Lok Sabha Question No. 2522 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-15
Subject: Development of Ramayana and Buddhist Circuit
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: Smt. Lovely Anand

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.†2522

## ANSWERED ON 15.12.2025

## DEVELOPMENT OF RAMAYANA AND BUDDHIST CIRCUIT

†2522. SMT. LOVELY ANAND:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- (a) the present status of development of Ramayana Circuit and Buddhist Circuit in Bihar under Swadesh Darshan Scheme;
- (b) whether  the  Government  has  any  comprehensive  plan  to  develop Sitamarhi, which is located near Sheohar Lok Sabha Constituency and believed to be the birthplace of Mata Sita, as a major pilgrimage site in the Ramayana Circuit; and
- (c) the details of the amount of funds allocated and utilized during the last three years and the current year for improving tourism facilities and infrastructure in the said circuits?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF TOURISM           (SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT)

(a) to (c): Development of various tourist destinations and tourism products is primarily undertaken by the concerned State Government (SG)/ Union  Territory  Administration  (UTA).  However,  in  order  to  complement these efforts of tourism infrastructure development and experiences, the Ministry of Tourism launched its Swadesh Darshan scheme (SDS) in 201415  under  identified  thematic  circuits  including  Ramayana  Circuit  and Buddhist  Circuit.  Accordingly,  under  SDS,  a  total  of  76  projects  were sanctioned in the country including Bihar.

One Project namely, ' Development of Buddhist circuit- Construction of Convention Centre at Bodhgaya' sanctioned in 2016 -17 in Bihar under Swadesh Darshan Scheme is reported as physically complete. Further, no project  under  Ramayana  Circuit  in  Bihar  has  been  sanctioned  under Swadesh Darshan Scheme.

Thereafter, Ministry of Tourism has revamped the Swadesh Darshan scheme as Swadesh Darshan 2.0 with the objective to develop sustainable and responsible tourism destinations in the country, adopting a destination and tourist-centric approach in place of the earlier circuit-based framework.

The details of the projects sanctioned by Ministry of Tourism in the country  under  Swadesh  Darshan  scheme  along-with  amount  of  funds allocated and utilized are annexed.

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## ANNEXURE

STATEMENT IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (c) OF LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO . † 2522 ANSWERED ON 15 . 12 . 2025 REGARDING DEVELOPMENT OF RAMAYANA AND BUDDHIST CIRCUIT RAISED BY SMT. LOVELY ANAND

The list of the projects sanctioned under Swadesh Darshan scheme

|   S. No . | State/UT                  | Circuit / Sanction Year   | Name of the Project                                                                                                         |   Amount Sanctioned (₹ Crore) |   Amount Released / Authorised (₹ Crore) |   Amount Utilised (₹Crore) |
|-----------|---------------------------|---------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------|------------------------------------------|----------------------------|
|         1 | Andaman & Nicobar Islands | Coastal Circuit 2016-17   | Development of Long Island- Ross Smith Island- Neil Island- Havelock Island- Baratang Island-Port Blair                     |                         27.57 |                                    22.13 |                      22.08 |
|         2 | Andhra Pradesh            | Coastal Circuit 2014-15   | Development of Kakinada - Hope Island - Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary - Passarlapudi - Aduru - S Yanam - Kotipally             |                         67.83 |                                    67.83 |                      67.83 |
|         3 | Andhra Pradesh            | Coastal Circuit 2015-16   | Development of Nellore - Pulikat Lake - Ubblamadugu Water Falls - Nelapattu- Kothakoduru- Mypadu - Ramateertham - Iskapalli |                         49.55 |                                    49.55 |                      49.55 |
|         4 | Andhra Pradesh            | Buddhis t Circuit 2017-18 | Development of Buddhist Circuit:                                                                                            |                         35.24 |                                    30.02 |                      30.02 |

