Rupandehi, September 23:

A concept of Buddhism Circuit including nine major archaeological sites related to the life of Lord Buddha has been envisioned to facilitate tourists wishing to tour all nine sites at once. Officer of Rural Tourism Programme, Rupandehi, Rajendra Poudel said that circuit-touring programme is organised by Lumbini Development Trust, Nepal Tourism Board and Tourism for Rural Poverty Alleviation Programme (TRPAP) in Rupandehi.

According to Poudel, the circuit includes sites of archaeological importance including Tilaurakot (capital of Shakya dynasty), Lumbini (birthplace of Buddha), Kudan (the place where Siddhartha Gautam met his father after attaining enlightenment), Gotihawa (birthplace of Kanakmuni Buddha), Niglihawa (birthplace of Kukuchanda Buddha), Araurakot (city where Kukuchanda Buddha grew up), Sagarhawa (place where Shakya dynasty ended), Devdaha (Maya Devi’s birth place) and Ramgram (place where remains of Buddha are kept).

The route comprising of Rupandehi, Nawalparasi and Kapilvastu districts is around 200 km.

Poudel said that Siddhartha Association of Travel Agents of Bhairahawa has started a package tour programme of the circuit for the last month. Poudel also stated that any information regarding the circuit can be obtained from the information department of Lumbini Development Trust or from internet sites, www. mylumbini.com and www.lumbinitrust.com.

Kapilvastu DDC has said that different programmes has been planned to make the circuit tour programme more successful. TRPAP, Rupandehi has made separate documentaries about Lumbini and Buddhism circuit to promote tourism in the region. Senior archaeologist Basanta Bidari said that the success of this Buddhism circuit will promote historical places of Lumbini at the international level and will contribute to alleviate poverty in the region by developing tourism.

In a survey conducted by TRPAP in 2004, Buddhist tourists had expressed their desire to tour the Buddhism circuit. It was also found that tourists could not tour all major sites of Buddhism due to lack of guides, transport and communications and other inconveniences.

According to Lumbini Development Trust, tourists from different countries including China, Sri Lanka, Japan, Thailand and India visit Lumbini. 10,000 tourists had visited Lumbini in 2002, 27,000 in 2003 and 35,000 in 2004.

Rupandehi DDC also said that an agreement has been made between Rupandehi, Nawalparasi and Kapilvastu to develop physical infrastructure, circuit package promotion and organise awareness programme on tourism in the region.