Lok Sabha Question No. 1425 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-07-01
Subject: Pilgrimage to Hindu’s Religious Sites
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: Prataprao  Jadhav

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.†1425 ANSWERED ON 01.07.2019

## PILGRIMAGE TO HINDU'S RELIGIOUS SITES

†1425. SHRI PRATAPRAO JADHAV:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  taken  or  proposes  to  take  any steps  to  encourage  pilgrims  to  visit  Hindu  pilgrimage  sites such  as  Vaishno  Devi,  Kailash  Mansarovar,  Pashupatinath (Kathmandu-Nepal), Badrinath etc;
- (b)
- (c)
- if so, the details thereof; and
- if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE FOR TOURISM (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) (SHRI PRAHLAD SINGH PATEL)

(a) to (c): The Ministry of Tourism, as part of its on-going activities, annually releases print, electronic, online and outdoor media campaigns  in  the  international  and  domestic  markets,  under  the Incredible India brand-line, to promote various tourism destinations and products of the country, including its Pilgrimage sites. Promotions are also undertaken through the Social Media accounts and website of the Ministry. In addition, the Indiatourism Offices in India and overseas disseminate information and undertake various promotional activities with the objective of showcasing the varied tourist destinations and products of the country.

Ministry of Tourism under its Swadesh Darshan and PRASHADNational Mission on Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual, Heritage Augmentation Drive Schemes is developing tourism infrastructure in the country. Under PRASHAD Scheme 41 spiritual sites in 25 States have  been  identified  for  development  which  includes  Katra  and

Badrinath.  Under  the  Swadesh  Darshan  Scheme,  fifteen  thematic circuits  have  been  identified  including  themes  covering  spiritual sites for development, namely: Spiritual Circuit, Ramayana Circuit, Krishna Circuit, Tirthankar Circuit, Buddhist Circuit and Sufi Circuit.

The details  of  projects  sanctioned  under  the  above  schemes for development of Katra and Badrinath is as follows:

1. Development of Infrastructure for Pilgrimage Facilitation in  Badrinath  Ji  Dham  (Uttarakhand)  under  PRASHAD Scheme sanctioned in 2018-19 for Rs.39.24 crore.
2. Development  of  Tourist  Facilities  at  Katra  for  Rs.3.48 crore under the project 'Integrated Development  of Tourism Infrastructure in the State of Jammu & Kashmir under  Himalayan  Circuit  of  Swadesh  Darshan  Scheme' sanctioned in 2016-17.

Ministry of External Affairs organizes the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra  in  cooperation  with  the  State  Governments  of  Uttarakhand, Delhi, and Sikkim along with the Indo-Tibetan Boarder Police (ITBP) and other concerned agencies of Government of India. For the Yatra organized by the Ministry of External Affairs along the Lipulekh and Nathu  La  routes,  Government  of  India  takes  various  steps  to facilitate  the  Yatra  which  include  a  dedicated  website  to  further simplify and expedite the registration and selection process, communication  with  Yatris,  and  a  helpline  based  on  Interactive Voice  Response  System  which  provides  information  in  Hindi  and English  to  the  Yatris.  Medical  test  is  also  conducted  for  Yatris  to ensure their fitness for high altitude endurance.

Further,  the  Government  of  India  arranges,  on  self-payment basis,  facilities  like  transportation,  accommodation,  food,  medical test, guides, Chinese visa, foreign exchange, and porters and ponies for carrying goods and belongings of Yatris.

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