Problems and prospects of rural tourism: The case of ‘B’ & ‘C’ category pilgrimage places in Pune area

The rural tourism is speedily developing in India. The ‘Pilgrimage or Religious tourism’ is one of the segments of rural tourism. The government at the center as well the states in India has always encouraged tourism as a part of economic growth trajectory. The government of Maharashtra in 1997 launched a program for development of lesser known pilgrimage places in rural areas across the State. Since last ten years the program has succeeded into developing of a good number of small places into tourist-spots in rural area. The Pune area in the State of Maharashtra is endowed with many places having geographical, historical, climatic and religious places of heritage. It always attracts local as well as national tourists. The present study is focused at understanding the importance, problems and prospects of small pilgrimage places in Pune area from the point of view of rural tourism.