The Himalayan Mountains, Research Paper Example

The Mount Himalayas are the highest mountains in the world, with over 100 peaks rising to 7300 meters above the sea level. The highest peak of the mountains is Mt. Everest, which rises to about 8850 meters above sea level. The Himalayas Mountains offer a wide range of attractions to tourists from all over the world (Lew 202). The Mountains are a symbol of ecological significance in the whole world due to its ecosystem, as well as the indigenous flora and fauna that cover it. The mountains are also the main sources of a number of rivers in Southern Asia, not to mention the influence and effect of the Indian monsoons and Tibetan plateau in the region.

The Monsoons of Southern Asia

The Southern Asian climate is affected by monsoons that occur every year. The monsoons are simply changes in patterns of rainfall and winds. The Western Monsoons start in June and end in October. The monsoons originate from the south, cross the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean as they flow along the coastal regions of Bengal and India, before reaching their final destinations in the central and northern regions of the country (Lew 209). The monsoons cause the Southern region of Asia to experience three seasons, namely humid rainy seasons, very hot summers, and cold winters. The presence of the rainy season affects tourism as most of them prefer visiting the South region during the summer.

 Ethnic Diversity in India

With an approximate population of 1.23 billion as of the 2011 statistics, India is a canvas of multiple ethnic groups that pose varying cultures and religions. Each region of the country is occupied by a group that has certain ethnic affinities. For instance, the northwestern and north-central parts of the country consist of people whose ethnic is similar to the Indonesian and European people. The Tibetans and Burmans occupy the northeastern parts of India. Since the olden times, the country has been occupied by a wide range of languages, cultures, races, and religions. These variations account for the presence of different ethnic groups. Different religions are, in most cases, used to delineate the ethnic groups of Indians. The most prevalent religions include Hinduism, Jainism, Sikhism, Christianity, Buddhism, and Islam. The country’s constitution recognizes 22 languages that make up the entire population. However, there are several others that add to the 22 languages.

Caste System

The caste system is simply a way of categorizing people into various social classes. The highest class, which consists of teachers and priests, is known as the Brahmins, and it is followed by the Kshatriyas, who are mainly warriors and rulers. The third class of people is the Vaisyas, which consists of artisans, farmers, and merchants. Sudras in the last group, and it is made up of laborers (Lew 230). The system was originally established to encourage harmonious workings within Indian society. The system is influential in the modern society of India as it is still being used to group people into different social classes, depending on the amount of wealth they have. Moreover, the system influences different decisions made by Indians in different areas of life. For instance, the lowest caste is made up of poor people who experience discrimination from other society members. Many of them do slave labor and are forbidden from having well-paying jobs. Moreover, the caste system forbids people to marry outside their social categories, which encourages the preservation of poverty and richness in the classes they belong to.

Hinduism

Hinduism is a religion that focuses mainly on adherence to the moral values of life. Religion gives little concentration on the significance of God’s image. Rather, it emphasizes the values that an individual holds as they evolve. Hinduism is heterogeneous and is made up of varying schools of thought, hence the existence of a number of deities in that every person believes in. However, it has a number of tenants that act as a symbol of unity. Hindusim’s core faith is in the Brahman, which is described as the universal force that embodies existence, which Hindus can worship in humanlike-forms such as Shakti, Vishnu, and Shiva.

Partition

The partition of India refers to the separation of India into separate independent states. The division occurred in 1947, and it resulted in the Indian and Pakistan states. During the separation, two provinces, Punjab and Bengal, were divided into two based on their religious majorities of its residents. Partition also led to the division of the central treasury, the British Indian Army, the Indian Civil service and the Royal Indian Navy. It as well resulted in the displacement of hundreds of thousands of people, thus bringing about a refugee crisis in the country.

Examples of Adventure Tourism in the Himalayas

One example of adventure tourism in the Himalayas is trekking. The trekking trip starts with a bus ride from Kathmandu to the point where the tourists start their adventure. The trekkers go on hikes, which last for about five hours each day. To experience more adventure, the tourists visit Mt. Everest, where others climb the mountain while the rest remain in the camp. The second example of adventure tourism is White water rafting, which is done when snow flowing rivers turn into water torrents that crush rocks down the hill (Lew 250). The last example involves eco-adventure excursions. The excursions may include mountain bike riding and visiting religious areas.

Pilgrimage or Religious Tourism

Pilgrimage or religious tourism has been part of the Hindu religion for a long time. The pilgrims usually travel to get closer to the features they perceive bear certain supernatural powers. Traditionally, the pilgrims in India used to travel in different places across the world with the aim of visiting sacred sites (Lew 230). However, this form of pilgrimage has evolved into a more touristic form of pilgrimage. The present-day pilgrims visit sacred destinations but show little associations with the sacred sites. Their focus has shifted to be more fun-oriented than sacred oriented.

Approach to Tourism Taken By The Kingdom Of Bhutan.

The Bhutan country is among the few nations which have taken a sustainable approach to tourism. The government of Bhutan developed a tourism policy that aimed at controlling the quantity of tourists visiting the place at a time. Moreover, the country imposes high tariffs on tour operators, who wish to take tourists around the country, thus making the adventure more exclusive and unique to tourists.

The Unique Tourism System In The Maldives

Maldives provides tourists with a unique system where its resorts and secluded and made private from the rest of the tourism areas. The seclusion gives it a differentiated form of tourism. Moreover, Maldives uses the latest technology to design its resorts and meet people’s needs. The country also has a unique geographical structure with special attraction points and landmarks to offer people with the peaceful moments they are looking for during their vacations. Generally, Maldives strives to make every bit of its tourist points to be unique and to fulfill the needs of its clients.

Work Cited

Lew, Alan. World Regional Geography: Human Mobilities Tourism Destinations Sustainable Environments. Place of publication not identified: Kendall Hunt, 2015. Print.