TOURISM POTENTIAL AT KALA KENDRA CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION OF JAMMU Jammu and Kashmir as it is usually called is the northernmost northernmost state of the repulic repulic of India! It stands di"ided into three re#ions of Jammu$ Kashmir and %ada&h! These three re#ions of the state are separate #eolo#ical entities as 'ell as di(erent administrati"e units under the same state! This state of the Indian repulic has a lon# international order 'hich it shares 'ith )a&istan occupied Kashmir$ China and Tiet! Many historians ha"e descried this re#ion ecause of its #eo#raphical location as the *cro'n of India+! Jammu and Kashmir has had an economy primarily dependent on tourism and it is one of the top domestic and international tourist attractin# mar&ets of India! Jammu is one of the re#ions of the state of Jammu and Kashmir$ Kashmir$ the other t'o ein# the Kashmir Kashmir pro"ince and the %ada&h pro"ince! Jammu district is the most de"eloped area in the 'idespread Jammu re#ion! The core core of the Jammu district is the Jammu Jammu city$ 'hich is one of the the fastest #ro'in# tier II cities in north India! Jammu city is also the economic ner"e center for the entire hinterland of the Jammu pro"ince and also the ma,or tradin# mar&et of the area! INTRODUCTION OF KA%A K-NDRA Kala Kendra is a recently opened museum in Jammu city! city! It is one of the only three museums+ possessed y the Jammu city$ the other t'o ein# *Amarmehal museum+ and the *Do#ra art ar t museum+! Another art treasure possessed y the city is the Tosha&hana! Tosha&hana! Of these four the *Amarmehal museum+ and the *Tosha&ahana+ *Tosha&ahana+ sho'case the art treasures and the other paraphernalia possessed y the erst'hile royal family of Jammu and Kashmir! Kashmir! Kala &endra Jammu houses a collection of di(erent art products mainly paintin# and sculpture y many Indian artists! A "isit to the &ala Kendra #i"es us an o"er"ie' of the mediae"al and contemporary Indian art! Kala Kendra 'as inau#urated on .nd Octoer .//0 y Mr! M!M!1ayeed the then chief minister of the state! The uildin# that has een created to house &ala Kendra has a "ery "isually appealin# architecture! The architectural plan has een conceptuali2ed li&e a classic Indian palace and it has a radiant 'hite colour$ 'hich di(uses the sunli#ht fallin# on it in an e3cellent manner! manner! The architectural plan di"ides it into t'o 4oors ha"in# separate entrances from the #round le"el and the e3ternal staircase respecti"ely! respecti"ely! The location of the &ala &endra is e3cellent as it lies at 5i&ram cho'& 'hich is one of the main thorou#hfares of the city ad,acent to the e"er usy Ta'i Ta'i rid#e! The route to 5a#h6e65ahu$ 5a#h6e65ahu$ the main tourist spot spot in Jammu city also passes passes throu#h this cho'&! cho'&! The formation of the &ala Kendra Kendra has a t'o6fold purpose! One o"iously is to sho'case the rich artistic herita#e of the state to the interested tourists and the #eneral pulic$ alon# 'ith the 'or&s of other ma,or Indian artists! The other purpose is to pro"ide a space for upcomin# artists amateur or professional elon#in# to the state to sho'case the creations of their talent! 5oth these are a means to raise the a'areness of the importance of art for a ci"ili2ed life in the masses! The uildin# plan of the &ala Kendra is such that it is a t'o story uildin# of imposin# fa7ade! The uildin# of the &ala Kendra is ounded on the three sides y a eautiful la'n 'hich is dotted 'ith eautiful hand made stone sculptures made y "arious artists! a rtists! These stone sculptures are of male and female human poses and of "arious in animate o,ects as 'ell! The #round 4oor and the 8rst 4oor of the Kendra Kendra are di"ided into t'o sections sections each! The 8rst 4oor of the &ala Kendra is di"ided into t'o sections dedicated to the architectural herita#e of Jammu and Jammu chitra&ala respecti"ely!
