Lucknow – The Uttar Pradesh Tourism Department, in collaboration with the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, successfully hosted a six-day “Bodhi Yatra” (Familiarization Trip) for a 50-member delegation from five ASEAN countries. Held from June 2 to June 7 under the Mekong-Ganga Cooperation (MGC) framework, the initiative aimed to highlight the state’s rich Buddhist heritage and promote it on the global tourism map.
Uttar Pradesh’s Minister of Tourism and Culture, Jaiveer Singh, announced that the “Bodhi Yatra” concluded in Sarnath, achieving its objective of showcasing the Buddhist circuit’s significant sites to the world. The delegation comprised ten participants from each of the five ASEAN member nations – Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam – including Buddhist monks, travel agents, and social media influencers, selected by their respective governments.
The “Fam Trip,” which commenced in Agra on June 2, allowed the international delegates to immerse themselves in Uttar Pradesh’s prominent Buddhist sites, including Shravasti, Kapilvastu, Kushinagar, Sarnath, Varanasi, and Lucknow.
During their journey, the delegation visited:
- Shravasti: The Ananda Bodhi Tree, Jetavana Vihar, Maheth, Saheth, and Orazhar Buddhist sites.
- Kapilvastu: The Piprahwa Stupa, Ganwaria Archaeological Site, and Kapilvastu Museum.
- Kushinagar: The Math Kunwar Temple, Mahaparinirvana Stupa, Rambhar Stupa, Myanmar Buddha Vihar, Japanese Temple, Sri Lanka Buddhist Temple, Wat Thai Temple, Chinese Buddhist Temple, Buddhist Museum, and the Buddha Arrival Route.
- Sarnath: The Dhamek Stupa, Chaukhandi Stupa, Bodhi Tree, Ashoka Pillar, Mulgandh Kuti Vihar, Dharmarajika Stupa, and the Sarnath Archaeological Museum.
The delegation also engaged in a B2B (business-to-business) meeting in Sarnath to further explore tourism and cultural cooperation.
A significant highlight of the trip was the delegation’s meeting with Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath in Lucknow. Following this, the Tourism Department extended a traditional welcome and provided a detailed presentation on the Buddhist circuit sites and the state’s rich Buddhist legacy.
Minister Singh emphasized that the “Bodhi Yatra” serves as a crucial step towards promoting global tourism and presenting Uttar Pradesh’s cultural and religious heritage on the world stage, fostering stronger cultural and tourism ties between India and Southeast Asian nations. Following their tour of Uttar Pradesh, the visiting delegation proceeded to explore major Buddhist sites in Bihar.
