Page 1 of 9
Journal for Studies in Management and Planning
Available at http://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/JSMaP/
ISSN: 2395-0463
Volume 04 Issue 01
January 2018
Available online: http://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/JSMaP/ P a g e | 250
Dark Tourism – An Emerging Concept of
Travel: A Study of Anandpur Sahib.
Mr. Sudipta Mukherjee1 & Dr. Madhumita Mukherjee2
1Assistant Professor & Head of The Department , Dept. Of Tourism & Airlines– School of Hotel
Management & Tourism, Lovely Professional University, Punjab.
2Assistant Professor – School of Hotel Management & Tourism, Lovely Professional University,
Punjab.
Email: madhumita.21079@lpu.co.in.
Email: sudipta.21078@lpu.co.in.
Abstract: Alternative tourism includes tourist products or individual tourism related services
which are different from the mass tourism by means of supply, organization and the skilled
manpower involved in tourism industry. Dark Tourism is a new concept of tourism which
actually highlights the darkest part of history which is somehow related to grief , pain and death.
It can be considered as special interest tourism or alternative tourism. It’s a divine tool which
can really enhance community based tourism and help generating employment at remote places.
Though a great amount of attention is being paid to this tourism in Europe and other countries,
but the understanding and consumption of dark tourism is very limited. Due to lack of literature
and research, dark tourism is not gaining expected momentum in the world. In India, especially
in Anandpur Sahib in Punjab, we have not experienced any structured initiative for promoting
this form of alternative tourism though we have an excellent opportunity of being world's largest
dark tourism destination, and with our long and colourful history.
Key Word: Dark Tourism, Alternative Tourism, Anandpur Sahib, Dark Tourism Spots in Punjab.
Introduction
Tourism indusry is one of the fastest
growing industry, and second highest
foreign exchance earner for our
country.Tourism is a clauster of industries,
and growth of tourism industry actually
boosts the growth of other industry also. It is
basically can be called as activity by
people.Tourism industry of India plays
major role in rapid growth of indian
econoomy and also generate revenue for
goverenment, and employment for the
people . Goverenment policies also help to
generate tourism opportunities by which
development of tourism sector takes place.In
recent years, India gained sustained growth
and momentum in tourism Industry.Both
domestic and foreign tourist travel across
various tourist destinations of India has been
incresed numorously. Analysing the history,
we can find how travel patterns have
developed since the ancient times. Religious
tourism paved the way of tourism followed
by health tourism in India. In ancient era,
people used to travel from one place to
another because of two basic reasons: I)
visiting famous pilgrimage sites. II) visiting
destinations with better weather and
environment for recovering their bad health.
After industrial revolution, people started
Page 2 of 9
Journal for Studies in Management and Planning
Available at http://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/JSMaP/
ISSN: 2395-0463
Volume 04 Issue 01
January 2018
Available online: http://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/JSMaP/ P a g e | 251
full flagged tourism with purpose of
recreation and entertainment.
Gradually the definition of tourism has
completely changed and we found a
structured industry after the Second World
War. In 90’s people started searching
different types of recreation apart from
regular forms of tourism which showed a
new horizon to the industry. Living regular
ways of travel, they wanted to be engaged
into new travel styles which have given birth
to the form called alternative tourism.
Now a days, tourism industry of third world
has increased very rapidly, but has also
faced many common problem to outward
oriented development strategies like
excessive foreign dependency, the
reinforcement of socio economic culture and
special inequality, destruction of natural
environment. Cultural alternation has
become a headache to the industry.
Tourism industry is facing a major problem
from the host community as a strong
resistance to the tourists is being observed
recently. A strong mechanism must be
created to enhance active participations of
host community in tourism planning which
can change the conditions and interests of
them (host community) and a continuous
process of development lead by tourism can
always confirm to the long farm interests of
the popular majority instead of short term
goals of an elite minority.
Dark tourism can be an alternative tool for
gaining confidence of host community as it
deals with death, sufferings and dark part of
the history associated with the place. As
tourists will be sympathetic to the incidents
happen at the destination, and they will be
interested in exploring the long worried past
history of the people and place, so host
community will come forward and welcome
this type of tourists.