|    |                   |                             | Shalihundam- Bavikonda- Bojjanakonda - Amravati- Anupu                                         |       |       |       |
|----|-------------------|-----------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------|-------|-------|
| 5. | Arunachal Pradesh | North- East Circuit 2014-15 | Development of Bhalukpong- Bomdila and Tawang                                                  | 49.77 | 47.28 | 47.28 |
| 6. | Arunachal Pradesh | North- East Circuit 2015-16 | Development of Nafra- Seppa- Pappu, Pasa, Pakke Valleys- Sangdupota- New Sagalee- Ziro- Yomcha | 96.72 | 91.88 | 91.88 |
| 7. | Assam             | Wildlife Circuit 2015-16    | Development of Manas - Probitora - Nameri - Kaziranga - Dibru - Saikhowa                       | 94.68 | 94.68 | 94.68 |
| 8. | Assam             | Heritag e Circuit 2016-17   | Development of Tezpur - Majuli - Sibsagar                                                      | 90.98 | 90.97 | 90.97 |
| 9. | Bihar             | Tirthank ar Circuit 2016-17 | Development of Vaishali- Arrah- Masad- Patna- Rajgir- Pawapuri- Champapuri                     | 33.96 | 30.04 | 29.36 |
|    | 10.Bihar          | Spiritual Circuit 2016-17   | Development of Kanwaria Route: Sultanganj - Dharmshala- Deoghar                                | 44.76 | 42.52 | 42.17 |
|    | 11.Bihar          | Buddhist Circuit 2016-17    | Development of Buddhist circuit- Construction of Convention                                    | 95.18 | 95.18 | 95.18 |

|                  |                           | Centre at Bodhgaya                                                                                                                                                |       |       |       |
|------------------|---------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------|-------|-------|
| 12.Bihar         | Rural Circuit 2017-18     | Development of Bhitiharwa- Chandrahia- Turkaulia                                                                                                                  | 44.27 | 40.31 | 40.31 |
| 13.Bihar         | Spiritual Circuit 2017-18 | Development of Mandar Hill & Ang Pradesh                                                                                                                          | 44.55 | 42.32 | 42.32 |
| 14.Chhattisga rh | Tribal Circuit 2015-16    | Development of Jashpur- Kunkuri- Mainpat- Kamleshpur - Maheshpur - Kurdar - Sarodhadadar- Gangrel- Kondagaon - Nathiyanawaga on- Jagdalpur- Chitrakoot- Tirthgarh | 96.1  | 94.23 | 94.23 |
| 15.Goa           | Coastal Circuit 2016-17   | Development of Sinquerim-Baga, Anjuna-Vagator, Morjim-Keri, Aguada Fort and Aguada Jail                                                                           | 97.65 | 97.65 | 97.5  |
| 16.Goa           | Coastal Circuit 2017-18   | Development of Coastal Circuit II: Rua De Orum Creek - Dona Paula -Colva - Benaulim                                                                               | 99.35 | 99.35 | 97.74 |
| 17.Gujarat       | Heritage Circuit 2016-17  | Development of Ahmedabad- Rajkot- Porbandar - Bardoli- Dandi                                                                                                      | 59.17 | 56.21 | 55.52 |

| 18.Gujarat          | Heritage Circuit 2016-17   | Development of Vadnagar- Modhera                                                                                 |   91.12 |   87.25 |   85.63 |
|---------------------|----------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------|---------|---------|
| 19.Gujarat          | Buddhist Circuit 2017-18   | Development of Junagadh- Gir Somnath- Bharuch-Kutch- Bhavnagar- Rajkot- Mehsana                                  |   26.68 |   22.28 |   19.96 |
| 20.Haryana          | Krishna Circuit 2016-17    | Development of Tourism Infrastructures at places related to Mahabharata in Kurukshetra                           |   77.39 |   76.74 |   76.74 |
| 21.Himachal Pradesh | Himalay an Circuit 2016-17 | Development of Himalayan Circuit: Kiarighat, Shimla, Hatkoti, Manali, Kangra, Dharamshala, Bir, Palampur, Chamba |   68.34 |   64.55 |   62.57 |
| 22.Jammu & Kashmir  | Himalay an Circuit 2016-17 | Development of Jammu- Srinagar- Pahalgam- Bhagwati Nagar- Anantnag- Salamabad Uri- Kargil-Leh                    |   77.33 |   67.37 |   59.3  |
| 23.Jammu & Kashmir  | Himalay an Circuit 2016-17 | Development of Tourist Facilities at Jammu-Rajouri- Shopian- Pulwama.                                            |   81.6  |   67.35 |   59.41 |

