The Ministry of Tourism has appointed a National Level Consultant (NLC) to identify
spiritual tourism circuits, including Buddhist Circuits, for integrated development, during
the 12th Plan period, in association with the States/Union Territories (UT).
The names of the Buddhist Circuits identified, on the basis of their tourism potential, in
consultation with States and stakeholders, by NLC are given below:
i. Dharmayatra Circuit: Bodh Gaya (Bihar) – Sarnath (Uttar Pradesh) - Kushinagar (Uttar
Pradesh) – Piparvah (Uttar Pradesh).
ii. Extended Dharmayatra Circuit: Bodh Gaya (Bihar) – Nalanda (Bihar)– Rajgir (Bihar)–
Patna (Bihar)– Vaishali (Bihar)– Vikramshila (Bihar) – Sarnath (Uttar Pradesh) –
Kushinagar (Uttar Pradesh) – Kapilvastu (Uttar Pradesh) – Sankisa (Uttar Pradesh) –
Piparvah (Uttar Pradesh)
While identifying the designated circuits efforts have been made to plug infrastructure
gaps viz- rail/road linkages and provide better amenities to tourists.
No funds have been sanctioned so far to the States/UTs for the identified Circuits.
The States/UTs have set-up respective State Level Monitoring Committees (SLMCs) to
regularly review the progress of tourism infrastructure projects. Ministry of Tourism also
monitors the implementation of projects through Regional Conferences, field inspections
by the officers of the Ministry and periodical review meetings with the State/UT officers.
State Governments/UT Administration are required to submit reports of the State Level
Monitoring Committees to the Ministry of Tourism periodically.
This information was given by the Union Minister for Tourism Dr. K. Chiranjeevi in a
written reply in the Lok Sabha today.