Lok Sabha Question No. 2445 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-12-13
Subject: Identification of Buddhist Cultural Centres
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: Debasree Chaudhuri

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2445 ANSWERED ON 13.12.2021

## IDENTIFICATION OF BUDDHIST CULTURAL CENTRES

## 2445.MS. DEBASREE CHAUDHURI:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- (a) the  number  of  Buddhist  Cultural  Centres  in  India  that  have been identified;
- (b)
- the steps taken to link them and create a Buddhist Circuit;
- (c) the steps taken to promote  Buddhist Sites to Buddhist countries; and
- (d) whether  the  Ministry  is  planning  to  encourage  production  of buddhist cultural products for the devotees in Buddhist countries and elsewhere to reach out to them?

## ANSWER

(SHRI G. KISHAN REDDY)

## MINISTER OF TOURISM

- (a) to (d): Ministry  of  Tourism  has  sanctioned  projects  for  the development  of  Buddhist  pilgrimage  sites  under  the  'Swadesh Darshan', 'National Mission on Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual, Heritage Augmentation Drive (PRASHAD)' and 'Assistance to Central Agencies for Tourism Infrastructure Development' Schemes in the country as per details given below:
1. 'Buddhist Circuit' has been identified as one of the themes for development under the Swadesh Darshan Scheme. The following projects have been sanctioned under this scheme:
-  Development of Sanchi-Satna-Rewa-Mandsaur-Dhar in Madhya Pradesh for an amount of Rs.74.02 Crore.
- Development  of  Srawasti,  Kushinagar,  &  Kapilvastu  in
-  Uttar Pradesh for an amount of Rs.99.97 Crore.
-  Construction of Convention Centre at Bodhgaya in Bihar for an amount of Rs.98.73 Crore.
-  Development of Junagadh- Gir Somnath- Bharuch-KutchBhavnagar- Rajkot- Mehsana in Gujarat for an amount of Rs.28.67 Crore.
-  Development  of  Shalihundam-ThotlakondaBavikondaBojjanakonda- Amravati- Anupu in Andhra Pradesh for an
- amount of Rs.24.14 Crore.
2. Under  the  PRASHAD  Scheme,  'Development  of  Pilgrimage Facilitation  at  Four  Patron  Saints  at  Yuksom,  Sikkim'  project was  sanctioned  for  an  amount  of  Rs.33.32  Crore  in  the  year 2020-21. In addition to the above, works related to Buddhism have been undertaken in following two projects under PRASHAD Scheme:
- (i) Integrated Development of Varanasi  - I inter-alia including following two components worth Rs.9.5 Crore for development of Buddhism structures:
- a) Sound  and  Light  Show,  Dhamek  Stupa  at  a  cost  of  Rs. 734 Lakh
- b) Buddha Theme Park, Sarnath at an approved cost of Rs. 220 Lakh
- (ii) Development  of  Amaravati  Town,  Guntur  District  as  a Tourist Destination inter-alia including following components worth Rs.1.33 Crore only relating to Buddhism:
- a) Mahachaitya Stupa & ASI Museum at an approved cost of Rs. 62.25 Lakh
- b) Dhyana Buddha Site Development at an approved cost of Rs. 70.44 Lakh

An  Action  Plan  has  been  formulated  with  view  to  evolve  'a Coordinated  Strategy  for  Revival  of  India  as  a  Global  Centre  of Buddhist Culture and Tourism with Special Focus on Bodhgaya'. The Action Plan includes interventions under 4 verticals: i) Connectivity; ii)  Infrastructure  and  Logistics;  iii)  Culture  Research,  Heritage  & Education;  and  iv)  Public  Awareness,  Communication  &  Outreach and the Ministry  of  Tourism  has  been  made  the  nodal  Ministry  for monitoring the implementation of the Action Plan.

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.

The  efforts  made  for  promotion  and  marketing  of  Buddhist sites in overseas markets including countries with overwhelmingly Buddhist population are as follows:

-  Ministry of Tourism has produced films for promotion of Buddhist Destinations in India.
-  Buddhist  site  creatives  are  being  used  as  part  of  Incredible India 2.0 campaign.
-  Ministry  of  Tourism  has  released  TV,  print  and  digital  media campaigns in Buddhist source markets.
-  Ministry  of  Tourism  organizes  International  Buddhist  Conclave (IBC) with participation of tour operators, media, opinion makers and Buddhist monks from different source markets.
-  India Tourism offices in the overseas markets regularly participate in a number of travel & tourism fairs / exhibitions / expos wherein India's Buddhist sites are promoted among large number of visitors to the event.
-  Road shows were organized in ASEAN countries wherein India's Buddhist Heritage was highlighted.
-  Ministry  of  Tourism  promotes  Buddhist  sites  on  the  Incredible India website of the Ministry of Tourism.
-  Ministry of Tourism has developed www.indiathelandofbuddha.in website to showcase the rich Buddhist Heritage in India.
-  The Ministry of Tourism in collaboration with IRCTC organized a Buddhist Circuit Fam Tour and Conference from 4 th  - 8 th  October 2021  at  Bodhgaya  and  Varanasi.  The  event  was  attended  by approx. 200 delegates which included tour operators from other parts of the country, local tour operators and other stakeholders of tourism sector media, officials of Ministry of Tourism. During the  event  Ministry  also  organized  an  interactive  session  with students of Nalanda University and BHU.
-  On the occasion of the inauguration of the Kushinagar Airport by the  Hon'ble  Prime  Minister  on  20 th   October  2021,  Ministry  of Tourism organized a two-day conference on 'Tourism in Buddhist  Circuits  -  A  way  forward'  in  Kushinagar  highlighting Buddhist Circuit and its potential to draw Buddhist pilgrims and scholars around the world.
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