| 24.Jammu & Kashmir   | Himalay an Circuit 2016-17   | Development of Tourist Facilities - Construction of Assets in lieu of those Destroyed in Floods in 2014 under PM Development   |   90.43 |   74.7 |   67.07 |
|----------------------|------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------|--------|---------|
| 25.Jammu & Kashmir   | Himalay an Circuit 2016-17   | Development of Tourist facilities at Mantalai and Sudhmahadev                                                                  |   91.99 |  91.93 |   91.93 |
| 26.Jammu & Kashmir   | Himalay an Circuit 2016-17   | Development of Tourist facilities at Anantnag- Pulwama- Kishtwar- Pahalgam- Zanskar Padum - Daksum - Ranjit Sagar Dam          |   86.39 |  69.95 |   63.25 |
| 27.Jammu & Kashmir   | Himalay an Circuit 2016-17   | Development of Tourist Facilities at Gulmarg- Baramulla- Kupwara- Kargil - Leh                                                 |   91.84 |  85.8  |   84.93 |
| 28.Jharkhan d        | Eco Circuit 2018-19          | Development of Eco Tourism circuit: Dalma- Betla National park- Mirchaiya- Netarhat                                            |   30.44 |  30.44 |   28.04 |
| 29.Kerala            | Eco Circuit 2015-16          | Development of Pathanamthitta- Gavi- Vagamon- Thekkady                                                                         |   64.08 |  64.08 |   64.08 |

| 30.Kerala         | Spiritual Circuit 2016-17   | Development of Sabarimala - Erumeli-Pampa- Sannidhanam                                                                          |   46.54 |   33.39 |   36.27 |
|-------------------|-----------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------|---------|---------|
| 31.Kerala         | Spiritual Circuit 2016-17   | Development of Sree Padmanabha Arnamula                                                                                         |   78.08 |   73.77 |   68.98 |
| 32.Kerala         | Rural Circuit 2018-19       | Development of Malanad Malabar Cruise Tourism Project                                                                           |   57.35 |   45.88 |   36.34 |
| 33.Kerala         | Spiritual Circuit 2018-19   | Development Sivagiri Sree Narayana Guru Ashram- Arruvipuram- Kunnumpara Sree Subrahmania- Chembazhanthi Sree Narayana Gurukulam |   66.42 |   42.01 |   34.21 |
| 34.Madhya Pradesh | Wildlife Circuit 2015-16    | Development of Wildlife Circuit at Panna- Mukundpur- Sanjay- Dubri- Bandhavgarh- Kanha- Mukki- Pench                            |   92.1  |   86.31 |   86.31 |
| 35.Madhya Pradesh | Buddhist Circuit 2016-17    | Development of Sanchi-Satna- Rewa- Mandsaur-Dhar                                                                                |   74.02 |   72.75 |   72.75 |
| 36.Madhya Pradesh | Heritage Circuit 2016-17    | Development of Gwalior - Orchha - Khajuraho - Chanderi - Bhimbetka - Mandu                                                      |   89.82 |   89.49 |   89.49 |

