Economic-Environmental Impact of Pilgrimage Tourism in Assam-A Case Study of Pilgrims in Kamakhya Temple

Assam is one of the splendid tourist destinations of the world due to its rich cultural heritage and biodiversity. Kamakhya temple is one of the famous religious centre in the world. This temple is of mother goddess Kamakhya which is one of the important Shakti pethas of India. Kamakhya temple, which dates back to the prehistoric times is one of the most reversed religious places of the world. It is situated on the top of Nilanchal hills at a distance of about 10 kms from Guwahati railway station. It attracts about 800-1000 visitor every day. Ambibashi Mela is held for four days in June. The temple is considered as an important place for Shakti as well as tantric worship. In addition, the rulers of ancient Assam probably after Brahmanas adopted tantrism as their tenet and as a result of this royal patronage; Kamakhya became a renowned centre of tantric sacrifices, mysticism and sorcery. The paper tries to examine the primary impact of tourism in Nilanchal region due to famous shaktipeeth i.e. (Rao, Elements of Hindu Iconography, Vol. I, Part. I, The Law Printing House, Madras: 1914, p. 37). The form of yoni is idolised that symbolises the ingenious organ of the feminine.