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Jain Heritage of Kasai-Kumari River Basin in West Bengal, India: Application of Informatics for Conservation and Tourism Promotion
Abstract
Jainism is renowned for its remarkable archaeological heritage, attracting both domestic and international visitors. It was introduced to the river basins of western West Bengal in the 5th century B.C. by Mahavir. Jainism gained significant influence in the region between the 9th and 12th centuries A.D, largely due to the copper trade via waterways. This study examines the tourism potential of the Jain relics found in abundance on the Kasai-Kumari river basin. It focuses on 21 Jain heritage sites, using data on their current status and GPS coordinates for spatial analysis, preservation, and the creation of location maps, utilizing the advanced capabilities of ArcGIS Version 10.5. Evaluates the heritage value, infrastructure value, and conservation status of the selected sites; assessing the relationship between conservation efforts and tourism potential. The study identified a negative correlation between heritage value and infrastructure value, showing the government’s neglect of heritage tourism development in the region. The study suggests the use of informatics and AI for the protection, documentation, and dissemination of information, capacity building, and community involvement to ensure conservation and sustainable tourism development.
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References
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Informatics Studies: ISSN: 2583-8954 (Online), 2320-530X (Print)