UP Government Mulling Big-Ticket Promotion Of Religious, Spiritual, Cultural Tourism To Drive Development Of Purvanchal

Lucknow, December 28 (TNA) To give shape to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's dream of development of Purvanchal, the state government is mulling big-ticket promotion of religious, spiritual and cultural tourism in that part of the state, an official said on Monday.

This is also because 65 percent tourists coming to Uttar Pradesh have a preference for Kashi and Kushinagar -- the two religious-cultural hotspots of Purvanchal. Historically these two districts are considered as the biggest centers of Buddhist tourism in terms of spiritual heritage and tourism in Purvanchal.

Along with this, Ayodhya, the birthplace of Lord Ram and Gorakhpur, the taposthli of Shiv Incarnate Guru Gorakhnath, are also a big draw for both domestic and international tourists. In view of these facts, an action plan has been drawn in Purvanchal to develop the possibilities of tourism and to attract tourists.

Member of Tourism Committee of Purvanchal Development Council and Prof. Manoj Dixit, former Vice Chancellor of Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Awadh University Faizabad, recently gave a presentation in front of the Chief Minister about how to develop tourism in Purvanchal.

In this, many suggestions were made to connect the tourist places of Purvanchal, especially the places associated with Lord Buddha, to Bihar, to celebrate the small fairs and cultural events of Purvanchal on the lines of Dev Diwali and to provide smooth traffic to the tourists.

It was pointed out in the presentation that Purvanchal is a very culturally rich region but there has been lack of basic facilities, proper rural education and employment since the beginning. Purvanchal has seen a new era of development during the tenure of three and a half years of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.

On one hand, Purvanchal Expressway on the other hand, after the development of tourism here, unemployment and basic problems will end. This plan will develop the entire Purvanchal. According to the data, Varanasi and Kushinagar attract 65 percent of the tourists visiting all over Uttar Pradesh.

In the presentation before the CM, it was suggested that Purvanchal needs to be developed keeping Buddhist tourism at the center. The cultural contacts of Purvanchal are from Bihar but there is no such event that can connect the two.

Like the Divine Deepotsav of Ayodhya and Dev Diwali of Varanasi, events are needed here, it was pointed out. Kushinagar is at more distance from Bodh Gaya in Bihar. And the tourist finds it difficult to come here. For this, there should be a direct rail link, it was suggested.