I just returned from a trip to the Konkan. For those unintiated about the place, please do check the link. Beautiful beaches, very few people and a union with nature. I had been to Shriwardhan a little beach on that coast with some of my friends from my engineering days. Two days well spent, despite the amount of travelling involved.

After the beach at Shriwardhan, we went to a little temple near the place. The temple itself was a “blink and you miss” kind of deal. While the devout in me enjoyed the place, the cynic inside started thinking. So here goes the “What if” that spawned inside of me.

What if..Our government started creating these temple towns? What would they require and what would result?

1. Location:First would be the location. I think they must be created in and around tourist spots. Places near Goa for example. Konkan which houses many attractive places, but still draw comparatively fewer tourists is another. The temples should be located at not more than an hours drive from such places. You could then create a “package” for the tourists. A temple and a beach – these are already happening by the way
2. Accessibility: A small approach road – not the best nor the worst. The drive must be pleasant, but the feeling of having a drive must be preserved. So it could be anything from a few potholes to narrowing the lane itself
3. Special Features: Ensure some indigenous culture to the place.
4. Accomodation: Government accomodation such as MTDC would help. Most hotels intepret government presence as an indication of tacit sponsorship of the place. Would result in more employment creation for the area. Puri, is a classical example. The Government has set up a hotel that has both AC and non AC rooms for reasonable prices. It was the best part of the trip unfortunately.
5. Food: Creation of restaurants would be an issue. This is one thing that the Govt prefers not to touch, and would require some private entrepreneur to do it. I am drawing a blank as to how to stimulate this. But I figure that Hotel presence would cater to this need as well.
6. Labour: Next would be the priests. Hence build priest academies or have tie-ups to current ones such as those present in Tamil Nadu.
7. People: It would help if the area was poor in itself. Would ensure that tourists make adequate spends in the place
8. Guides: Konark has government trained guides. The temple could have a history created for itself and the guides could be picked up from the temple town so that they could show the tourists the remaining places as well

Imagine the possibilities for employment – beggars, hawkers, small scale industries, hoteliers, restauranters and even priests! Funds collected from the temple could be ploughed back in for marketing and product improvement (Gold idol etc). It could also be used for improving access to other places of tourist interest. Taxes would accrue from the whole economy created.

I wonder if the tourism department already into this? Answer the question in the comments section and keep “strat.in“g!

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