There are t'o sections in the #round 4oor one dedicated to the contemporary Indian art and the other displayin# 5asohli style miniature paintin#s painted y the youn# contemporary artists of J9K mostly! CHAPTER TWO
TOURI1T )-R1)-CTI:- OF KA%A K-NDRA No' the researcher 'ill analy2e the artifacts housed in the 8rst 4oor of the &ala Kendra and then proceed further systematically! In the 8rst 4oor housed et'een the t'o sections is the loy! The loy is spacious 'ith a hi#h temple li&e dome and on the 'alls of the loy photo#raphs ha"e een displayed all around! These photo#raphs pertain to these topics; memorale e"ents of J9K state sho'in# state di#nitaries of the present and pre"ious #o"ernments; photo#raphs of the 'all paintin#s of Jammu 'hich still decorate the 'alls of palaces of the erst'hile Do#ra rulers of J9K; photo#raphs of the portraits of the do#ra rulers of J9K and prominent memers of the "arious #enerations of the rulin# family; some slides of the social and 5uddhist reli#ious landscape of the %ada&h; some photo#raphs of the main tourist and pil#rima#e centers of Jammu re#ion i!e! shi" &hori$ 1uddhmahade" temple$ Dansar aa$ 5ahu fort$Jha,,ar Kotli$
?th century$ sho'in# the then e3istin# ad,acent 'ater tan&s near the temple! Then there are 8"e photo#raphs of the herita#e comple36muar&mandi Jammu$ 'hich 'as the mediae"al center of administrati"e authority in J9K &in#dom! Out of these 8"e$ three sho' the mediae"al royal #lory of the durars and the processions 'hen &in#s 'ere rulin# and the t'o photo#raphs sho' the modern face of the comple3 'hich still houses innumerale #o"t! departments! There is a photo#raph of the triumphal arch of Jammu city$ 'hich does not e3ist no'! Another photo#raph sho's the poonch house$ 'hich 'as the #uesthouse of the )oonch ra,as and is no' used as the ?/@ AD$ 'hich 'as the 8rst institute of hi#her studies in Jammu! Then there is a set of t'el"e modern photo#raphs of the shrines of many faiths in Jammu city includin# temples$ old churches$mas,ids$ dur#ahs and a #urud'ara! There are three modern photo#raphs of the three forts of Jammu re#ion i!e! the ahu fort$ the Jandi fort6irana#ar and the %a&hanpur fort 'hich are a representati"e sample architecturally of the "arious other forts in the re#ion! Further there are three photo#raphs of t'o ancient temples i!e! the 1u&rala mata temple in 5illa'ar6Kathua district and the Krimchi temple in Krimchi6Udhampur! Then there are four photo#raphs 'hich sho' the ancient reli#ious sacred sculptures from temples in Udhampur and the 5hader'ah a reas i!e! those of %ord 5uddha$ three faced 1hi"a 'ith )ar"ati$ Nandi the sacred 5ull and the %a3mi6Narayana! At a prominent place in the hall a map of Jammu city dated circa >BB/6?/ A!D! has een displayed! It sho's the old city as e3istin# then and it is dicult to match it to the city contours as seen today! In four corners of the hall a3ed to the four pillars$ antiue doors elon#in# to the old ha"elis and
palaces ha"e een displayed! These ha"e reli#ious paintin#s$ Jammu court scenes and 4oral motifs as their themes! There is also a section 'hich sho's photo#raphs detailin# the restoration 'or& at the state protected monuments of Chin#us sarai in Ra,ouri and at 5ahu fort in Jammu city! These photo#raphs are not important from an historical or archaeolo#ical point of "ie'! In this section there is also a recently opened small su6section sho'in# photo#raphs f rom /ad at 5asohli! )ahari paintin#s 'ere 8rst painted in the royal court at 5asohli and in no time they spread all o"er the himalyan hill states! The lar#e imalayan perspecti"e ecame the perspecti"e of pahari miniatures! An