Document on Greater Lumbini Buddhist Circuit ready

Bhairahawa, July 2/ The document on the much-hyped Greater Lumbini Buddhist Circuit (GLBC) is ready./The document on the GLBC has been prepared linking Lumbini, all Buddhist sites and other main Hindu temples of the nation. The document has linked all thematic tourism experiences that combine spiritual, religious, cultural and leisure activities.

The Lumbini Development Trust (LDT) had initiated the design work of the Greater Lumbini Buddhist Circuit (GLBC) a year ago to link the Himalayan and the hill areas with the country’s Buddhist heritage sites with Lumbini, the birth place of Lord Buddha.

The Centre for Environment and Sustainable Tourism Development Nepal (CEST) began the work a year ago, following the bidding process for the development of the GLBC plan and to identify all Buddhist heritage sites to both domestic and international visitors.

The Ministry of Industry, Forest, Tourism and Environment and Lumbini Development Trust jointly made public the document of the GLBC recently.

Lila Giri, State Minister for Industry, Forest, Tourism and Environment, said that the national document of the Buddha circuit has included all Buddhist sites. Now proper implementation of the document is required, Giri added.

The Rohini River of Rupandehi, its Buddha era civilisation and Butwal civilisation of Buddhaballi should be included in the GLBC document, said Giri.

“The Buddha circuit will support the overall development of the tourism sector of the nation,” Giri said.

Monk Maitreya, vice-president of Lumbini Development Trust, tourism specialist Dr. Milan Shakya and tourism expert Ram Chandra Sedhai said that the final document would be prepared after addressing all the suggestions of public and other sectors.

The final draft of the document will be brought out at the end of the month of Asar or mid July.

The objective of the Buddha circuit should be spread all over the nation, said Ram Chandra Sedhai, tourism expert.

The present document has included Kapilvastu, Rupandehi and Nawalparasi Buddha era’s civilization, keeping Lumbini at the centre.

It also includes the route of Lumbini to the famous Hindu site, Kailash Manasrovar in China’s Tibet region. The Silk Road of the one-belt-one route of China also connects this Buddha circuit.

The Greater Lumbini Buddhist Circuit has been given top priority by including Lumbini, Kapilvastu, Sainamaina, Butwal, Tansen, Devdaha, Ramgram in the circuit.

There are more than 200 Buddha-related archeological sites in Kapilvastu, Rupandehi and Nawalparasi districts. Many heritage sites of Butwal, Sainamaina, Devadaha and Tilottama are falling apart every year owing to lack of protection and preservation.

Excavations are yet to be carried out for the Buddha era civilisation at Sainamaina.

More than 136 historical, archeological and cultural Buddha-related sites are found in Kapilvastu district alone.