Nepal wants to link Lumbini with Indian Buddhist circuit

As offered by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Nepal is now seeking linkages with the Buddhist circuit in India to promote Buddha’s birthplace Lumbini to international tourists.

Updated on: Sep 25, 2014, 15:00:34 IST

Hindustan Times | By Utpal Parashar, Kathmandu

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As offered by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Nepal is now seeking linkages with the Buddhist circuit in India to promote Buddha’s birthplace Lumbini to international tourists.

At present, not many of the Buddhist tourists who visit India come to Lumbini in Nepal or spend just a few hours in the Himalayan nation. Nepal wants to change the trend with India’s help.

During his Nepal trip in August, Modi had offered Indian assistance for development of Lumbini including linking it with Buddhist circuit in India, based on specific proposals from Nepal.

A Nepali delegation left for India on Thursday to take part in the 4th International Buddhist Conclave to be held at Bodhgaya and Sarnath and explore possibilities of promoting Lumbini.

Organised by the Indian ministry of tourism the conclave seeks to devise new business strategies for marketing Indian Buddhist heritage together with similar sites in Nepal.

Buddha was born at Lumbini in Nepal, attained enlightenment at Bodhgaya, delivered his first sermon at Sarnath and passed away at Kushinagar.

Besides Lumbini Nepal also hopes to attract more international tourists to other sites connected with life of Buddha like Ram Gram, Kapilavastu, Niglihawa, Kudan and Gotihawa.

The Nepali delegation will hold discussions with Indian officials and both Indian and international tour operators to bring in more pilgrims and tourists and also try to make them spend more time.

The Buddhist circuit, which connects all the important places in Buddha’s life, is important for over 550 million Buddhists across the globe. At present India and Nepal have been able to attract only a fraction of that number.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Utpal Parashar
A seasoned senior journalist, I have nearly three decades of experience across print, digital, and online platforms, covering political transitions, insurgencies, environmental issues, and development stories in India and Nepal. I am skilled in breaking news, leading editorial teams and launch of newspaper editions. I am adept at leveraging digital trends and social media to expand global reach, with a strong ethical foundation and a reputation for impactful journalism. An alumnus of Asian College of Journalism, I joined Hindustan Times in New Delhi as a trainee reporter in May 1997. Over the years, I have been posted in Dehradun, Kathmandu (Nepal) and Guwahati. Currently, as Senior Assistant Editor at Hindustan Times, I lead a team reporting on India’s northeastern states. My work involves in-depth analysis, and engaging multimedia storytelling across formats, including text, photo, video, and interactive content. I am skilled in producing timely, shareable content, leveraging digital platforms and social media to engage global audiences. Throughout my career with the Hindustan Times, I have led diverse editorial teams, designed capacity-building activities, and supported reporters in developing strong story ideas, ethical reporting practices, digital skills, and fact-checking techniques. As Senior Assistant Editor for Northeast India, I have been responsible for guiding correspondents through complex political, humanitarian, and community-level stories using multimedia formats. Earlier, as Foreign Correspondent in Nepal, I produced extensive reporting during Nepal’s democratic transition and the 2015 earthquake and its aftermath.Read More

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