1.2 History of tourism
History of Tourism in the early period in India
The history of tourism developed mainly through indirect sources in the early period. In India, in the early days of agricultural abundance, export of cash crops created an important trade link. Manufacture of iron-ore into steel for weaponry was another important item of trade by the later Vedic period. Tools and textiles were other renowned Indian products. Contemporary Greek and Hebrew scholars have noted the wonder of India and her fabled wealth. Owing to the predominance of trade routes over – land crossing between Asia and Europe, trade tours were an important development in this period. In the early days, pilgrimage or pilgrim travel assumed great importance. Ashoka the great, traveled a great deal in his eagerness to spread the doctrines of Buddha. Throughout his travels, from Pataliputra to Lumbini on to Kapilavastu and Sarnath and finally to Gaya, Emperor Ashoka had special memorials set up at each spot and also rest houses where travelers could rest. Trees were planted along the road sides so that the traveler would be protected from the harsh sun shine. Harsha was another great emperor who gently influenced by the Buddhist scriptures, built institutions and Dharamsalas for the travelers. Rest houses were built in towns and villages. A number of monasteries were also built for the pilgrims. This shows that travel facilities were much improved and travel was not a cumbersome experience. Brahmin