Department of Environmental science, MGS University, Bikaner, Rajasthan, India

*Corresponding author:Anil Kumar Dular, Department of Environmental Science, MGS University, Bikaner, Rajasthan, India. E-mail Id: dular_ak@rediffmail.com

Article Information:Submission: 09/12/2025; Accepted: 07/01/2026; Published: 10/01/2026

Copyright: © 2026 Dular AK, et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Ecotourism may appeal to ecologically and socially conscious individuals. Generally, it focuses on volunteering, personal growth and environmental responsibility. Ecotourism typically involves travel to destinations where flora, fauna, and cultural heritage are the primary attractions. One of the goals of ecotourism is to offer tourists insight into the impact of human beings on the environment, and to foster a greater appreciation of our natural habitats. Therefore, in addition to evaluating environmental and cultural factors, an integral part of ecotourism is the promotion of recycling, energy efficiency, water conservation, and creation of economic opportunities for local communities.

Ecotourism (also known as ecological tourism) is responsible travel to fragile, pristine, and usually protected areas that strives to be low impact and (often) small scale [4]. It purports to educate the traveller; provide funds for ecological conservation; directly benefit the economic development and political empowerment of local communities; and foster respect for different cultures and for human rights. Ecotourism is held as important by those who participate in it so that future generations may experience aspects of the environment relatively untouched by human intervention. Ecotourism is a form of tourism that involves traveling to tranquil and unpolluted natural areas [6] According to the definition and principles of ecotourism established by The International Ecotourism Society (TIES) in 1990, ecotourism is “Responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and improves the well-being of local people.[7]

Shekhawati region of Rajasthan consists of the areas falling under Sikar, Jhunjhunu and some parts of Churu, Nagaur and Jaipur. There are thousands of Villages & Towns which falls under this region. Shekhawati is famous for its rich heritage and beautiful architectures full of fresco paintings, hence also known as open air art gallery. In terms of geography, Shekhawati is an arid desert zone in Northeastern Rajasthan [6]. It falls under the Sikar, Jhunjhunu regions, and parts of Churu, Nagaur, and Jaipur. It is a hotspot for those who want to take a peek into India‘s rich cultural heritage and its art—the gorgeous architecture of Shekhawati is adorned with beautiful fresco paintings, giving it the name the open-air art gallery. The architectural structures you will get to see include Havelis(mansions), Bawadi (step wells), Dharamshalas (charitable inns), Chhatris (cenotaph), and Forts, built by the Shekhawat Rajput rulers and Marwari community.

The Shekhawati region in Rajasthan is known for its sculptures, handicrafts, and most importantly, its fresco paintings on the walls of Havelis and historical buildings. It has the largest concentration of wall painted mansions, forts, cenotaphs, and mansions in the country and the most extensive collection of murals in the world [8]. Some of the most important sites to visit are Nawalgarh, Mandawa, Jhunjhunu, Churu, Dundlod, Mukundgarh, Alsisar, and Tal Chhapar Sanctuary. The fresco paintings were made by artists who were called chiteras, who belonged to the kumhars(potters) caste. They were bright and colorful depictions of Shekhawati culture made using only natural colors.

The present inventory of mammals and birds will help in monitoring the population in future.[2] Shekhawati region is not so rich in carnivores and large mammals ‘diversity as compared to other districts of the Thar desert. Major reason for the poor diversity of these animals is high human population, fast destruction of natural habitats, industrialization, illegal mining, irrigation, shrinking forest covers and poaching. Only protected area of the region, Tal Chhapar Blackbuck sanctuary, is a small fenced area of about 7.19sq km. In addition to Blackbucks, some snakes, lizards, harriers and some other predator avian species are found in the sanctuary. Important mammals found in the region are Desert fox, Blackbuck, Blue bull, Desert cat, Mongoose, Hedgehog, Musk shrew, Desert gerbil, Indian gerbil and eight chiropteran species. Cobra, Saw-scaled viper and Krait are poisonous snakes of the area. No significant work on vertebrate diversity of Shekhawati region has been carried out, except the systematic of small mammalian [10].

