Context: Recently, Geological Survey of India (GSI) has identified certain geological sites across the Northeast for promotion of geo-tourism as some States in the region prepare to ‘unlock’ from September 2021.
Geo heritage sites

• Twelve locations in the Northeast are included in the 32 approved geotourism or geoheritage sites in the country
• Of the 12 sites, three are in Meghalaya, two each in Assam and Tripura, and one each in Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland and Sikkim.

Majuli (Assam):

• A river “island”, among the world’s largest, in Brahmaputra river.
• The island is also the hub of spiritualism in Assam because of a number of ‘satras’ or Vaishnav monasteries established by the 15th-16th century saint-reformer Srimanta Sankaradeva and his disciples.

Sangetsar Tso (Arunachal Pradesh):

• It is popularly known as Madhuri Lake.
• It is close to the border with Tibet and was formed due to the damming of a river during a major earthquake in 1950.

Loktak Lake (Manipur)

• It is the largest freshwater lake in the Northeast.
• The attractions of this lake are the ‘phumdis’ or floating biomass and the ‘phumsangs’ or huts of fishermen on them.
• The Keibul Lamjao National Park, the only floating wildlife habitat on earth, is on the southwestern part of the lake and is the last natural habitat of the sangai or brow-antlered dancing deer.

Others

• Mawmluh Cave, Mawblei or God’s Rock, Therriaghat (Meghalaya); Umananda (Assam), Chabimura, Unakoti (Tripura); Sangetsar Tso (Arunachal Pradesh); Reiek Tlang (Mizoram); Naga Hill Ophiolite (Nagaland); Stromatolite Park (Sikkim).

Geotourism

• Geotourism is defined as tourism that sustains or enhances the distinctive geographical character of a place—its environment, heritage, aesthetics, culture, and the well-being of its residents.
• This tourism conducted to those geo-sites, which exhibit unique objects of geological, geomorphological or geographical interest.
• Of the three simple attribute of any environment i.e., abiotic, biotic and cultural the principal focus of geotourism is mainly on the “abiotic” aspects.

It may comprise

• a. simple geomorphic landforms such as rocky over-bridge or an exotic balancing rock.
• b. a fossil occurrence site like a fossil wood park
• c. any other structure of huge geological significance

Geo-heritage Sites

• It refers to the geological features which are inherently or culturally significant offering insight to earth’s evolution or history to earth science or that can be utilized for education.
• Geological Survey of India (GSI) is the parent body which is making efforts towards identification and protection of geo-heritage sites/national geological monuments in the country.
• Some of these sites are: Marine Gondwana fossil park in Chhattisgarh; Siwalik vertebrate fossil park in Himachal Pradesh; Stromatolite park in Rajasthan; Pillow lava in Karnataka, Eparchaean unconformity and Tirumala hills in Andhra Pradesh, Lonar Lake in Maharashtra, etc.

Problems

• i) Poor Communication systems, especially transport as the region is landlocked and is connected to the rest of the country by only a 22 kms narrow ‘chickenneck’, and at times of natural crisis such as landslides, floods, etc, the region gets completely cut-off from the subcontinent.
• ii) Rigid laws and restrictions for travellers into the region are another impediment.
• iii) Infra-structure is less developed and hotels are few in number and they need to be improved and village homes and country-stays should be encouraged.
• iv) Government Policyand general stability and security are a very important factor and stability in all the states and are necessary for any long-term sustainable eco-cultural-tourism plan in the region.
• v) Less Awareness: Lack of proper advertising, marketing, networking and publishing of materials relating to the N.E. region of India is yet another problem. Very few travellers, even in India, have little idea about the region and consider some of the states to be alien and dangerous.