Nepal proposes Lumbini circuit to attract tourists

Senior CPN-UML leader Madhav Nepal has placed a proposal to build a Lumbini circuit connecting four holy places of Lord Buddha in Nepal and India so as to attracts millions of Buddhist tourists to both countries.

While addressing a group of intellectuals at the Indian Council for World Affairs in New Delhi yesterday, he proposed to make special routes touching Lumbini, Bodh Gaya, Sarnath and Kushinagar for Buddhist devotees. Bodh Gaya, Sarnath and Kushinagar are in India. Bodh Gaya is where Buddha gained enlightenment, he gave his first teachings of Buddhism in Sarnath and died in Kushinagar. All four places are considered holy sites for Buddhist followers.

The former prime minister, who is on a five-day visit of India since Wednesday, said he was for two different circuits, one for India, touching Buddhist spots of Sarnath, Bodh Gaya and another one in Nepal, touching Lumbini, the maternal house of Buddha in Kapilavastu and his father’s house. “One broad Lumbini circuit should be constructed which would attract Buddhist pilgrims to both countries,” AFP quoted Nepal as saying at the talks.

His proposal has drawn favourable reactions from the Indian media and intelligentsia. In November last year, an MoU was inked between a committee set up by the Nepal government and a Hong Kong-based NGO, Asia Pacific Exchange and Cooperation Foundation to transform Lumbini into a ‘Mecca for Buddhists’.

source: the himalayan times,28 July 2013