Dark tourism does not encourage any
positive emotions and thoughts. Rather it
highlights pain, suffering, sorrow, distress,
disaster and death. Dark tourism explores a
special form of tourism that has been under
– researched, especially in India. Dark
tourism is not only just visiting sites where
atrocities have occurred, but also the product
of circumstances of the late modern world
and a significant influence upon those
circumstances. Dark tourism has been
defined as tourism involving travel to sites
historically associated with death and
tragedy. More recently it was suggested that
the concept should also include reasons
tourists visit that site, since the sites
attributes alone may not make a visitor a
‘Dark Tourist’.
Dark tourism is an emerging concept of
tourism research. It is defined by Foley and
Lenon (1996) as ‘phenomenon which
encompasses the presentation and
consumption (by visitors) of real and
commoditised death and disaster sites’. The
most recent studies of Dark tourism are with
depicting its concept. Stone (2006) defines
dark tourism as depending on the intensity
of the interest and the actual motive to travel
to see the sites of dark tourism and the sites
which are associated with the dark tourism.
Dark tourism has recently received huge
attention from practitioners, consultants,
academic personalities, and media persons.
The dark challenges as regards dark tourism
is that it may touch the wrong chords and
grab tourists’ attention as a form of taboo.
The connection between dark tourism and
cultural codes , social mores, and institutions
Page 3 of 9
Journal for Studies in Management and Planning
Available at http://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/JSMaP/
ISSN: 2395-0463
Volume 04 Issue 01
January 2018
Available online: http://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/JSMaP/ P a g e | 252
are yet to be lucidly comprehended.
Therefore, it could be deducted that tourism
is really complex in both its supply and
demand ( http://dark- tourism.org.uk/research).
Need for the study: Dark tourism can be
potential revenue generator for the local
communities and can bring down their
sufferings up to some extent. It can also help
in developing pro poor tourism at the site,
and importance of dark tourism has been
realised recently in India. Although the
academic works on the topic are absolutely
lean and rigid. Though some isolated studies
have been carried out which are not enough
to explore it’s potential. Anandpur Sahib is
simply referred as Anandpur which means
“city of bliss” , and it is situated in Rupnagar
District ( Roper), on the dge of Shivalik
Hills , in Punjab,India. Anandpur Sahib is
situated in the bank of Sutlej river, with
National Highway – 503 it links with
Kiratpur Sahib and Chandigarh to Nangal,
Una and further Kangra of Himachal
Pradesh. The city is one of the most famous
and sacred places in Sikhism, and it holds a
historic importance that the place where
Guru Gobind Singh founded Khalsa panth in
1699. The city is home to Keshgarh Sahib
Gurdwara, one of the five Takhts in
Sikhism. The city also hosts the largest Sikh
gathering and festival during Hola Mohalla
in the spring season. As an academic
research , this work will explore the multi
dimensional attributes that can underscore
the dark tourism potential of Anandpur
Sahib. The refinement of responsible
tourism that is central point of tourism
development in a place like Anandpur Sahib
also need to be investigated.
Objectives of the Study: The research has
been carried out with wide objective of
exploring potential of dark tourism of
Anandpur Sahib.
The basic objective of current study is to
explore Shri Anandpur Sahib as a dark
tourism Places along with its religious
aspect of history.
To find out the unique characteristics and
attributes of dark tourism that can actually
influence the tourists to have their footfall at
the place.
To evaluate the facets of responsible tourism
in Anandpur Sahib. This will assume greater
importance keeping in view the sensitivities
of the place.
To relate the dark part of history with
emerging concept of Dark tourism
To bring the destination into the light as
researchers can show their interest and carry
out more research on the destination.
Scope of the Study: This research paper
focuses on Anandpur Sahib in Punjab from
the point of view of its historical events,
gurdwaras, forts and museums for its
recognition as a dark tourism spot. Though
the spot is famous as a religious place, but
the eye of researchers and dark tourists can
be caught through this work.
Research Methodology: An explorative
study employing case study method - owing
to the nature and dimensions of the study
area – has been adopted.. Delphi Technique
and other print media archives have been
taken into consideration for collecting data.
Sensible and valuable feedback is sought
from various experts like academic expert
,industry practitioners, employee of Punjab