intense character of con,u#al lo"e permeates the paintin#s! Intense character of roadleaf trees forms the ac&#round of the paintin#s! A 'ide ran#e of plants decorated 'ith rilliantly coloured 4o'ers$ artistically created 4oors$ 'all spaces$ carpets and parapets are the special features of pahari paintin#s! O"erall the principle of lo"e is the dominant theme of the pahari miniatures! The di"ine lo"e of Radha and Krishna pro"ided the aesthetic themes and the spiritual 4a"our to pahari paintin#s! In Radha and Krishna$ the pahari painters found the ideal lo"in# couple as 'ell as the est naya& and nayi&a they 'ere loo&in# for! The tantri& cults of De"i also ha"e een a profound in4uence on pahari paintin#s! :arious tantri& inno"ations of the De"i6the #odess mother ha"e een painted! o'e"er most such paintin#s are of crude form and rilliant red$ lue and lac& colours ha"e een employed in them! Due to the political relations of )un,a and Jammu$ the Kan#ra61i&h mi3ed style of paintin# is the dominant style of Jammu paintin#s! The most fa"orite theme of the painters 'as the di"ine lo"e and stories of Radha and Krishna! These pahari paintin#s are considered as a super triute to the 'orld of art! The pahari paintin#s ha"e een in4uenced y and depict stories from the Mahaharata$ ha#"at purana$
G 'hich is an illustration from the 5ha#"ata purana! Ne3t paintin# is titled *para&iya "assa&sa,,a+'hich sho's a para&iya nayi&a preparin# to meet her lo"er! Ne3t paintin# titled proud nayi&a sho's a man 'ith t'o nayi&as! Ne3t there is a paintin# of %ord Krishna mil&in# the co' sho'in# eautiful features of the accompanyin# co'herds$ the co' and the calf! Ne3t t'o paintin#+s are titled *nayi&a+s lo' pride+ and *'hy this hesitation my lo"e+ and sho' a couple in amorous poses! Ne3t paintin# is titled the *the youthful ride adornin# herself+ and it sho's a youn# 'oman adornin# herself 'ith ornaments and ma&e6up! A paintin# sho's 1ita$ %a"a and Kush in the hermita#e of sa#e :almi&i! Another paintin# sho's %ord Krishna rin#in# the *pari,ata+ tree from Indra+s hea"en! Ne3t there are se"eral paintin#s of the Kashmiri school of the sun#od surya sho'in# him seated under a tree and s'in#in# on a s'in#! Ne3t fe' paintin#s are all from the Kashmir school! A paintin# of the moon #od Chandra holdin# a pot of nectar! A paintin# of the ardhnarish'ara form of %ord :ishnu! A paintin# of :ish'arupa G the cosmic form of %ord Krishna! )aintin#s of the &ashmiri style ha"e characteristic &ashmiri features and &ashmiri 4ora! Ne3t there is a folio from 1hri
Then there is a set of ten paintin#s 'hich sho' the "arious poses of Radha and Krishna! These sho' in seuence sa&hi persuadin# Radha to meet Krishna in a o'er$ sa&hi informin# Radha of Krishna+s arri"al$ sa&hi narratin# to Radha Krishna+s dalliance 'ith the #opies$ shy Radha ein# led y sa&hi to meet Krishna$ manini nayi&a Radha 'aitin# for Krishna in a pa"allion$ Krishna the di"ine 4ute player$ and Radha yarnin# for %ord Krishna! Ne3t paintin# sho's anuman, payin# homa#e to Rama and 1ita! Another paintin# sho's a ne#lected heroine prayin# to %ord 1hi"a for reunion 'ith her lo"er! No' the researcher 'ill study the paintin#s housed in the #round 4oor of Kala Kendra! There are t'o sections in the #round 4oor one dedicated to the contemporary Indian art and the other displayin# 5asohli style miniature paintin#s painted y the youn# contemporary artists of J9K mostly! The researcher 'ill 8rst study the section on the modern 5asohli style paintin#s! The painters 'hose paintin#s ha"e een put up for display are &airchand maharana$ Dheera, Kapoor$ 1ona Kapoor$ 1a"ita 1harma$ Kanchan illoria$ Ra,ni 5ala$ Md!A&ram Khan$ and 1ha&eel Ahmed Ra2a! These painters ha"e done a 'onderful ,o in their paintin#s; the paintin#s are almost loo&6ali&es of the ori#inal 5asohli paintin#s! A paintin# y Kanchan 5illoria sho's a 'oman sittin# under a 4o'erin# tree playin# a "eena! A deer is sho'n standin# near her! Ne3t paintin# y )oo,a sho's a eautiful 'oman in a #arden o(erin# food to a peacoc& sittin# on a tree ranch! A paintin# y Dharmpal "erma sho's the shi&aar of lion$ a &in# sittin# on his elephant is &illin# a lion 'ith his spear! A paintin# created y 1ona Kapoor sho's a man 'ith t'o 'omen in an amorous pose$ 'ith the t'o 'omen sittin# in his lap! There are t'o paintin#s y 1usheel )adha ! The 8rst one sho's a man lyin# on a ed 'ith t'o 'omen standin# near the ed! The second paintin# sho's a room in a #arden 'ith a man lyin# on a ed inside the room and t'o 'omen strollin# outside and of the t'o one 'oman is sho'n 'earin# only a lo'er #arment 'ith her reasts unco"ered is sho'n comin# her hair! Other paintin#s in this section also sho' similar themes and there are some paintin#s$ 'hich sho' the lo"e of Radha and Krishna! %i&e a paintin# y Dheera, Kapoor sho's Radha and Krishna sittin# to#ether'ith Krishna playin# the 4ute and Radha playin# the :eena! No' the researcher 'ill study the paintin#s in the other section in the #round 4oor of &ala Kendra! This section houses acrylic or can"as ased paintin#s y contemporary Indian painters! These are all ori#inal paintin#s portrayin# a 'ide "ariety of themes! Most paintin#s are ased on modern art$ themes of nature and surrealism! The painters 'hose paintin#s ha"e een displayed in this section are Man,u &arma&ar$ 1atpal Deol$ :ipin &umar$ )rem 1in#h$ Naushad$ 1hu,a 1ultan$ Nitasha Jainee$ Ja#dish$ Mahra, Krishan 5hat$ )oonei Chandran$ and Ra2ia Tony! Man,u &arma&ar has painted a paintin# title *Mansar %a&e+! It is a "ery sudued picture of the la&e! It is the est e3ample of surreal art in this section! A sort of hypnotic e(ect emanates from it! Most paintin#s y )rem 1in#h are ased on modern art and #i"e o( unusual and appealin# "isual e(ects! Jumles of faces and landscapes$ human 8#ures$ rilliant colours are seen in his paintin#s! Mahra, Krishan 5hat$ ,a#dish$ :ipin &umar and 1atpal Deol are other painters 'hose paintin#s displayed in this section display modern art! )oonei Chandran is another e3cellent modern painter; his lone displayed paintin# depicts the ody of a man 'ith his face co"ered y ne'sprint reportin# the "iolence in J9K! Naushad+s paintin# is ased on a natural theme sho'in# the aerial "ie' of a 'ooded area! Another natural theme ased paintin# sho's a 'oman o"erloo&in# a la&e from a "anta#e point! The ac&#round sho's the sun settin# and she is loo&in# at dolphins playin# in the 'ater!
CURR-NT :I1ITOR INT-R-1T IN KA%A K-NDRA No' the researcher 'ill analy2e the current "isitor interest in Kala Kendra$ the pro8le of the "isitors "isitin# Kala Kendra and the moti"ations of these "isitors! As re#ards the current "isitor interest in Kala Kendra$ it is a fact that since its inau#uration Kala Kendra has not een ale to attract sucient "isitors! :ery fe' people "isit the Kala Kendra in a #i"en day! -3cept for those days 'hen Kala Kendra hosts functions$ e3hiitions of reno'ned painters or e3hiitions of the paintin#s of the local Jammu talent or the creations of the students of *colle#e of 8ne arts and music+ the numer of "isitors remains lo'! -"en on these occasions the numer of "isitors increases ,ust mar#inally! A massi"e information campai#n is reuired for promotion of Kala Kendra and for creatin# a'areness aout it!
