The Ministry of Tourism has appointed a National Level Consultant (NLC) to identify spiritual tourism circuits, including Buddhist Circuits, for integrated development, during the 12th Plan period, in association with the States / Union Territories (UT).
The list of Buddhist Circuits identified, on the basis of their tourism potential, in consultation with States and stakeholders, by NLC are given below:
i. Dharmayatra Circuit: Bodh Gaya (Bihar) – Sarnath (Uttar Pradesh) – Kushinagar (Uttar Pradesh) – Piparvah (Uttar Pradesh)
ii. Extended Dharmayatra Circuit: Bodh Gaya (Bihar) – Nalanda (Bihar)– Rajgir (Bihar)– Patna (Bihar)– Vaishali (Bihar)– Vikramshila (Bihar) – Sarnath (Uttar Pradesh) – Kushinagar (Uttar Pradesh) – Kapilvastu (Uttar Pradesh) – Sankisa (Uttar Pradesh) – Piparvah (Uttar Pradesh)
While identifying the designated circuits efforts have been made to plug infrastructure gaps and provide better amenities to tourists. No funds have been sanctioned so far to the States/UTs for the identified Circuits.
This information was given by the Minister of State for Tourism, Shri Subodh Kant Sahai in a written reply to Dr. Raghuvansh Prasad Singh in Lok Sabha today.