| 37.Madhya Pradesh   | Eco Circuit 2017-18         | Development of Gandhisagar Dam- Mandleshwar Dam- Omkareshwar Dam- Indira Sagar Dam- Tawa Dam- Bargi Dam- Bheda Ghat- Bansagar Dam- Ken River   |   93.76 |   93.59 |   93.59 |
|---------------------|-----------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------|---------|---------|
| 38.Maharasht ra     | Coastal Circuit 2015-16     | Development of Sindhudurg Coastal Circuit - Sagareshwar, Tarkarli, Vijaydurg (Beach & Creek), Mitbhav                                          |   19.06 |   18.1  |   17.61 |
| 39.Maharasht ra     | Spiritual Circuit 2018-19   | Development of Waki- Adasa- Dhapewada- Paradsingha- Telankhandi- Girad                                                                         |   45.47 |   43.19 |   38.84 |
| 40.Manipur          | North- East Circuit 2015-16 | Development of Tourist Circuit in Manipur: Imphal- Khongjom                                                                                    |   72.23 |   61.32 |   61.25 |
| 41.Manipur          | Spiritual Circuit 2016-17   | Development of Shri Govindajee Temple, Shri Bijoy Govindajee Temple - Shri Gopinath Temple - Shri Bungshibodon                                 |   45.34 |   45.33 |   43.04 |

|              |                             | Temple - Shri Kaina Temple                                                                                                                                                                                                     |       |       |       |
|--------------|-----------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------|-------|-------|
| 42.Meghalaya | North- East Circuit 2016-17 | Development of Umium (Lake View), U Lum Sohpetbneng- Mawdiangdiang - Orchid Lake Resort                                                                                                                                        | 99.13 | 99.11 | 99.11 |
| 43.Meghalaya | North- East Circuit 2018-19 | Development of West Khasi Hills (Nongkhlaw- KremTirot - Khudoi&Kohma ng Falls - KhriRiver- Mawthadraisha n, Shillong), Jaintia Hills (Krang Suri Falls- Shyrmang- Iooksi), Garo Hills (Nokrek Reserve, Katta Beel, Siju Caves) | 84.97 | 84.96 | 84.96 |
| 44.Mizoram   | North- East Circuit 2015-16 | Development of Thenzawl& South Zote, District Serchhip and Reiek.                                                                                                                                                              | 92.26 | 92.26 | 92.26 |
| 45.Mizoram   | Eco Circuit 2016-17         | Development of Eco-Adventure Circuit Aizawl - Rawpuichhip - Khawhphawp - Lengpui - Chatlang- Sakawrhmuituai tlang - Muthee - Beratlawng -                                                                                      | 66.37 | 53.09 | 53.09 |

|               |                           | Tuirial Airfield - Hmuifang                                                                                                        |       |       |       |
|---------------|---------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------|-------|-------|
| 46.Nagaland   | Tribal Circuit 2015-16    | Development of Tribal Circuit Peren- Kohima- Wokha                                                                                 | 97.36 | 97.36 | 92.49 |
| 47.Nagaland   | Tribal Circuit 2016-17    | Development of Mokokchung- Tuensang-Mon                                                                                            | 98.14 | 98.14 | 98.14 |
| 48.Odisha     | Coastal Circuit 2016-17   | Development of Gopalpur, Barkul, Satapada and Tampara                                                                              | 70.82 | 67.28 | 59.47 |
| 49.Puducherry | Coastal Circuit 2015-16   | Development of Dubrayapet - Arikamedu - Veerampattina m - Chunnambar - Nallavadu /Narambai - Manapet- Kalapet - Puducherry - Yanam | 58.44 | 58.44 | 58.44 |
| 50.Puducherry | Heritage Circuit 2017-18  | Development of Franco- Tamil Village, Karaikal, Mahe and Yanam                                                                     | 49.44 | 45.7  | 45.5  |
| 51.Puducherry | Spiritual Circuit 2017-18 | Development of Spiritual Circuit in Puducherry                                                                                     | 34.96 | 31.4  | 31.4  |
| 52.Punjab     | Heritage Circuit 2018-19  | Development of Anandpur Sahib - Fatehgarh Sahib - Chamkaur Sahib - Ferozpur - Khatkar Kalan - Kalanour - Patiala                   | 85.32 | 81.05 | 81.05 |