ANA%H1I1 OF :I1ITOR )ROFI%No' the researcher 'ill analy2e the "isitor pro8le of people "isitin# Kala Kendra! A study of the "isitor diary maintained y Kala Kendra sta( re"eals that mostly students and youn# people in the>6/ a#e rac&et "isit the Kala Kendra$ ecause they ha"e an increased a'areness of the importance of art and the "arious mediae"al and modern styles of art of India! 1ome of the domestic tourists 'ho come from other parts of India mostly from metro and other i# cities in their o'n con"eyance also "isit the Kala Kendra for similar reasons! It is o"ious that &no'led#eale art lo"ers are attracted due to the presence of the faithful replicas of the 5asohli miniatures in the Kala Kendra! 1o 'e can safely conclude that local youth mostly students in the a#e #roup > G / and upper crust domestic tourists 'ho "isit Jammu in their o'n con"eyance or rented con"eyance comprise the "isitor pro8le!
MOTI:ATION1 OF :I1ITOR1 :I1ITIN< KA%A K-NDRA Ne3t the researcher 'ill analy2e the moti"ations of the "isitors "isitin# Kala Kendra! A perusal of the "isitor+s diary maintained at the Kala Kendra and throu#h a uestionnaire ased sur"ey of "isitors "isitin# the Kendra the follo'in# 'ere found to e the main moti"ations of the "isitors! They ha"e een 'ritten in the descendin# order of priority! >! Desire to see the replicas of 5asohli miniatures! .! Desire to see modern art! ! Desire to see modern Indian paintin#s! ! Reli#ious feelin#s G desire to see paintin#s of reli#ious 8#ures li&e Radha G Krishna etc! 0! Chaunistic feelin#s of Do#ra prideE 6 Desire to see portraits of forts$ palaces and mahara,a+s etc!
)AINTIN<1 AT KA%A K-NDRA G U)K--) AND MAINTAINANC-
No' the researcher 'ill 8nd out the measures ein# ta&en y the Kala Kendra for the up&eep and the maintainance of the paintin#s etc! possessed y it! The )ahari paintin#s and the 5asohli miniatures in the Kala Kendra are not the ori#inal 'or&s of art! They are the replicas of 'or&s housed in other reno'ned museums of India$ )a&istan and other countries! And all of them ha"e een properly framed and empanelled 'ith #lass$ so that they can e sa"ed from the ra"a#es of elements! Of course the natural a#ein# process is at 'or& in them too ut not ein# ori#inals the threat to them is not too #reat! As re#ards the ori#inal can"as and acrylic paintin#s$ usually a coatin# of synthetic or natural resins has een used to pro"ide saturation and to protect the paint underneath from dirt$ arasion and moisture! All the paintin#s ha"e een placed 'ell a'ay from direct sunli#ht and all other heat sources as heat can soften paint allo'in# dirt and deris to e easily trapped in the softened paint and "arnish! The desi#n of Kala Kendra is such that no moisture accumulates any'here to cause any dama#e! )roper li#ht sources of proper intensity and 'a"elen#th ha"e een installed to illuminate the paintin#s 'hen needed as ultra"iolet li#ht discolours dyes and colourants used in paints! umidity is an issue ut there is not much that the Kala Kendra mana#ement can do$ e3cept &eep an eye on mold #ro'th$ lac& spots on paintin#s$ 'hich they are carefully doin#! And the paintin#s are ein# periodically dusted y natural hair artists rushes!
CHAPTER THREE
O5J-CTI:-1 AND R-1-ARC M-TODO%O! To study the "arious attractions of the Kala Kendra! .! To study the tourism potential at the particular site! ! To su##est measures to ma&e it a ma,or tourist site! The R-1-ARC M-TODO%O
CHAPTER FOUR
1AM)%- U-1TIONNAIR- FOR :I1ITOR1 :I1ITIN< KA%A K-NDRA G JAMMU! >!
aL Male L Female
.! A#e aL less than ./ yrs L ./ G / yrs cL / G yrs dL ao"e / yrs
! Marital status aL 1in#le L Married cL Di"orced
! Are you aL Tourist L Nati"e of Jammu!
