View of ECOTOURISM POTENTIAL OF GAGRON FORT AND ITS ENVIRONS WITH SPECIAL REFRENCE TO FLORISTIC DIVERSITY

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ACCENT JOURNAL OF ECONOMICS ECOLOGY & ENGINEERING

Peer Reviewed and Refereed Journal IMPACT FACTOR: 2.104(INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL) ISSN-2456-1037

Vol.04,Special Issue 04, ²^nd Conference (ICIRSTM) April 2019, Available Online: www.ajeee.co.in/index.php/AJEEE

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ECOTOURISM POTENTIAL OF GAGRON FORT AND ITS ENVIRONS WITH SPECIAL REFRENCE TO FLORISTIC DIVERSITY

Divyendu Sen¹ And Shuchita Jain²

1Research Scholar, Department of Botany, J.D.B. Govt.Girls College, Kota, Rajasthan, India

2Associate Professor, Department of Botany, J.D.B. Govt.Girls College, Kota, Rajasthan, India

Abstract:- During the past few years, many countries took interest in ecotourism policy. By generating revenue and drawing world attention to the importance, ecotourism can be a positive force for the preservation of World Heritage sites. Gagron fort is situated in Jhalawar district, Rajasthan state (India). It is an example of hill and water fort, surrounded by Kalisindh and Ahu River by three sides. The rear of the fort is surrounded by the Mukundara hill and forest of Vindhyan range. The making of fort dates back to 7^th century though it saw its completion in the 14^th century. Established by King Bijaldev of the Doda/Parmara Empire. It was declared as World Heritage site in 2013, at the 37^th session of the World Heritage committee. Study area covers Gagron fort, banks of Kalisindh and Ahu River, Sufi saint Mitthe Shah Dargah, Saint Pipaji temple and adjacent Mukundara hills. The vegetation of Jhalawar is dominated by the tropical thorn shrub forest in the plains of Kalisindh River and tropical dry deciduous forest on the hills in west. By protecting biological diversity, ecotourism is raising appreciation in developing countries.

Assuming such oversight, ecotourim can benefit both the environment and economic development.

Keywords:- Gagron Fort, Ecotourism, floristic diversity, Vegetation.

1. INTRODUCTION

Jhalawar range is situated in the southeastern district of Jhalawar in Rajasthan state of India. It is a part of Hadoti region of Rajasthan and lies at Malwa Plateau (Chourasia et.at, 2011). This area falls in the territorial forest division of Jhalawar district (24⁰37’ 40.57’ N, 76⁰10’58.64’E). The average annual rainfall of Jhalawar is 35 inches (890mm) which is the highest for Rajasthan state (www.jhalawar.nic.in). The vegetation of Jhalawar is dominated by the tropical thorn shrub forest in the plains towards Kalisindh River and tropical dry deciduous forest on the hills in west (Champion et al. 1968) Dominant vegetation type is

‘Ronj’ (Acacia leucophloea) scattered across a flat landscape.

The soil depth of this flat land is quite less resulting in sparse scrubby vegetation.

Other vegetation types are Anogeissus pendula, Butea monosperma, Diospyros melanoxylon, Zizyphus sp., Prosopis juliflora and Madhuca indica. There are small patches of moderately dense dry deciduous forest in the undulating parts of the area dominated by Butea monosperma and Anogeissus pendula (A.pande. 2012). Ecotourism is an important niche market in the world tourism industry. It is becoming increasingly popular as an alternative to mass tourism. The emergence of ecotourism was fascinated by the environmental damage associated with mass tourism.

(Herath et al.2002) Since the adoption of Ecotourism in 1972 of the comention concerning the Protection of World Natural and Cultural Heritage, around 450 sites in the world declared as World Heritage Sites. These sites have their historic, scientific and aesthetic qualities; therefore, many sites are favourite tourist attractions. By generating revenue and drawing world attention to the importance, ecotourism can be a positive force for the preservation. Gagron Fort is one of the rare forts that is protected by van (forest) and jal(water). The fort is well known for being built without a foundation and a construction that takes support from the hills.