| 53.Rajasthan   | Desert Circuit 2015-16    | Development of Sambhar Lake Town and Other Destinations                                                                                                                                                                                                                           |   50.01 |   50.01 |   50.01 |
|----------------|---------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------|---------|---------|
| 54.Rajasthan   | Krishna Circuit 2016-17   | Development of Govind Dev ji temple (Jaipur), Khatu Shyam Ji (Sikar) and Nathdwara (Rajsamand)                                                                                                                                                                                    |   75.8  |   73.85 |   73.85 |
| 55.Rajasthan   | Spiritual Circuit 2016-17 | Development of Spiritual Circuit - 'Development of Churu (Salasar Balaji)-Jaipur (Shri Samodke Balaji, Ghatke Balaji, Bandheke Balaji)- Viratnagar (Bijak, Jainnasiya, Ambika Temple)- Bharatpur (Kaman Region)- Dholpur (Muchkund) - Mehndipur Balaji- Chittorgarh (Sanwaliyaji) |   87.05 |   75.03 |   75.03 |
| 56.Rajasthan   | Heritage Circuit 2017-18  | Development of Heritage Circuit Development of Rajsamand (Kumbhalgarh Fort) - Jaipur (Facade                                                                                                                                                                                      |   70.61 |   66.99 |   66.99 |

|           |                             | Illumination in Jaipur and Nahargarh Fort) -Jhalawar (Gagron Fort) - Chittorgarh (Chittorgarh Fort) - Jaisalmer (Jaisalmer Fort) - Hanumangarh (Gogamedi) - Udaipur (Pratap Gaurav Kendra) - Dholpur (Bagh- I-Nilofor and Purani Chawani) - Nagaur (Meera Bai Smarak, Merta) - Tonk (Sunehri Kothi)   |       |       |       |
|-----------|-----------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------|-------|-------|
| 57.Sikkim | North- East Circuit 2015-16 | Development of Tourist Circuit linking Rangpo (entry) - Rorathang- Aritar- Phadamchen- Nathang- Sherathang- Tsongmo- Gangtok- Phodong- Mangan- Lachung- Yumthang- Lachen- Thangu- Gurudongmer- Mangan- Gangtok- TuminLingee- Singtam (exit)                                                           | 98.05 | 97.41 | 97.41 |

| 58.Sikkim     | North- East Circuit 2016-17   | Development of Tourist Circuit Linking Singtam - Maka- Temi- BermoikTokel- Phongia- Namchi - Jorthang- Okharey- Sombaria- Daramdin- Jorethang- Melli (Exit)   |   95.32 |   95.32 |   95.32 |
|---------------|-------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------|---------|---------|
| 59.Tamil Nadu | Coastal Circuit 2016-17       | Development of (Chennai- Mamamallapura m - Rameshwaram - Manpadu - Kanyakumari)                                                                               |   73.13 |   71.03 |   71.03 |
| 60.Telangana  | Eco Circuit 2015-16           | Development of Eco Tourism Circuit in Mahaboobnagar district                                                                                                  |   91.62 |   91.25 |   91.25 |
| 61.Telangana  | Tribal Circuit 2016-17        | Development of Mulugu- Laknavaram- Medavaram- Tadvai- Damaravi- Mallur- Bogatha Waterfalls                                                                    |   79.87 |   79.87 |   79.87 |
| 62.Telangana  | Heritage Circuit 2017-18      | Development of Qutub Shahi Heritage Park- Paigah Tombs- Hayat Bakshi Mosque- Raymond's Tomb                                                                   |   96.9  |   70.61 |   70.61 |