0! o' you came to &no' aout &ala &endra E6 aL Tourist roachers! L Ad"ertisements and pulicity cL Hour hotel sta( dL %ocals eL Any other source
! Any speci8c moti"atin# reason for "isit! aL )ahari paintin#s L Modern art cL 1culptures dL )ortraits eL :isuals of architectural herita#e
@! Ratin# of the art collection at &ala Kendra E6 aL )oor L A"era#e cL
B! Do you thin& Kala Kendra is 'ell maintainedE 6 aL Hes L No
?! Do you 8nd the drin&in# 'ater dispensers in Kala Kendra adeuate aL Hes L No
>/! Do you thin& ha"in# an ethnic eatery in an isolated spot at Kala Kendra 'ill e a #ood idea! aL Hes L No
>>! Do you thin& that 'ith enou#h promotion Kala Kendra can e de"eloped as a top tourist spot in Jammu! aL Hes L No!
ANA%H1I1 AND INT-R)R-TATION 5ased on the uestionnaire a sur"ey 'as conducted of 8fty "isitors "isitin# Kala Kendra o"er a span of 8fteen days! A statiscal interpretation of their responses collected from them is as follo'sE > <-ND-RE 6 Of the 8fty "isitors @ 'ere male and . 'ere female! .! A<-E 6 Out of the total "isitors B 'ere in the a#e #roup of less than ./yrs$ / 'ere in the a#e #roup of ./ G / yrs$ and >. 'ere in the / G / a#e #roup! ! MARITA% 1TATU1E 6 Of the total #roup @B 'ere sin#le and .. 'ere married! ! A=AR-N-11 OF KA%A K-NDRAE 6 Aout >/ had come to &no' aout Kala Kendra throu#h ad"ertisementspulicity in ne'spapers$ B/ had come to &no' of it throu#h their friends$ and >/ 'ho 'ere incidentally tourists from local friends! 0! :I1ITOR )ROFI%-E 6 B of the "isitors 'ere locals and > 'ere domestic tourists from other parts of India! ! MAINTAINANAC- OF KA%A K-NDRAE6 ? of the "isitors thin& that Kala Kendra is 'ell maintained ut of "isitors thin& that etter maintenance is reuired! @! DRINKIN< =AT-R FACI%ITI-1E 6 ? of "isitors e3pressed dissatisfaction 'ith drin&in# 'ater facilities on the premises and only 'ere satis8ed 'ith them! B! -TNIC -AT-RHE 6 B/ of "isitors thou#ht that ha"in# an ethnic eatery at an isolated spot in Kala Kendra 'ould e a #ood idea and ./ of the "isitors opined that it mi#ht lead to cro'din# and noise )ollution in Kala Kendra and may not e a #ood idea! ?! TOURI1M )OT-NTIA%E 6 ? of "isitors e3pressed the "ie' that 'ith enou#h promotion Kala Kendra can e de"eloped as a top tourist spot in Jammu! Only of the "isitors di#ressed from this "ie'!
CHAPTER FIVE
1U<<-1TION1 AND CONC%U1ION No' the researcher 'ill analy2e the potential that the Kala Kendra has of ein# positioned as a prime tourist attraction in the Jammu city! The prime factors in fa"our of &ala Kendra are its premium location and the art attractions it possesses! To actuali2e the tourism potential of Kala Kendra the follo'in# points must e considered and implemented appropriately in a phased manner! >! Timin# of &ala KendraE 6 Kala Kendra is usually open from >> am to 0 pm! This timin# is not ideal! In mornin#s and afternoons most people are usy 'ith their occupations! It is in e"enin#s that most 'or&in# people$ youn# professionals etc! ha"e #ot some leisure time! Therefore the &ala
Kendra must e open e"enin#s also for people 'antin# to spend their leisure time admirin# art! Closin# time in e"enin#s should e "aried as per the seasons! .! )roposal for a ethnic restaurantE 6 A