As in floral composition the region lies in semiarid zone with low floral diversity due to scantly and irregular rainfall. Wind velocity in the region is quite high during the summer and sand storms are common feature of the area. Sand dunes are dominant in the entire region especially in northwestern part [1]. Though a large percentage of the total area is desert and even though there is little forest cover, Rajasthan has a rich and varied flora and fauna. The natural vegetation is classed as Northern Desert Thorn Forest (Champion 1936). These occur in small clumps scattered in a more or less open forms. Density and size of patches increase from west to east following the increase in rainfall. The Northwestern thorn scrub forests lie in a band around the Thar Desert, between the desert and the Aravallis. The Aravalli and the south-eastern region are home to the dry deciduous forests, with tropical dry broadleaf forests that include teak, Acacia, and other trees [3] Uncontrolled mining in mountain range of Aravalli and other small hiclocks in Jhunjhunu and Sikar districts are also affecting the floral and faunal diversity. Changing floral composition will definitely affect the faunal composition of the region [5].

The inventory of the present discourses was based on secondary data collected from different previous research, questionnaires made during the visit at various destination pertaining to ecotourism, help has been taken from the officials of tourism department of govt of Rajasthan, government policies, reports, case studies and various reports generated by NGOs as a supplemented studies for the proliferation as ecotourism concept. The researcher also used the

information and facts already available as base in order to analyze, explore and evaluate the problem at hand critically to figure out conclusion.
The study was based mainly upon the primary data and to find out the tourist potential of the area secondary data also used.
Primary data:It was collected from the local people and from the official of the various departments.
Secondary data:To find out the potential for tourism in that area secondary source such as Brochures, Publicity materials of the tourism dept. were used. The information was collected with the help of interview through questionnaires. Identification of flora in study is based on the use of herbarium of the parental varsity. To obtain the answer to question that how we can involve community in that area interviews of the above respondents were taken. To find out the potential for tourism in that area, interviews of local people were taken. The question in this part was open ended, with respondents encouraged to identify as many opportunities and impediments as possible. The questions in the questionnaire were focused to find out the problems in the conservation and ecotourism. This part deals with the analysis & interpretation of the data collected with the help of questionnaire related to professionals. Local people and tourists at Jhunjhunu district, specifically. There are about 10 questionnaires out of which 7 are filled by professionals (service man, government organization tourism department etc. of the region and remaining 3 filled by people of the local area community who are not engaged in any professional field at present (retired persons, self-employed, traditional peoples and so on).

Graphical representation and interpretation of statistical data received from the respondents as per various parameters

Interpretation
Through the data collected it has been found that most of the people are young ones in the case of professionals out of 70%, 20% lie in the age group of 15-25, 40% of professional’s lie in the age group of 25-35 and 10% lie in the age group of 35-45 while in the case of local respondents, all of the 30% lie in the age group of more than 45 years.

Interpretation
Through the data collected it has been found that in the case of professionals there are 30% male
& 40% are female. Similarly in the case of local people there are 30% respondents of male Gender only. Therefore, it’s clear from the above data that ratio of male Gender is e more in terms of respondents as compared to female respondents.

Interpretation For analyzing educational status of respondents, we sought as Graduate, Post graduate & others like illiterate, matric, etc. Now in the case of professionals as per the name (category) all were post graduate (70%) whereas in the case of local people, 10% are graduate while remaining 20% are from others.

Interpretation
Portion regarding occupation of the respondents were based on occupation as service man, self-employed and others like unemployed, student, retired etc. In the case of professionals all 60% where service man expects of 10% are self-employed, whereas among local people all 30% are of others.

Interpretation

Through the data collected, I found in the case of ‘ to know about the ecotourism ‘ all 70% from professionals as well as from local (30%) were aware about this topic.

Interpretation
Through the date collected, we concluded that all the 70% of professionals agree to the statement that they welcome tourists with open hands similarly all the 30% of the local people agree with the same.

Interpretation
Through the data collected, In the case of professionals, it is clear that 20% are agree while 50% are strongly agree with the statement

that ‘ ecotourism creates employment for people ‘ and among local people 10% are agree while 20% are strongly agree with this statement.

