A Geographical Study of Tourism Potential at Siddhnath Temple, Mhaswad in Satara District
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Religious Tourism##common.commaListSeparator## Visitor Satisfaction##common.commaListSeparator## Tourism Infrastructure##article.abstract##
This study evaluates the tourism potential of Siddhnath Temple located at Mhaswad in Man Taluka of Satara district by analysing its physical environment, historical significance, socio-economic setting, visitor profile, and tourism facilities. Using both primary and secondary data, including a structured questionnaire survey of 150 visitors (136 valid responses), the study assesses visitor behaviour, satisfaction, travel patterns, and key attractions. The findings show that religious importance, fairs and yatras, and scenic surroundings are the major motivational factors drawing tourists, which is consistent with tourism development perspectives highlighted by UNWTO (2002) and Bhatia (1986). Transport accessibility is moderately developed, with visitors depending mainly on private and public transport. The study concludes that Siddhnath Temple has strong potential for sustainable religious tourism but needs improved infrastructure, accommodation, sanitation, and safety for better visitor experience and local development, aligning with cultural landscape studies such as Shinde (2012) and demographic insights from Census of India (2011) and Local Temple Trust Records, Mhaswad (2023).
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