Union Tourism recommmeds Kamakhya for World Heritage status

Guwahati, July 6 (UNI) The Union Tourism ministry has urged Unesco to accord World Heritage status to Kamakhya Temple, perched atop Nilachal hills on the bank of river Brahmaputra, a pilgrimage site and Asom's famous hub for travellers.

The Ministry has requested Unesco to enlist the ancient temple, which is a favoured destination for almost all the tourists visiting this part of the country, so that its rating as a global tourism site goes up.

An official source informed that Kamakhya Temple along with a Buddhist monastery in Arunachal Pradesh formed the core of Tourism Ministry's latest blueprint to market globally the places of religious and cultural importance in Northeast.

The famous shrine attracts averagely 4,00,000 tourists and pilgrims annually from home and abroad, particularly from Nepal. Out of these, average 3,00,000 devotees throng the place of worship during the mega fair held on occasion of Ambubachi---during which the presiding deity, the Goddess Kamakhya, is believed to undergo her annual menstrual period during the month of June.

The temple trust and authority, the district administration and Asom tourism establishments face a tough task every year to tackle the rush of visitors during Ambubachi.

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