NEW DELHI: At the Times of India’s Uttarakhand Transformation Dialogues held in Dehradun, poet and author Dr Kumar Vishwas discussed the state’s spiritual essence, cultural identity and development journey. He urged people to view Uttarakhand not merely as a destination, but as a sacred space that demands respect.Emphasising the deeper connect people share with the region, he said, “Uttararakhand is not a state, it’s a sentiment. People should enter the state as though they’re entering a temple.” People who visit the Devbhoomi should embody its spirit.Vishwas made a strong appeal to preserve the sanctity of key pilgrimage towns. He urged authorities and visitorsnot to turn Haridwar and Rishikesh into commercial tourism hubs, suggesting that destinations like Mussoorie and Landour are better suited for such activities.Protecting the sacred character of holy towns would ensure that people continue to respect their cultural and spiritual heritage.He said that visitors must come to Uttarakhand with “tameez and tehzeeb,” respecting the traditions of the land.Sharing his views on the idea of religious tourism, Vishwas said, “I’ve been visiting Uttarakhand since many years. These two words should never go together. Places like Haridwar and Kedarnath are not religious, they are spiritual. Anyone can create a religion to fool gullible masses. Spirituality is all about keeping humanity alive in you.”Referring to the Covid-19 pandemic, he highlighted India’s scientific achievements and humanitarian outlook. “India’s scientific temperament helped fight the corona epidemic. We were among the first to create a vaccine and then sent it to countries that couldn’t afford creating one. This is India’s thought process. We want everyone to stay happy, prosper,” he said.He also advised travellers to embrace the local culture. “When you visit Uttarakhand for tourism, you must follow its culture, eat its food, else you might as well visit Switzerland,” he said.When asked about the growing influence of AI on every aspect of life including creative arts, he said “The more AI comes, the more real intelligence will be valued.” Weaving together spirituality, cultural pride and modern realities, Vishwas kept the audience hooked with his anecdotes and wide-ranging knowledge.
