The Union Tourism Ministry is showcasing India’s rich diversity under the Dekho Apna Desh webinar series. It is also trying to promote different types of tourism through this series.

In the latest episode, the ministry focussed on 'In the Footsteps of the Buddha,’ highlighting the rich Buddhist tourism circuit in north India. India is deeply associated with Buddhism and sites related to the life of Lord Buddha are spread all over India as viable tourist destination.

Buddhists living in different countries all over the world have found India to be a natural destination to visit places related to the life and teachings of Buddha.

Rupinder Brar, Additional Director General, spoke about the IRCTC-run Mahaparinirvana Express – the famous Buddhist tourist train, which got its name from Buddha’s final explanation of his teachings in the Mahaparinirvana Sutra. It takes passengers on a journey which teaches them and helps them embrace both the roots and learnings of Buddhism.

Shri Dharmacharya Shantum, guiding teacher and founder Buddhapath Ahimsa Trust, guided the participants of the webinar on a virtual journey across the plains of the river Ganges to Bodh Gaya, where the Buddha attained enlightenment, meditation places such as Vulture peak in Rajgir, the Jeta Grove at Sravasti, the site at Kapilavastu where he spent his childhood, the Deer Park at Sarnath, where he gave his first teachings and Kushinagar, where he passed away.

Dharmacharya Shantum shared the stories of the Buddha’s life and teachings to help us understand the Buddha as a human being, his life and the significance of what he taught.

Buddhism is practiced by over 500 million people of the world and India can attract these people to its numerous tourist attractions under the Buddhist Circuit. This initiative will also make India's ties stronger with Buddhist countries of SouthEast Asia..