Lok Sabha Question No. 98 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-09-14
Subject: Promotion of Tourism at Buddhist Sites
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: Jagdambika Pal

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.98 ANSWERED ON 14.09.2020

## PROMOTION OF TOURISM AT BUDDHIST SITES

## 98. SHRI JAGDAMBIKA PAL:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- (a) the  number  of  International  tourists  who  have  visited  the recognized Buddhist sites in India during the last three yearwise and site-wise;
- (b) whether the Government has any plans or taken any steps to promote tourism related to Buddhism and to Buddhist sites in India;
- (c)
- if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) whether the Government has any plans or taken any steps to promote  Spiritual  Tourism  in  India  and  if  so,  the  details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

(a): Data on tourists site wise visits is not maintained by Ministry of  Tourism,  Government  of  India.  However  as  per  the  information received  from  ASI,  data  on  no.  of  tourists  visited  to  some  of  the Buddhist caves/monuments in year 2017, 2018 and 2019 are attached at Annexure I.

(b)&(c): Ministry  of  Tourism  has  undertaken  development  of tourism  related  infrastructure  and  facilities  at  various  Buddhist Sites  in  the  country  under  its  flagships  schemes  of  Swadesh Darshan & PRASHAD. Buddhist sites has been identified as one of the  15  thematic  circuits  under  the  Swadesh  Darshan  Scheme.  A total number of 5 projects for an amount of Rs. 353.73 crore have been  sanctioned  for  the  development  of  Buddhist  Sites  under  the

Swadesh Darsha Scheme. In addition, projects for development of infrastructure  have  also  been  undertaken  under  the  PRASHAD Scheme. A total number of 30 projects for an amount of Rs.918.92 crore have been sanctioned under the PRASHAD Scheme. Ministry of  Tourism  has  also  identified  Buddhist  Sites  at  Bodhgaya,  Ajanta

&Ellora to be developed as Iconic Tourist Sites.

In addition to the development of tourism related infrastructure under the various schemes of the Ministry of Tourism, emphasis is also being put on promoting the various Buddhist Sites within  India  and  overseas  markets.  As  part  of  the  above,  India Tourism  Offices  in  overseas  markets  regularly  participate  in  a number of  travel  and  tourism  fairs  as  well  as  exhibitions  wherein India's  Buddhist  Sites  are  promoted.    Ministry  of  Tourism  has showcased the Buddhist Sites on the Incredible India Website and has also developed a dedicated website www.indiathelandofbuddha.in. Ministry of Tourism organises Buddhist  Conclave  every  alternate  year  with  the  objective  of promoting  India  as  a  Buddhist  Destination  and  major  markets around  the  globe.  List  of  projects  sanctioned  under  Swadesh Darshan in Buddhist circuits are attached at Annexure II .

Further as per the information received from ASI ,CNBs Signage have been installed in Chinese language at 5 below monuments in Uttar Pradesh:

- (i) Site and Stupa and monastery of the Sakyas PiprahwaLucknow Circle
- (ii) Sravasti - Lucknow Circle
- (iii) Ancient Buddhist site of Sarnath- Sarnath Circle
- (iv)
- Chaukhandi Stupa - Sarnath Circle
- Buddhist relics and Mahaparinirvana temple located
- (v) at Kushinagar- Sarnath Circle.

The CNBs signage in Sinhali language at Sanchi monuments in Madhya Pradesh has also been installed.

(d): Ministry  of  Tourism  under  its  flagships  schemes  of  Swadesh Darshan & PRASHAD is promoting spiritual tourism. Spiritual Circuit has  been  identified  as  one  of  the  15  thematic  circuits  under  the

Swadesh  Darshan  Scheme.  A  total  number  of  13  projects  for  an amount of Rs.764.85 crore have been sanctioned for the development of Spiritual Circuit under the Swadesh Darsha Scheme. In  addition,  projects  for  development  of  infrastructure  at  religious and spiritual sites have also been undertaken under the PRASHAD Scheme. A total number of 30 projects for an amount of Rs.918.92 crore have been sanctioned under the PRASHAD Scheme.