Interpretation
Through the collected data, I found in the case of professionals that 60% are satisfied with that, government have improved ecological condition in Jhunjhunu district while 10% are not satisfied, and in the case of local people 20% are satisfied & remaining 10% are not satisfied.

Interpretation
Through the data collected, I found in the case of professionals 30% are agree that they’re contributing for the improvement of ecological condition &40% are strongly agree while among local people all 30% are strongly agree with that statement. Hence, no one found to be disagreed with the statement among all the respondents.

Interpretation
Through the data collected in the case of professionals 40% are agree with that, the funds raised by govt. are fully spent, 30% are disagree with that, while among local people it’s 10% those are agreed and 20% are disagree with the statement.

Interpretation
Through the data collected it’s clear that 10% agree & 60% are strongly agree among professionals while among locals 10% are

agree & 20% are strongly agree with the statement agree and 20% are disagree with the statement.

Interpretation
Through the data collected it’s clear that 20% of professional agree with that, rules and regulations are must for the improvement of ecological conditions, 50 % are strongly agree with this, whereas 10% of local people are agree with this & 20% strongly agree with this statement.

Interpretation
Graphical analysis show that in case of professionals 40% are agree that, shekhawati region offers a lot in terms of natural beauty and 30% are strongly with the statement whereas among local people, all 30 are strongly agree with the statement. Interpretation
Through the data collected it has been found that 60% of professionals are in the favor of opinion that awareness about the tourism among people should be made. whereas 10% of professionals thinks that education standards should be adequate, while on the other side, 20% of local people opinion ‘s about awareness for tourism among people should be made.

Interpretation
Through the data collected it’s clear that I’m the case of professionals 40% are agree, 20% are strongly agree with this statement, while 10% are disagree. On the other hand, in the case of local people 10% are agree & 20% are strongly agreed that the environment of shekhawati region is clean.

Interpretation
Through the data collected it’s clear that I’m the case of professionals 40% are agree, 20% are strongly agree with this statement, while 10% are disagree. On the other hand, in the case of local people 10% are agree & 20% are strongly agreed that the environment of shekhawati region is clean.

As per the responses recorded and analysis through questionaaires key findings are notified that temples and monuments at Shekhawati area have great architectural and historical value It was observed that the temples and monuments at Shekhawati area have great architectural and historical value. Majority of the respondents are also agreeing with the same. There are number of magnificent temples in Shekhawati which are best known for their intricate architecture and speak about Indian heritage. The fresco paintings were made by artists who were called chiteras, who belonged to the kumhars(potters) caste. They were bright and colorful depictions of Shekhawati culture made using only natural colors.The study revealed that majority of

the respondents agrees that rural tourism has increased the prestige of the village which showcases that rural tourism has proved to be beneficial for the village About three-fourth of the respondents are satisfied with the opportunities that the village locales get in the form of host families and they agree to the host family in the rural areas as an interesting concept.Most of the respondents agree or strongly agree that the development of social amenities and infrastructure has increased due to tourism, whereas few of the respondents strongly disagree or disagree for the same and for some of the respondents it did not make any difference.It was observed that most of the respondents agreed that education and health services have improved in the area whereas only few people disagree with the same. It shows people have realised the importance of health and education in their life and are giving much importance to it. Present study portrays that majority of the respondents feel that tourism in Shekhawati helps keep local culture alive and maintain cultural identity. There were hardly 4-5 % respondents who disagreed with the statement. Tourism plays a pivotal role in enhancing local and national identity [9]. It is because of tourism that a particular area becomes a known destination. Tourism has created employment opportunities for the people in Shekhawati. Most of the people agreed with this. Although there were very few people who was not in favour that tourism has created employment for the people.

It needs to invite and give wide opportunity of participation of the private sector in the tourism industry, and especially for infrastructure development, human resources development and quality service for sustainable eco-tourism development in the state. It needs to develop good coordination networks among the other ministries/ departments such as ministry of civil aviation, ministry of home affairs, ministry of forest &environment, ministry of railway and transport, ministry of communication, etc. who are also involved in the tourism industry for sustainable ecotourism development in the state.