The government of India has recently included Konark Temple into the list of 19 Iconic Tourist Sites in India. These sites would be developed into world-class destinations to boost the tourism sector of the country.
On replying to a question of BJD’s Rajya Sabha member Sasmit Patra in the Upper House as to when Odisha would be included among the Iconic Sites of India, Tourism Minister, Prahlad Singh Patel replied stating that, “as the Iconic Tourist Sites list in the country has been expanded from 17 to 19, Konark Sun Temple has been included in the revised list.”
The minister further informed that the decision to build up Konark as an iconic tourist place was taken after he received representations from the Odisha Chief Minister, the Union Petroleum Minister and other delegations.
Odisha is home to prominent sites such as Konark Sun Temple, Lord Jagannath Temple, Chilika Lake(Asia’s largest brackish water lake and second largest brackish water lake in the world), Bhitarkanika National Park, Similipal National Park and the Buddhist circuit.
Last year, Konark was not included in the list of Iconic sites announced by Ministry of Tourism for which there was a huge uproar in Odisha for not making into the list. The Chief Minister of Odisha Naveen Patnaik had also written to the Union Tourism Minister seeking inclusion of at least two important tourist places of the State into the list.
Tourism is one of the key contributors to the economy of Odisha and a preferred tourist destination for International and domestic travellers. With long 500 km coastline, it has various tourist attractions ranging from picturesque towering mountains, serene lakes and frolicking rivers, wildlife reserves, beaches, temples, monuments, the arts and festivals.
