Paper Title
WASTE MANAGEMENT SCENARIO AT RELIGIOUS TOURISM SITES

Abstract
India is a land of rich spiritual and cultural heritage. It is a home to various pilgrimage sites that attracts numerous tourists every year not only within India but also from outside India. Religious sites like Varanasi, Rishikesh, Haridwar, Mathura, Tirupati, Amritsar, Ajmer have a deep significance for their followers. Such destinations welcome the visitors for various religious ceremonies and festivals gathering huge crowds. The immense interest of people in visiting such destinations leads to growing market of religious tourism in India. It contributes greatly to the prosperity of the country, offers means of livelihood, fosters cross-cultural interaction, and preserves the spiritual heritage of the country.However, the growing influx of tourists creates various challenges at such destinations. One such major issue is waste management. Large volume of waste is still carelessly thrown off in India without any previous treatment, that causes number of problems for environment and human health as well. In this study, we address this issue of waste management with respect to various religious sites in India. This paper reviews the current scenario of waste management at religious places in India and the challenges faced because of the same. It also suggests ways for improvement for better visitor experience. Keywords - Tourism, Waste Management, Religious Tourism, Solid waste