Impact of Pilgrimage Tourism on the Socio-Economic Profile of Rural Population in Jammu and Kashmir: A Case Study of Shahdhara Sharief

The Holy Shrine at Shahdhara Sharief is one of the very few but famous pilgrimage destinations in Jammu. It is revered for being the resting place of Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah. The pilgrims from different faiths and from every nook and corner of state as well as outside the state throng the shrine every year. The present research paper deliberates on the pilgrimage tourism of the holy shrine of Shahdhara Sharief as more than five lacs pilgrims pay obeisance at the ziyarat sharief. Shahdhara Sharief located near Thanna Mandi has over the period of time emerged on the tourism map as pilgrimage center. For the last four decades Shahdhara Sharief has witnessed remarkable changes in socio- economic trend. The present study aims at analyzing various aspects of Shahdhara Sharief as a pilgrimage center.