Religious theme parks as tourist attraction systems

In recent years, several religious theme parks dedicated to different faiths have materialised and gained popularity. Based on the study of Anandsagar, a religious theme park in the pilgrim-town of Shegaon in Maharashtra, India, this paper argues that religious theme parks are emerging tourist attractions that have significant implications for management of religious heritage and tourism. The qualitative data collected through interviews and participant observation is analysed using Leiper's conceptual approach of 'tourist attraction'. Developed by Shri Gajanan Maharaj Sansthan, Anandsagar is a religious-recreational landscape spread over 350 acres and includes a 55-acres lake, an island housing a spiritual centre, and a plantation of more than 50,000 trees. Tableaux, large-scale sculptures, and installations in the park display mythological and religious stories alongside attractions, such as an aquarium, mini-rail, 3500- seats amphitheatre, and a 50-acre amusement park inspired by Disneyland. Charitable donations and volunteer workforce make it affordable and inclusive. Since the opening of Anandsagar, the numbers of visitors to Shegaon have increased more than seven times and development of tourism-oriented services including hotels, lodges, and restaurants has begun to transform the socio-spatial fabric of the town. Religious theme parks create new heritage attraction and redefine leisure/tourism connections in pilgrim-towns.