Do Seven-Nights-Six-Days packages and ‘Destination in a Day’ tours lend toxicity to your curious traveller’s mind? Fret no more. We are here to break open the floodgates of an emerging sub-area of tourism which delves deep into the nuances of indigenous cultural traditions.
Cultural tourism brings to travellers the chance to immerse themselves in local rituals and practices, appreciate their histories and cultural identities. As a result, local communities are encouraged to flaunt their culture and use it to boost economic growth. Although a fairly recent trend witnessed globally, especially among developing countries, cultural tourism is a rapidly growing industry. One might argue its orientalist and imperialist roots; however, its benefits cannot be ignored.
Here is a list of 10 countries which are delightful cultural tourism destinations.
1. India
A heady cocktail of age-old traditions and monumental manifestations of the past, India is a melting pot of diverse cultures. The corridors of royalty in Rajasthan and the bustling temple-city of Benaras, the Dravidian backdrop of Tamil Nadu and the silver screens of Mumbai– all embrace you with warmth; eager for you to taste the living heritage of Incredible India!
Lake Palace, Rajasthan
Image source: chundapalace.com
Saint, Benaras
Image courtesy:sublimetourodisha.com
P.S: It would really upset The Taj Mahal (Agra) if it didn’t receive a mention in this article. Don’t you think so?
2. Kenya
With 42 cultures, countless languages and dialects, and a deep-rooted history, Kenya has one of the most rich and varied social tapestries. Often viewed as a destination only for wildlife enthusiasts, Kenya offers to cultural tourists an irresistible palette. Koobi Fora unearths the earliest evidence of human habitation on earth, while the streets of Lamu echo with centuries of sea trade and the thorn-enclosed villages of the Maasai tribe give you just a glimpse of the unique cultural mosaic that is Kenya.
Rituals of the Massai Tribe
Image courtesy: keyword-suggestions.com
Lamu Cultural Festival
Image source: magicalkenya.com
3. Poland
Are you a World War II geek? Do phenomenons like the Holocaust send a shiver down your spine? Poland encapsulates the darkness that clouded Europe in the mid-twentieth century. The modest town of Oswiecim better known as Auschwitz witnessed the most enormous evil caused to and by mankind. It is here that the Nazis built the largest concentration camp during WWII for the extermination of Jews. A gruesome exhibition in the former camp makes one rethink the basic fabric of humanity. After all, even the most dreadful reminiscence of the past gets integrated into the broader cultural framework.
Auschwitz Concentration Camp
Image source: dreamstime.com
Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial Plaque
Image source: wikipedia.org
4. Morocco
An important trade centre since ancient times, Morocco’s traditional craft industry is sure to satiate your culture-lust. In the alleyways of Marrakesh’s markets, as if stepping back two centuries, you can bump into coppersmiths hammering metal in the copper souk or witness auctions where carpets and caftans are sold to the highest bidder. Dotted with tombs and palaces, Fez is a major religious and intellectual centre as well as an architectural gem. The ninth-century Qarawiyin Mosque is bound to enchant you. Apart from these, events like the Olive festival and the Honey festival display local traditional practices and ceremonies.
Market in Marrakesh
Image source: wsimag.com
Qarawiyin Mosque, Fez
Image source: theredlist.com
5. Vietnam
Also known as the ‘land of ascending dragons’ (calm down, GoT fans!), Vietnam is a vortex of diverse cultures and ethnicities. One must visit the traditional handicraft villages, each specialising in a certain craft production- like the Bat Trang Ceramic Village or the Thuan incense making village. Sapa Markets like Bac Ha and Coc Ly give an insight into the lives of the ethnic minorities while the Floating Market in Mekong is as unique and exciting as it sounds. The ancient town of Hoi An houses an array of old streets, assembly halls, pagodas and bridges – some displaying Japanese and Chinese influences.
Cai Rang Floating Market, Mekong Delta
Image source: vietnamtoursguide.com
Japanese covered-bridge, Hoi An ancient town
Image source: tourstohoian.com
6. Jordan
Embedded in history and strewn with conflict, Jordan’s culture resonates in its stone castles and rocky terrain. Petra in Wadi Musa is a city carved entirely in a mountain. It is one of the Seven Wonders of the World and includes a Monastery, a Roman theatre and the High Place of Sacrifice. Jerash, famous for its ancient Roman architecture and Shoubak with its Montreal Crusader Castle will definitely inspire the historian in you.
Petra City
Image source: internationaltraveller.com
Montreal Crusader Castle
Image source: myworldshots.com
7. United States of America
Think of the US. Now think of culture. What comes to your mind? – Hotdogs? Broadway? Cowboys? Well, yes. But how much do we know about America’s culture in the Pre-Columbian era? Native American culture is vibrant but is often ignored by many culture enthusiasts. One must definitely pay a visit to Taos Pueblo, a settlement of adobe dwellings dating to the thirteenth century. In Santa Fe, one will find numerous shops and galleries which serve as a gateway to a life-altering addiction to Native arts. One of the famous battles in U.S. history is remembered in the Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument, where the Sioux and Cheyenne successfully crushed the U.S. army’s seventh Cavalry.
Taos Pueblo, New Mexico
Image source: allroadsnorth.com
Little Bighorn Battlefield Memorial
Image source: thefoxworthytravelingshow.com
8. Greece
No other country defines the essence of culture as well as the birthplace of democracy: Greece. The Acropolis of Rhodes dating to the Classical Greek period, the enthralling Lion Gate of Mycenae, the dominating Temple of Poseidon at Cape Sounion and Pella, where Alexander the Great was born -all of these sites have a tale to weave, a history to recite. Modern state systems all over the world owe their political and administrative origins to Greece. And it is this global hegemony of Greek heritage that makes it a ‘must see’ for all cultural tourists.
Lion Gate, Mycenae
Image source: wikipedia.org
The Temple of Poseidon
Image source: greece-web.com
9. Colombia
The vueltiao hat, the Colombian tiple, Carnivals, Bandeja Paisa, Football, Folkloric dance and Gloria from Modern Family sum up Colombian culture to the T. In addition, whale-watching is a tourist activity which is slowly gaining momentum. The beaches of Juanchaco, La Barra and Bahia Malaga National Park are perfect for viewing these large mammals. The locals consider the whales to be a rich component of their biodiversity and thus, invest in and propagate whale watching.
Whale watching, Colombia
Image source: www.voyagecolombia.com
10.Turkey
Sitting on the boundary of two continents, Turkey displays a fusion of cultures while preserving the traditions of the past. With Hagia Sophia (a Byzantine basilica museum), Pamukkale (thermal spa terraces), Grand Bazar (a labyrinth of markets), the iconic Sultan Ahmed Mosque, House of the Virgin Mary and series of museums and art galleries, Turkey has something to offer for every one. All you need to do is immerse yourself in the cultural richness of this country.
Hagia Sophia Museum
Image source: blog.oup.com
Pamukkale
Image source: turklandtravel.com
If you are a creative tourist, then these cultural tourism destinations will absolutely blow your mind. After all, cultural tourism, more than anything, is a process of accumulation and assimilation of different concepts, perceptions, traditions and identities.
