Latest news with #Buddhist
Indian Express
6 hours ago
- Business
- Indian Express
Buddhist circuit in focus, UP looks to strengthen tourism, investment ties with Japan
The Uttar Pradesh government is exploring ways to strengthen business ties with Japan as the state Tourism Department is making extensive plans to start a tourism exchange and showcase investment opportunities with the East Asian country during the Japan Tourism Expo in September with a focus on the Buddhist Circuit. Meanwhile, a delegation led by state Finance Minister Suresh Khanna is meeting investors in Japan. Tourism Department officials said besides the Buddhist Circuit, the state is preparing an elaborate plan to showcase investment opportunities in meditation centers, hotels, and cultural infrastructure under public private partnership (PPP) mode. The foundation of the ties was laid last year during the visit of Yamanashi prefecture Governor Kotaro Nagasaki, who was accompanied by leading Japanese business delegates. They not only signed MOUs for industrial cooperation but also discussed opportunities in tourism exchange with a joint promotion of Mount Fuji and hot springs in Japan, and Buddhist and cultural destinations such as Sarnath, Shravasti and Kushinagar in Uttar Pradesh. 'Familiarisation trips from Japan are being regularly organised by the state Tourism Department to showcase the Buddhist Circuit in Uttar Pradesh, which is deeply intertwined with the life of the Buddha. The idea is to showcase the significant role of UP in the global Buddhist pilgrimage trail and encourage tourism exchange with Japan,' said a senior government official. Tourism and Culture Minister Jaiveer Singh said, 'The state has seen a three-fold rise in tourist footfall the last eight years, and this reflects our focused strategy and global engagement. Our vision is to transform the Buddhist Circuit into a world-class spiritual and cultural gateway by integrating infrastructure, international connectivity and community involvement. We are welcoming countries like Japan to partner with us in building Buddhist temples, meditation centres, wellness retreats, and hospitality projects under PPP mode.' With Kushinagar getting much attention in the past, the focus now is on developing infrastructure and cultural centres in Kaushambi and Farrukhabad districts where the government will invest on meditation centers or developing Buddhist tourist sites. 'In 2016, nearly 28 lakh tourists visited the Buddhist sites in UP. The number nearly tripled by 2024. Kaushambi witnessed a massive jump from just over 2 lakh tourists to more than 24 lakh visitors. Kushinagar witnessed a jump to 22 lakh from 9 lakh, while Sarnath remained a leading destination with 11.8 lakh visitors in the past year,' said Mukesh Kumar Meshram, Principal Secretary, Tourism and Culture. The delegation led by Finance Minister Suresh Khanna is camping in Japan for the last three days, to participate in the World Expo in Osaka and hold B2B meetings with potential investors. On Thursday, the delegation, also comprising Principal Secretary, Infrastructure and Industries, Alok Kumar, explored tie-ups in the semiconductor sector and academics. Officials said the delegation explored semiconductor collaboration with Tokyo Electron Limited (TEL) in a meeting with the company's Executive Vice President (Global Sales Division and India Business) Takeshi Okubo. During the meeting, the TEL's possibility of collaborating in semiconductor manufacturing, skill development and establishing global capability centres (GCCs) in UP were discussed. Khanna with officials from Invest UP also visited the Osaka Prefectural Assembly to explore investment in capacity-building, youth upskilling and technology exchange. At the World Expo 2025, academic collaborations with Portugal (University of Guarda) were also discussed, it is learnt.
