Deep in the heart of Sikkim, a state in India’s northeastern frontier, Cho La is poised to become the torch-bearer of a different kind of tourism — battlefield tourism. As the Indian administration is providing new efforts to develop Cho La as well as its other strategic locations like Doklam trijunction to a possible tourist destination destination the move is expected to further add to the history and mystery of the region. This action is part of a broader trend of battlefield tourism that is gaining popularity worldwide, from the fields of Normandy, France, where fighting raged during World War II, to the hallowed ground of Gettysburg in the United States.

Cho La and the Game Theory of Doklam

Cho La – a scenic but historically significant place in Sikkim – is one of the new sites for India’s battlefield tourism project. Located close to the Doklam Plateau – the site of a 2017 face-off between Indian and Chinese soldiers – which is the trijunction between India, China and Bhutan, this spot had previously seen high tension between the two sides in 2017. To tourists and history geeks who dream of seeing places defined by armed conflict, the decision to open Cho La and its vicinity is a big deal.

For decades, Cho La has been as remote and tightly controlled as Nathu La. But India’s signing off on tourism to the region is a game-changing move that presents us with an opportunity to explore the military dimensions of the area like never before. In continuation of the same, the Sikkim government is collaborating with the Indian Army to create all required infrastructure and facilities to make the stay safe and comfortable. Travel permits will be issued to tourists for the trijunction area on the Indian side which they can carry while travelling to Doklam.

Sikkim and Battlefield Tourism

This change is certain to be widely heralded by the tourism industry in Sikkim. Sikkim, referred to more often for its magnificent landscape and calm ambiance, has always been the wish-list of nature lovers and trekkers. It will not be the worst if the state slightly livens up the tourism with a layer of military history. It would be a draw for more than just tourists, but international visitors who want to learn about the darker, more reflective side of history.

The Sikkim government under Additional Chief Secretary CS Rao is approaching this new venture cautiously. A maximum of 30 vehicles will initially be allowed daily on the Doklam, which can be increased to 50 “based on the condition of the roads and clearance” by the army. It’s a measured act that will give them more confidence in protecting the area, while tourists will also be able to visit and explore this important site in safety.

The direct financial relief that will come from footfall in the region is only a tip of the iceberg and is an added economic benefit – battlefield tourism will also help in publicising the geostrategic significance of the region. Converting these important places into tourist destinations will not only add to the tourism infrastructure of Sikkim but also render knowledge on the strategic relevance of the region.

Global Trends in Battlefield Tourism

Cho La and the Doklam trijunction will soon add to the growing list of battlefield tourism, but it is not exclusive. All over the world places such as Normandy in France, Gettysburg in the U.S., Verdun in France, the Gallipoli Peninsula in Turkey and the Kokoda Trail in Papua New Guinea have long lured tourists interested in war history and how it affects nations and people.

Millions of visitors still flock to Normandy, site of the famous D-Day landings of World War II. Likewise, Gettysburg, in the U.S., is an essential site for those interested in the Civil War, and it is still delineated by its preserved battlefield and vivid history. Verdun, site of one of the longest and bloodiest battles of World War I, is still a symbol of sacrifice and endurance.

The boom in battlefield tourism gives countries a means of keeping the memory of events alive while giving visitors a way to experience past events more personally. In Sikkim, Cho La’s opening is likely to become something of a microcosm of this worldwide trend, introducing a new generation to the history of the region while offering the world a peek at India’s military heritage.

AN ECLECTIC BLEND OF HISTORY AND TOURISM

What distinguishes battlefield tourism from other forms of heritage tourism is that it is capable of interweaving learning and contemplation within the more customary purvey of travel, that of pleasure and enjoyment. Not only are visitors exploring a region’s natural beauty, but they are also invited to learn about and absorb its history.

That blend of military history with natural allure is heady stuff to Sikkim. For not only will the more tourists that come to these sites, also strengthen the preservation of the heritage of the region, but the message of yesterday will be remembered for tomorrow. That this will be both safe and also great experiences is set in stone because the Indian Army is instrumental in developing the infrastructure around these sites.

Military Tourism on the Rise Worldwide

The fact that Cho La is included in India’s battlefield tourism plans reflects a trend that will likely go beyond the borders of Sikkim. Several countries are reviewing their policies along similar lines as they recognise the power of historical battlefields as vehicles to involve ordinary people with history in the most compelling manner. In other cases, battlefield tourism is being fused with other types of tourism, such as nature, adventure and even wellness tourism, allowing the sites to be visited by gradual distances of the population.

That’s nothing though next to the number of those who make the pilgrimage along the Kokoda Trail in Australia which marks a battle in WWII fought between the Japanese and the Allies. The Turkish Gallipoli Peninsula is an example of how battlefield tourism is now an integral part of a nation’s tourism offering, especially for tourists coming to try to grasp the horror of World War I.

ACROSS the world, war zones claim the lives of thousands of people each year – with more than 400 killed last year in the first half of 2014 alone. Cho La and wider battlefield tourism in Sikkim are still at an embryonic stage but their growth potential is huge. With a revival of interest in world military history, including Sikkim within this movement is a pertinent move and will appeal not just to the growing number of people interested in India’s history, but with tourists from all over the world that want a historical experience right from the inside.

Looking Forward

The implications of battlefield tourism both in Sikkim and at large, are likely to be significant. And as battlefield tourism opens itself up to even more destinations, a new generation of traveler will soon be stepping on the same hallowed battlefields where history was forged. But for Sikkim, this is just the start of a dawn for the state and there’s much in the offing in terms of metamorphism of the state’s tourism industry.

In the weeks ahead, those who traverse Cho La as travelers will be more than tourists to a scenic destination — they will find themselves walking on a battlefield, where the past is not even smoke but the memory of a smoke that still lingers in the air. With proper planning by the government of Sikkim and the Indian Army, this initiative may also provide tourists a glimpse of history that shaped the region.

The collaboration also represents an important departure in the way military history is viewed — not as a dull distant memory, but a vivid, living, and breathing reality that we continue to explore. See page 33 for more information Through battlefield tourism the past is brought to new life in vivid ways allowing future generations to make sense and learning to value the sacrifices that have been made in the name of peace and security.