KOLKATA PLANNING TO BECOME A GATEWAY FOR BUDDHIST PILGRIMAGE

The news came as bliss for Buddhists as well as many others when the government of Bengal and the tourism department of the state declared to launch a ‘Buddhist Pilgrim’ tour programme. The tourism department of the state sought to help pilgrims in their tour to the land where Lord Buddha attained enlightment. The tourism department of Bengal joined hand with other four states – Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh and Odisha – to add more destinations to the tour because these states too have some ‘part of Lord Buddha’s Life’. The official representatives of the states will meet next week to add more thoughts to the plan. For More About West Bengal Tourist Spotes Like Darjeeling, 

Even though Siddhart was born in a royal family in Kapilavastu (now in Nepal), he attained enlightment in Bodh Gaya- a place in Bihar. Not only Bodh Gaya, other places of interest in Lord Buddha’s life in Bihar are Sarnath - the place where Lord Buddha gave his first sermon, Rajgir – where Buddha lived for 12 long years-, and Vaishali, the land where Lord Buddha without any ill feeling accepted honey from a monkey.

Uttar Pradesh too raises its head high with dignity as it is at Shravasti where twin miracles occured hence revealing the supernatural power of Lord Buddha, and it was at Kushinagar where Lord Buddha attained Nirvana (salvation). Both of these places are present in Uttar Pradesh and are major centers for Buddhist in the state as well as the country.

The foreign travellers’ policy of the Bengal state has impressed many countries in Asia. So much impact this new plan of Buddhist Pilgrim Tour had on the railway minister that he is looking ahead to assign a special train for the trip which will run in state of West Bengal, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Odisha and Jharkhand. To add cheery to this fabulous plan an air conditioned bus service may also be provided.

The targeted countries are from the home continent where Buddhism has flourished. To name few , China, Japan, Malaysia, Thailand and also other East Asian nations are in view. The tourism secretary of Bengal, Bikram Sen, expressed his thought of making Kolkata the ‘gateway’ for people who would like to follow the footsteps of Lord Buddha on these pious lands. Helping hands to bring this thought to reality was also provided by the Air Asia. Air Asia would be the one promoting Kolkata as an amazing pilgrimage land among the devotees.

Apart from the lifeline of Lord Buddha the tour may also include hilly places of Darjeeling, Doars, Gorubathan and other few places of natural beauty. This plan is mainly added with a motive to relief the tourist from the scorching hot of the South- East and East Asia.