| 63.Tripura       | North- East Circuit 2015-16   | Development of Agartala - Sipahijala - Melaghar - Udaipur - Amarpur- Tirthamukh- Mandirghat - Dumboor- NarikelKunja- Gandachara -         |   82.85 |   77.76 |   77.76 |
|------------------|-------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------|---------|---------|
| 64.Tripura       | North- East Circuit 2018-19   | Development of Surma Cherra- Unakoti- Jampui Hills- Gunabati - Bhunaneshwari- Neermahal- Boxanagar- Chottakhola- Pilak- Avangchaarra      |   44.83 |   35.25 |   32.21 |
| 65.Uttar Pradesh | Buddhist Circuit 2016-17      | Development of Srawasti, Kushinagar, &Kapilwastu                                                                                          |   87.89 |   72.56 |   68.43 |
| 66.Uttar Pradesh | Ramaya na Circuit 2016-17     | Development of Chitrakoot and Shringverpur                                                                                                |   69.45 |   64.09 |   56.03 |
| 67.Uttar Pradesh | Spiritual Circuit 2016-17     | Development of Ahar-Aligarh- Kasganj-Sarosi (Unnao)- Pratapgarh- Kausambi- Mirzapur- Gorakhpur- Domariyaganj- Basti- Barabanki- Azamgarh- |   71.91 |   69.63 |   69.63 |

|                  |                           | Kairana- Baghpat- Shahjahanpur                                                                                                                                                           |        |        |         |
|------------------|---------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------|--------|---------|
| 68.Uttar Pradesh | Spiritual Circuit 2016-17 | Development of Bijnor- Meerut- Kanpur- Kanpur Dehat- Banda- Ghazipur- Salempur- Ghosi- Balia- Ambedkar Nagar- Aligarh- Fatehpur- Deoria- Mahoba- Sonbhadra- Chandauli- Mishrikh- Bhadohi |  67.51 |  64.14 | 63.62   |
| 69.Uttar Pradesh | Heritage Circuit 2016-17  | Development of Kalinjar Fort (Banda)- Maghar Dham (Sant Kabir Nagar)- Chauri Chaura, Shaheed Sthal (Fatehpur)- Mahuar shaheed Sthal (Ghosi)- Shaheed Smarak (Meerut)                     |  36.65 |  36.65 | 36.65   |
| 70.Uttar Pradesh | Ramaya na Circuit 2017-18 | Development of Ayodhya                                                                                                                                                                   | 127.21 | 115.46 | 113.2 2 |
| 71.Uttar Pradesh | Spiritual Circuit 2018-19 | Development of Jewar-Dadri- Sikandrabad- Noida-Khurja- Banda                                                                                                                             |  12.03 |  11.43 | 11.69   |

| 72.Uttar Pradesh   | Spiritual Circuit 2018-19   | Development of Gorakhnath Temple (Gorakhpur), Devipattan Temple (Balrampur) and Vatvashni Temple                                                                                                      |   18.30 |   18.12 |   18.12 |
|--------------------|-----------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------|---------|---------|
| 73.Uttarakha nd    | Eco Circuit 2015-16         | (Domariyagunj) Integrated Development of Eco-Tourism, Adventure Sports, and Associated Tourism Related Infrastructure for Development of Tehri Lake & Surroundings as New Destination- District Tehri |   69.17 |   69.17 |   69.17 |
| 74.Uttarakha nd    | Heritage Circuit 2016-17    | Integrated Development of Heritage Circuit in Kumaon Region - Katarmal - Jogeshwar- Baijnath- Devidhura                                                                                               |   76.32 |   68.91 |   68.91 |
| 75.West Bengal     | Coastal Circuit 2015-16     | Development of Beach Circuit: Udaipur- Digha- Shankarpur- Tajpur- Mandarmani- Fraserganj- Bakkhlai- Henry Island                                                                                      |   67.99 |   65.07 |   65.07 |

| 76.-   | Wayside Circuit 2018-19   |   Development of Wayside Amenities in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar at Varanasi-Gaya; Kushinagar- Gaya- Kushinagar in collaboration |   17.50 16.63 |   15.83 |
|--------|---------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------|---------|
| Total  | Total                     |                                                                                                                       5290.33 |       4964.75 | 4863.83 |

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