1.2 Objectives

 To extend knowledge about ecotourism.

 To create awareness amongst local people about conservation of flora.

 To attract more tourists towards Gagron Fort.

 Efforts to increase in the overall travel market of Jhalawar.

 To study floristic diversity.

 Prepare complete flora of Gagron and its environs.

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2 2. METHODOLOGY

The present study is based on author’s field survey, primary data collected through direct contact with tourists and local people. The sites for collecting data were Pipaji temple, Ganesh ghat, Gagron fort, bagher valley, banks of Kalisindh and Ahu river. Secondary data were collected from different departments of government i.e. tourism department, water supply department and Forest department. Data collected between Nov.2018 to March 2019. A list of plants with their common/local name, families and distribution were prepared and some major plants are listed below.

The following list has been arranged according to Bentham & Hooker’s system of classification:

S.No. Plant Local Name Family Distribution

1 Ranunculus scleratus L Jaldhaniya Ranunculaceae Boreal

2 Sisymbrium irio L. Asalio Brassicaceae Paleotropical,

Boreal 3 Abutilon ramosum (Cav.) Guill &

Perr. Jalebi Malvaceae Paleotropical

4 Sterculia urens Roxb.^* Kadaya Sterculiaceae Paleotropical

5 Alysicarpus tetragonolobus Edgew Fabaceae Paleotropical

6 Atylosia albicans Benth. Fabaceae Paleotropical

7 Crotalaria medicaginea Lam. Gulati Fabaceae Paleotropical

8 Vicia faba L. Bakla Fabaceae Boreal

9 Coccinia cordifilia (L.) Cogn. Kindoori Cucurbitaceae Paleotropical

10 Oldenlandia diffusa (Willd.) Roxb. Rubiaceae Paleotropical

11 Eclipta prostrate L. Bhangra Asteraceae Paleotropical

12 Ganaphalium pulvinatum Delile Asteraceae Paleotropical

13 Pulicaria foliolosa Dc. Sonila Asteraceae Paleotropical

14 Salvadora persica L. Jaal Salvadoraceae Paleotropical

15 Cordia gharaf (Forsk.) Ehrenb. &

Aschers Gundi Ehretiaceae Paleotropical

16 Verbascum chinense^* Kokhima Scrophulariaceae Paleotropical

17 Orobanche cernua Loefl. Aagiya Orobanchaceae Paleotropical

18 Petalidium barlerioides (Roth,) Nees Acanthaceae Paleotropical

19 Lepidagathis fischeri^** Acanthaceae Paleotropical,

Affrica 20 Phyla nodiflora (L.) E.Greene^* Jalbuti Verbenaceae Paleotropical

21 Chrozophora prostrate Dalz. Euphorbiaceae Paleotropical

22 Chrozophora rottleri (Giess) A.

Juss^* Euphorbiaceae Paleotropical

23 Ficus hispida L. Kathumber Moraceae Paleotropical

24 Echinochloa crus-galli (L.) P.Beauv. Saweenk Poaceae Paleotropical 25 Setaria verticillata (L.) P.Beauav Laptuna Poaceae Paleotropical,

Neotropical

 = Species, previously not reported in Gageron.

 =Species, previously not reported in Jhalawar.

2.1 Ecotourism Hot Spots surrounding Gagron Fort

The hidden and unexplored places surrounding of Gagron fort with their importance is divided as follows:

S.No. Name of observed places Fields of Importance 1. Main Fort (Gagron) Religious, Socio-Cultural 1. Dargah Mitthe Shah Religious, Socio-Cultural

2. Saint Pipa Temple Religious, Socio-Cultural, Ecological 3. Balinda/Ganesh ghat Religious, Ecological

3. CONCLUSION

Most of plants have paleotropical distribution. Being a water and hill fort, the finding shows diverse floristic elements. Among Monocotyledons, dominant family is Poaceae. Therefore, the representation of Monocots is comparatively poor in the area. Similarly, among the Dicotyledons, Leguminoseae and Asteraceae are dominant families. The paper stresses the need of such studies to encourage ecotourism and efforts to generate revenue for the betterment of society

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