Tourism in Lalitpur(A Case Study of Patan Durbar Square Area)

Abstract

Tourism today is one of the fastest growing industries throughout the world. Tourismhas tremendous growth potential as it stimulates the growth of the overall economy. Itcan help in solving chronic economic problems like unemployment, regionaldisparities and poverty in less developed countries like Nepal. It can generatesincome, raise standard of living of people, helps in having better social and politicalrelations among regions and raises physical and moral well being of all people everywhere. Thus, it can be said that tourism is a movement against all types ofbackwardness.Nepal has no acuteness of resources and opportunities for tourism development be itfor international or domestic tourism. Tourism today has become not only acomprehensive phenomenon but also the backbone of the economy for the developingcountry like Nepal. The stunning natural beauties of Nepal easily hypnotize thepeople of all over the world in any season. Therefore, it invites people from allcorners of the world to share its liveliness.This study, “Tourism in Lalitpur: A Case Study of PatanDurbar Square Area”presents the trends of tourist arrival, Scio-economic impact and problems of tourismin Patan Durbar Square Area. The study is was an attempt to draw a picture oftourism around Patan after the restoration of peace in Nepal.Among many tourists’ spots in Kathmandu Valley, Patan Durbar Square Area is oneof the well-known tourist spot. The study area, Patan Durbar Square Area is situatedin the Lalitpur sub-metropolitan city, is also famous with the name of Patan city.Being a Newari city, it has its Newari name YALA. The ancient city of Patan issituated on the southern bank of the river Bagmati and is about five km southeast ofKathmandu. The city is full of Hindu temples and Buddhist monuments with bronzegateways, guardian deities and wonderful carvings. Noted for its artisans andmetalworkers, it is known as the city of artists. The city was once independentkingdom ruled by Mall King and the Durbar Square Area was the palace of the Mallaking then. Since the establishment of Patan as independent kingdom and afterconstruction of palace of the king, the area began to be known as Durbar SquareArea. The sub-metropolitan city is prevailed in 16.4 sq. km, providing residence tomore than 1, 75,000 people of different ethnic and caste groups but with ample majority of Newars. Economic development of this area is highly depended ontourism.The necessary theoretical concept about the tourism in Nepal as well as in Patan andScio-economic impact of tourism in local community was developed from relevantliterature review. The study designed includes the selection of the sample, collectionof the data from the questionnaire schedule, observation in the field, interview withlocal people and tourists’ police and data analysis and interpretation. The results obtained from the analysis and interpretation of data can be summarizedas:a) The number of tourists are increasing to Patan area than that of previous years.b) The main objective of touristamong those who come to visit Patan Durbar SquareArea is to view the old arts and architectures of medieval period.c) Tourist visiting Patan are not satisfied with sanitation level around Patan DurbarSquare Area.d) Tourists are unwilling to tell much about their customs and religion and thetouristsfrom the European countries are more than that of other countries.e) Tourists are embarrassed by beggars, vendors and people of curio shops aroundPatan Durbar Square Area. After the study, the following recommendationshave beenmade to be taken for thedevelopment of tourism inPatan as well as in Nepal. a) Perpetual research work should be done to find out the interests and problemsassociated with tourism in Patan Durbar Square Area.b) Marketing of tourists’ products (destinations) should be done effectively andefficiently in national and international markets for the promotion of tourism industry.c) The government or the concerned authorities should formulate the plan todecentralize the population of tourists concentrated in Patan to its nearer villages sopeople of rural areas can be benefited.d) Security, sanitation, health and environmental situation around Patan should bewell maintained.