Question

How is tourism an important activity in the Ganga-Brahmaputra basin?

Answer 1

Hint: River Ganga and Brahmaputra are both considered sacred in India and have religious importance. Ganga has been an important site for settlements of medieval rulers. The rivers merge to form geographical terrain which is the largest of its kind in the world.

Complete Answer:
- The Ganga-Brahmaputra Basin refers to the area that is supplied with water by rivers Ganga in the Northern Plains of India, the Brahmaputra in the North Eastern part of India and both the rivers combined in Bangladesh i.e. the Sundarbans.
- River Ganga had been a site of settlement for medieval rulers. This led to formation of historical monuments in surrounding areas that are now tourist attractions. Taj Mahal, for e.g. is a beautiful monument which was built on the banks of river Yamuna which is a tributary of river Ganga. River Ganga itself is considered as a sacred river, and many cities on its banks are important sites of pilgrimage. The three most important pilgrim sites, where people arrive to take dips and cleanse themselves from their sins are Haridwar, Prayagraj and Varanasi.
- Brahmaputra is the 9th largest river in the world which flows through Tibet, India and Bangladesh. This river is home to the Kaziranga National Park and the Manas National Park both in Assam. As the river enters Bangladesh, it merges with river Ganga and other numerous tributaries. All these water bodies together give rise to the largest river delta in the world, i.e. the Ganga Delta which is more popularly known as the Sundarbans. It is also an important tourist attraction as it is the only place where the Royal Bengal Tiger is found. Many other endangered species also thrive here.

Note: The high influx of tourists has consequently led to the pollution of river Ganga.
Since it is also a home to many reptiles, fish and mammals, this pollution is harmful for them. Brahmaputra does not come in direct contact with humans as in case of Ganga, and hence is less polluted. Its major pollutants come from industries which also is a treat to its flora and fauna.