Controversy over Aurangzeb's tomb to affect tourism

Lokmat News Network

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar:

The controversy surrounding Aurangzeb's tomb has raised concerns as stakeholders fear that it may impact tourism in the district. Tourists are reportedly questioning whether they should visit the district's popular sites, such as the Ellora and Ajanta Caves, due to the current atmosphere. Local tour operators and guides are receiving inquiries from tourists asking if it is advisable to come for tourism under the present circumstances.

Statewide Alert

Following the tensions in Nagpur, a statewide alert has been declared. Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, known as the tourism capital of the state, is home to world-famous attractions such as the Ajanta and Ellora (Verul) Caves, Bibi Ka Maqbara, and the Daulatabad Fort. These historical sites attract millions of domestic and international tourists every year. However, in recent days, tensions surrounding Aurangzeb's tomb have created an atmosphere of unrest, potentially affecting tourism in the region.

Impact on local tourism and employment

In such circumstances, tourists are beginning to reconsider their travel plans from a safety perspective. Inquiries are being made to tour operators regarding the current situation in the district and how it may unfold in the coming days—whether it is advisable to visit the region for tourism or consider other destinations instead. If the situation does not stabilize soon, there are concerns that tourism will be negatively affected.

Particularly, there is fear that local employment and income in areas such as Khuldabad, Ellora Caves, and Devgiri Fort could directly suffer due to a decline in tourist arrivals.

Will create an impact in future

Currently, there hasn't been a significant impact on the tourist destinations. However, tourists coming from Mumbai and Pune are inquiring about the atmosphere in the city. If the situation persists for a longer period, it could harm tourism, said Bharat Joshi, a guide at Ellora Caves.

Worrying situation

The atmosphere created around Aurangzeb's tomb has led agents to receive inquiries about the stability of the city. However, no tours have been cancelled so far. But there is certainly concern. Fortunately, we are nearing the end of the tourist season, said Jaswant Singh, President of Aurangabad Tourism Development Foundation (ATDF).

‘Grok’ says tourism will suffer impact

Elon Musk's artificial intelligence company, X AI’s chatbot Grok is currently in the spotlight. When Grok was asked whether the ongoing agitation demanding the removal of Aurangzeb's tomb would affect tourism in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district, it responded with a "Yes." Grok further stated that tourism may face short-term and possibly long-term losses. It also elaborated on sectors that would be impacted by this situation.