Time of India
7 hours ago
- General
- Time of India
Gaekwad family to revive 90-year-old Kirti Mandir
Vadodara: Time has finally caught up with Kirti Mandir — Vadodara's majestic royal cenotaph that has stood tall for nine decades. For the first time since it was built in 1936, the iconic structure is set to undergo restoration as age begins to wear down its grandeur. Perched near the Vishwamitri river, the monument has developed cracks in its roof and central dome, leading to water seepage that may threatens priceless frescoes by legendary artist Nandlal Bose. Concerned about its deteriorating condition, the royal Gaekwad family has decided to restore the heritage structure, built in 1936. "After the floods last year, we noticed water seeping in through the central dome and parts of the terrace. Cracks have developed that need urgent attention, especially since this is a heritage site," said Samarjitsinh Gaekwad, scion of the royal family. "We have engaged heritage experts to assess the damage. Restoration of such structures must be carried out with extreme care to avoid further deterioration. Once the assessment is complete, the repair work will begin," Gaekwad told TOI. Commissioned by Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad to commemorate the diamond jubilee of his reign, Kirti Mandir is built in the Indo-Saracenic style. Shaped like the letter E, it features a 35-metre-tall intricately carved 'Shikhar' (central dome) symbolizing the sun, moon, and earth, along with an undivided map of India. "The central dome is built using stone in the traditional jack arch style. The main issue is water leakage, which has displaced mortar at several points, leading to corrosion in some of the supporting beams," said Jaswant Arlekar, a structural engineer and expert in heritage restoration. "We plan to recreate the mortar mix and patch the cracks. The restoration work will begin after the monsoon. Fortunately, most of the sandstone structure remains in good condition," Arlekar added. Kirti Mandir also houses the urns of deceased members of the Gaekwad royal family, preserved in separate rooms. The structure remains closed to the public except during the annual Diwali rangoli exhibition. Box Nandlal Bose's timeless frescoes adorn Kirti Mandir's walls Padma Vibhushan Nandlal Bose, who beautifully decorated each page of the original handwritten Constitution of India, created frescoes on the walls of the main hall in Kirti Mandir in the 1940s. The paintings depict Kurukshetra battle scenes in the Mahabharat, the life of Mirabai, and the Buddhist story of King Bimbisara. Born in 1882, Bose, who was the principal of Kala Bhavan, Santiniketan, was known for his Indian style of paintings. His works were influenced by the murals of the Ajanta Caves. These paintings were restored by the royal family in 2018 with the help of INTACH.
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Business Standard
8 hours ago
- Business
- Business Standard
Spiritual circuits to gain as India opens doors to Chinese tourists
The Indian tourism sector has cheered the government's move to resume issuing visas to Chinese nationals after a hiatus of five years, while calling for 'concentrated efforts' to attract tourists from the neighbouring country, who had formed 27 per cent of the total foreign tourist footfall to India in 2019. 'It is a good move. China is one of our major trade partners, and tourism, which fosters people to people interaction, could lead to greater cooperation and understanding. But mere liberalisation of the visa regime is not enough. There should be a concentrated effort to create and actively promote itineraries and experiences geared to attract Chinese tourists,' said Ajay Prakash, vice president of the Federation of Associations in Indian Tourism & Hospitality (FAITH). India had received around 300,000 Chinese tourists in 2019, after which the Covid-19 pandemic prompted countries to close borders. 'Chinese tourists accounted for nearly 27 per cent of total foreign tourist arrivals to India in 2019, and we are very glad to welcome this move from the government as China is an important source market for the country,' said Ravi Gosain, president of the Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO), which has been pushing for this for the past three years. In 2018, a survey conducted by and Chinese International Travel Monitor, said that Delhi and Mumbai were the top most visited Indian cities for Chinese tourists. However, the Taj Mahal in Agra took the cake as the most favoured site. 'Chinese tourists mostly used to visit in big groups and enjoyed the variety of experiences that India offers. The golden triangle, made up of Delhi, Jaipur and Agra, was among the most sought after tours from these groups,' said a tour operator who did not wish to be named. Now, with the evolution of spiritual tourism in the country, the Buddhist spiritual corridors coming up in Bihar, connecting the ancient Vishnupad and Mahabodhi temples, there will be heightened interest from the Chinese traveller, say industry experts. 'With regional tourism now regaining momentum post-Covid, we believe the restoration of visas for Chinese tourists is critical to revive inbound growth,' Gosain added. The Embassy of India in China announced on Wednesday that Chinese nationals can apply for Indian visas from Thursday (July 24, 2025) after completing an online application and obtaining an appointment at the Indian Embassy in Beijing and the consulates in Shanghai and Guangzhou. This move comes on the heels of China resuming the Kailash Manasarovar Yatra in June this year.
