- Title
- The Beyul: Sherpa Perspectives on Landscapes Characteristics and Tourism Development in Khumbu (Everest), Nepal
- Creator
- Nepal, Sanjay K.; Mu, Yang; Lai, Po-Hsin
- Relation
- Religious Tourism and the Environment p. 70-82
- Publisher Link
- http://dx.doi.org/10.1079/9781789241600.0070
- Publisher
- CAB International
- Resource Type
- book chapter
- Date
- 2020
- Description
- This chapter examines local residents' perspectives of Nepal's Khumbu (Mt Everest) region and the role of tourism in shaping residents' perspectives of this sacred landscape. This region is believed to be a sacred beyul, or a hidden valley that acts as a refuge, by local Buddhist Sherpas, and has undergone tremendous environmental, economic, and social changes due to the increased popularity of trekking tourism in the area. This chapter is based on data and information collected during two visits to the study location in 2014. It is reported that Sherpas' emotional and spiritual bonds with the landscape are reinforced through routinized contact with the sacred cultural features and consistent compliance with the rules of conduct. It is argued that Sherpa residents' objective recognition of the sacred landscape is influenced by geographical proximity to sacred sites, age of residents, and their religious backgrounds. Subjective interpretations of sacred landscape are also shaped by a strong awareness of behavioural restrictions, family influence and personal experiences. These strong bonds, however, are under threat as the religious influence of the landscape is diminishing with the shift of people's economic dependency from the land to a consumer culture facilitated by tourism.
- Subject
- Mount Everest; Nepal; Khumbu; tourism
- Identifier
- http://hdl.handle.net/1959.13/1454332
- Identifier
- uon:44907
- Identifier
- ISBN:9781789241600
- Language
- eng
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