

8. Kanpur during 1857

Kanpur formerly called Cawnpore, was a part of British Empire. During the first war of Indian independence in 1857, the Indian
soldiers severing joined the rebels. At that time Kanpur was under General Wheeler.
On 27 June the British, together with servants, women and children, were escorted by the rebel army to the river.
What happened next has become known as the Satichaura Ghat Massacre. Exactly how it started remains unclear to this day, but
fighting broke out and the rebels attacked the boats. General Wheeler was killed in this battle. Eventually only four of the British men
survived, of a party that had managed to get away as the fighting broke out.
9. Lucknow during 1857 (the Residency)
In Lucknow, the British Commissioner/Governor Sir Henry Lawrence became worried about developments and fearing that conflict
was imminent decided to fortify the Residency from 23 May 1857. His premonitions proved right on 30 May when tensions escalated
into open rebellion also in Lucknow and the surrounding area. The rebels launched assault on 30 June, but were unable to breach the
walls, so they started a first siege during which they repeatedly shelled the Residency with artillery. Henry Lawrence was one of the
first to be killed in these barrages.

10. IMPACT OF DARK TOURISM ON JAMMU AND KASHMIR

Tourism happens to be one of the most vibrant industries in the world. The contribution of tourism to India’s GDP is around 6.8
percent. Around twenty million people in India are directly or indirectly associated with tourism. As far as Jammu and Kashmir is
concerned, it is known world over for its scenic beauty, snow-clad mountains, splendid meadows, gushing streams and not to forget
beautiful Dal Lake and tourism happens to be corner stone on which economy of Jammu and Kashmir rests.
Popularity of Dark Tourism
 Dark Tourism, also known as grief tourism, involves people taking a keen curiosity in visiting places that are
historically linked to death and tragedy. Also, places that are reminders of human sufferings and bloodshed
are subsets of Dark Tourism. Though this concept sounds a bit weird, it is fast catching up with the trends.
And in India, with such a long history, Dark Tourism automatically finds its spot.

 It is sheer curiosity that pushes people to tread the road less travelled to seek answers. Travel, by far, has
always been related to journey and exploring beautiful places; but with this type of tourism finding its
ground, it only explains how the human mind cannot be tamed.

 If you are also an avid traveller and have been irked for some time for not getting the opportunity to visit
some unusual places, this is the time. Take a detour from your regular plans, and visit these spots in India to
experience how these places withstood the test of time
Conclusion

Nothing on earth is mortal. Mankind has experienced many unexpected events, climatic imbalances and natural disasters. It is not
possible for people visiting such places to have positive feelings. Man is a emotional being. It is very hard for emotionally weak
people to face such situations. Dark tourism should be carried by one who is courageous and ready to take up challenges. Tour should
not remain as an act of leisure or pleasure. It should not be only for wellness, yoga or adventure. There are many studies done on the
concept of dark tourism in foreign countries. It is still in the infancy stage in India. Studies are to be carried out to know the past dark
layers which our own ancestors had faced.