The Hindu
9 hours ago
- Business
- The Hindu
₹375 crore worth tourism projects sanctioned for A.P. in 2024-25: Union Tourism Minister Shekhawat
Union Ministry of Tourism, through its Central sector schemes, has sanctioned various projects worth ₹375.07 crore, said Union Minister for Tourism Gajendra Singh Shekhawat. In a written reply to the questions by Sana Satish Babu and Beedha Masthan Rao Yadav in the Rajya Sabha, Mr. Shekhawat said financial assistance was extended to the State of Andhra Pradesh under Swadesh Darshan (SD), Swadesh Darshan 2.0 (SD 2.0), Challenge Based Destination Development (CBDD), a sub-scheme of Swadesh Darshan, and Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual, Heritage Augmentation Drive (PRASHAD). The Minister said funds to the tune of ₹97.52 crore were sanctioned for the Suryalanka Beach project, and ₹29.871 crore for Borra Cave Experience at Araku-Lambasingi under Swadesh Darshan 2.0 in the State for the year 2024-25. Similarly, ₹25 crore each was sanctioned for the projects 'Ahobilam- a Spiritual Odyssey' and for enriching Buddhist heritage and cultural experience at Nagarjuna Sagar, under the CBDD scheme. The Minister said under the Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI), ₹77.91 crore was allocated for the Gandikota project and ₹94.44 crore for the Akhanda Godavari scheme at Rajamahendravaram. Other allocations included ₹25.33 crore for development of pilgrimage tourism in Annavaram temple town under PRASHAD. Three projects worth ₹124.89 crore sanctioned in the previous year, are in progress. Mr. Shekhawat said Andhra Pradesh utilised funds to the tune of ₹147.46 crore sanctioned under Swadesh Darshan scheme to develop coastal circuit and Buddhist circuit projects between 2014 and 2018. *
Time of India
9 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Clamour grows louder for honouring Dalai Lama with Bharat Ratna
Guwahati: Clamour growing louder for honouring Dalai Lama with Bharat Ratna. All Tawang District Students' Union organised a rally seeking Bharat Ratna , India's highest civilian award to the Dalai Lama. Recently the 90th birthday celebration of 14th Dalai Lama Tenzing Tsewang Gyatso took place across different areas of the country. Explore courses from Top Institutes in Please select course: Select a Course Category Design Thinking healthcare Public Policy Product Management Cybersecurity Others Data Science PGDM Technology Data Science CXO MBA Artificial Intelligence Data Analytics Project Management others Leadership Digital Marketing Finance MCA Healthcare Management Skills you'll gain: Duration: 25 Weeks IIM Kozhikode CERT-IIMK PCP DTIM Async India Starts on undefined Get Details A peace march , organised by the All Tawang District Students' Union moved through the streets of Tawang, from Chamleng, Tawang Monastery to Buddha Park. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 15 Foods to Eat If You Have High Blood Pressure Undo People called to honour the Dalai Lama with the Bharat Ratna. Holding banners and chanting slogans, the participants celebrated the Dalai Lama's legacy of peace, compassion, and non-violence. Community leaders submitted a memorandum addressed to the Government of India through local officials. 'His Holiness is a global icon of peace and compassion. Honouring him with the Bharat Ratna would be a tribute to his lifelong teachings and his deep bond with India,' said Tsering Dorjee, a community leader and event organizer. Live Events Now 90 years old, the Dalai Lama has spent more than six decades in exile in India. BJP MP in the Rajya Sabha, Sujeet Kumar is gathering support from MPs for the award of the Bharat Ratna to the Dalai Lama. The initiative for the coveted award to the Dalai Lama is led by the All-Party Indian Parliamentary Forum for Tibet (APIPFT), comprising MPs from across the political spectrum including BJP, BJD, Congress, and JD(U). The forrum has garnered the support of 80 MPs and Arunachal Chief minister Pema Khandu . The forum is looking to garner support of 100 MPs before submitting the same to Prime minister Narendra Modi . Three foreign born leading personalities have been awarded Bharat Ratna in the past: Mother Teresa (1980), Abdul Ghaffar Khan (1987) and Nelson Mandela (1990). BJP MP and Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Communications and Information Technology Nishikant Dubey who was in Sikkim early this month said 'The Dalai Lama is deeply respected by every Indian. He is a spiritual leader not just for the people of the Himalayas but for the entire world.' He said, 'I come from Vikramshila, the village that gave the world Lord AtishaDipankara, one of the greatest Buddhist scholars. He laid the foundation for the traditions of the Dalai Lama and Panchen Lama. For me and my people, it would be a matter of great honour to see the Dalai Lama receive the Bharat Ratna.'