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Annexure I

## STATEMENT IN REPLY TO PART (A) OF THE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 98 ANSWERED ON 14.09.2020 REGARDING  PROMOTION OF TOURISM AT BUDDHIST SITES

| No. of tourists visited to the Buddhist caves/monuments   | No. of tourists visited to the Buddhist caves/monuments   | No. of tourists visited to the Buddhist caves/monuments                                      | No. of tourists visited to the Buddhist caves/monuments   | No. of tourists visited to the Buddhist caves/monuments   | No. of tourists visited to the Buddhist caves/monuments   | No. of tourists visited to the Buddhist caves/monuments   | No. of tourists visited to the Buddhist caves/monuments   | No. of tourists visited to the Buddhist caves/monuments   |
|-----------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------|
| Sr. No.                                                   | Circle                                                    | Monument                                                                                     | 2017-18                                                   | 2017-18                                                   | 2018-19                                                   | 2018-19                                                   | 2019-2020                                                 | 2019-2020                                                 |
|                                                           |                                                           |                                                                                              | Indian Visitor                                            | Foreign er Visitor                                        | Indian Visitor                                            | Foreign er Visitor                                        | Indian Visitor                                            | Foreign er Visitor                                        |
| 1                                                         | Bhopal                                                    | Buddhist Monument                                                                            | 391887                                                    | 6858                                                      | 300571                                                    | 29230                                                     | 250706                                                    | 3986                                                      |
| 2                                                         | Bhopal                                                    | Buddhist Caves                                                                               | 49572                                                     | 46                                                        | 0                                                         | 0                                                         | 19920                                                     | 42                                                        |
| 3                                                         | Bhopal                                                    | Buddhist Cave No. 01 to 51, Dhamnar, Tehsil Garoth                                           |                                                           |                                                           |                                                           |                                                           | 32578                                                     | 4                                                         |
| 4                                                         | Bhuban eshwar                                             | Ruins of Buddhist Temples and Images Khandagiri and udayigiri                                | 693327                                                    | 3854                                                      | 55908                                                     | 461                                                       | 311115                                                    | 2489                                                      |
| 5                                                         | Bhuban eshwar                                             | Excavated site Lalitgiri                                                                     | 46798                                                     | 562                                                       | 47451                                                     | 452                                                       | 44573                                                     | 389                                                       |
| 6                                                         | Hyderab ad                                                | Buddhist Monuments                                                                           |                                                           |                                                           | 25470                                                     | 66                                                        |                                                           |                                                           |
| 7                                                         | Hyderab ad                                                | Ruined Buddhist Stua                                                                         |                                                           |                                                           | 10894                                                     | 863                                                       |                                                           |                                                           |
| 8                                                         | Mumbai                                                    | Buddhist Caves Kanheri                                                                       | 402860                                                    | 11859                                                     | 432305                                                    | 12134                                                     | 401808                                                    | 12106                                                     |
| 9                                                         | Nagpur                                                    | Ancient Buddhist Remains Comprising moostery Stupa rock Soulptures, inscriptions etc. Mansar |                                                           |                                                           |                                                           |                                                           | 1596                                                      | 65                                                        |
| 10                                                        | Sarnath                                                   | Ancient Buddhist Site know as Chaukhand I Stupa                                              |                                                           |                                                           | 538041                                                    | 251932                                                    | 55144                                                     | 5186                                                      |
| 11                                                        | Vadodar a                                                 | Buddhist Caves, Junagadh                                                                     | 40918                                                     | 1241                                                      | 14567                                                     | 553                                                       | 18755                                                     | 796                                                       |

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Annexure II

STATEMENT  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (B)  &  (C)  OF  THE LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 98 ANSWERED ON 14.09.2020 REGARDING  PROMOTION OF TOURISM AT BUDDHIST SITES

## DETAILS of PROJECT SANCTIONED UNDER SWADESH DARSHAN SCHEME

(Rs. in crore)

| Sl. No.          | State/UT         | Name of the Circuit   | Name of the Project                                                                                                                                                                  |   Amt. Sanctioned |   Amount released |
|------------------|------------------|-----------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------|-------------------|
| 1.Madhya Pradesh | 1.Madhya Pradesh | Buddhist Circuit      | Development of Sanchi-Satna-Rewa- Mandsaur-Dhar.                                                                                                                                     |             74.02 |             62.33 |
| 2. Uttar Pradesh | 2. Uttar Pradesh | Buddhist Circuit      | Development ofSrawasti, Kushinagar, &Kapilvastu.                                                                                                                                     |             99.97 |             72.56 |
| 3.Bihar          | 3.Bihar          | Buddhist Circuit      | Construction of Convention Centre at Bodhgaya                                                                                                                                        |             98.73 |             48.69 |
| 4.Gujarat        | 4.Gujarat        | Buddhist circuit      | Development of Junagadh- GirSomnath- Bharuch-Kutch- Bhavnagar- Rajkot- Mehsana                                                                                                       |             28.67 |             17.4  |
| 5.Andhra Pradesh |                  | Buddhist Circuit      | Development of Buddhist Circuit: Shalihundam- Thotlakonda- Bavikonda- Bojjanakonda- Amravati- Anupu in Andhra Pradesh under the theme of Buddhist Circuit of Swadesh Darshan Scheme. |             52.34 |             26.17 |

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