Lok Sabha Question No. 110 (STARRED), answered on 2016-07-25
Subject: Ramayana and Krishna Circuits
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: J. JAYASINGH THIYAGARAJ NATTERJEE, RITI PATHAK

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.*110 ANSWERED ON 25.07.2016

## RAMAYANA AND KRISHNA CIRCUITS

- *110. SHRI J.J.T. NATTERJEE:
- SHRIMATI RITI PATHAK:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- (a) the present status of development of Ramayana, Buddha, Sufi and Krishna Tourist Circuits in the country;
- (b) whether  the  Government  proposes  to  develop  Ramayana, Buddha, Sufi and Krishna tourist circuits in the country under the swadesh darshan scheme;
- (c) if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  the  destinations  identified  in different States under this scheme;
- (d) the  funds  allocated/sanctioned  for  the  development  of  the destinations in the proposed tourist circuits; and
- (e) whether the Government has made any agreement for including Sri Lanka in the Ramayana Tourist Circuit and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE FOR TOURISM (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) (DR. MAHESH SHARMA)

- (a)  to (e):  A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

********

STATEMENT  IN  REPLY  TO  LOK  SABHA  STARRED  QUESTION NO.*110  ANSWERED  ON  25.07.2016  REGARDING  RAMAYANA  AND KRISHNA CIRCUITS.

- (a): The  Ministry  of  Tourism  has  launched  the Swadesh  Darshan scheme for integrated development of theme based tourist circuits in the country in 2014-15. Ramayana,  Krishna, Buddhist and Spiritual Circuits are among the thirteen thematic circuits identified for  development  under  the  scheme.  Sufi  Circuit  has  not  been identified  as a  thematic circuit for development under the scheme however, places related to Sufism are covered under the Spiritual Circuit theme.
- (b): The destinations initially identified for development under the Ramayana,  Krishna  and  Buddhist  Circuits  in  the  country  are  as under:
-  Ramayana  Circuit:  Ayodhya,  Nandigram,  Shringverpur  & Chitrakoot (Uttar Pradesh); Sitamarhi, Buxar & Darbhanga (Bihar); Chitrakoot (Madhya Pradesh); Mahendragiri (Odisha); Jagdalpur (Chattisgarh); Nashik & Nagpur (Maharashtra); Bhadrachalam (Telangana); Hampi (Karnataka) and Rameshwaram (Tamil Nadu).
-  Buddhist Circuit: All places associated with the Buddhist heritage in the country.
-  Krishna  Circuit:  Dwarka  (Gujarat);  Nathdwara,  Jaipur  & Sikar (Rajasthan); Kurukshetra (Haryana), Mathura, Vrindavan, Gokul, Barsana, Nandgaon & Govardhan (Uttar Pradesh) and Puri (Odisha).

## (c) & (d): The details of funds sanctioned for the development of the destinations in the proposed tourist circuits are as follows:

(Rs. in Crore)

|   Sl. No | Scheme          | Year    | Project Detail                                                                                                      |   Amount sanctioned |
|----------|-----------------|---------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------|
|        1 | Swadesh Darshan | 2014-15 | Construction of Cultural Centre adjacent to Maya Sarovar on the western side at Bodhgaya, Bihar (Buddhist Circuit)  |               33.17 |
|        2 | PRASAD          | 2014-15 | Construction of Tourist Facilitation Centre at Vrindavan, Distt. Mathura                                            |                9.35 |
|        3 | PRASAD          | 2014-15 | Development of Mathura- Vrindavan as Mega Tourist Circuit (Ph-II)                                                   |               14.93 |
|        4 | PRASAD          | 2014-15 | Infrastructure Development at Puri, Shree Jagannath Dham- Ramachandi-Prachi River front at Deuli under Mega Circuit |               50    |
|        5 | Swadesh Darshan | 2016-17 | Development of Buddhist Circuit in Sanchi-Satna-Rewa- Mandsaur-Dhar, Madhya Pradesh                                 |               74.94 |

(e):   The  Ministry  of  Tourism  has  not  made  any  agreement  for inclusion of Sri Lanka in Ramayana Tourist Circuit however both the countries have agreed to carry out joint promotional activities for Ramayana Trail in both the countries.

**************