Exploring Buddhist Circuit by rail

Ministry of Tourism’s recent Dekho Apna Desh webinar showcased a comprehensive itinerary of the Buddhist Circuit Tourist Train that passes through key Buddhist sites in India. The journey, which guests will find to be enlightening and peaceful, also includes sites that exhibit the vast and diverse culture of the country.

Manas Dwivedi

Ministry of Tourism (MOT) recently organised a webinar titled ‘Exploring Buddhist Circuit by Train’ as part of its ‘Dekho Apna Desh’ series. The webinar focused on promoting and showcasing the rich Buddhist heritage in India and highlighted the major destinations in the country said to have been personally visited by Buddha. The webinar also brought to lightheritage left behind by his disciples, including modern monasteries. Focus was also laid on providing first-hand information to viewers on the arrangements for travel (especially by train) and accommodation options at these Buddhist sites in India.

Participating from MOT was Arun Srivastava, Deputy Director General, who said that Buddhist tourism in India has tremendous potential to draw the 500-million-strong Buddhists across the world to ‘India – The Land of Buddha’. He said, “The Indian Buddhist heritage is of great interest to the followers of Buddhism the world over. Buddhism has remained a vital force, an inspiration, and above all, a guidance to our traditions and customs. Its unique contributions in various fields of culture have greatly enriched Indian cultural heritage besides adding to the religious diversity of the land.”

The webinar was presented by Dr. Achyut Singh, Joint General Manager (Tourism & Marketing), Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC). He informed that IRCTC Buddhist Circuit Tourist Train has been envisioned for covering the most venerable sites of Buddhism, following the life path of the Enlightened One – the Buddha himself. The Buddhist tourist train covers all the places which had a significant impact on Buddha’s life and teachings.

Singh added that the IRCTC Buddhist Circuit Tourist Train itinerary enables all guests to pay their respects at the holy site in Lumbini, in addition to the Mayadevi temple dedicated to the Enlightened One’s mother. “The Buddha’s moment of enlightenment, enshrined for eternity under the Maha Bodhi Tree at Bodh Gaya, occupies an important place in the itinerary as much for its religious and scholarly significance as for the monumental beauty of its confluence of Buddhist traditions from all over the world. In crafting the itinerary, special care has been taken to include the site of the Buddha’s original sermon which gave birth to Buddhism, from where sprang all its varied forms, sects and distinctions. Guests also have the opportunity to be mesmerised by the Ganga Aarti that is performed on the banks of the Holy Ganges in the evenings,” he said.

The itinerary traces the life of Buddha from his birth to his ascension from the bindings of the material world, and incorporates the Mahaparinirvan Temple at Kushinagar, with its Reclining Buddha depicting the divine soul’s last earthly position of rest. “Aspirants who wish to achieve deeper insight into Buddhism can delve into its intricacies while reflecting on the sermons given by the Buddha at Sravasti, specifically the Jetavana monastery,” Singh concluded.