President Ram Nath Kovind is likely to inaugurate Buddha Vanam, a Buddhist theme park coming up at Nagarjuna Sagar in Telangana, according to B Manohar, Managing Director of Telangana State Tourism Development Corporation Ltd (TSTDC).

Interacting with the media on the sidelines of the ongoing Telangana Tourism Conclave 2018, Manohar said Buddha Vanam is a ₹100-crore project developed on a 100-acre site. It includes eight Buddha Chaithravanam, Jathaka Chakra, Dhyana Vanam, Stupa Park, Acharya Nagarjuna International Higher Buddhist Learning Centre, Lower Krishna Valley Park and Maha Sthupa.

A meditation centre will also come up there and all historical finds collected from Buddhist sites will be kept in the Buddha Vanam.

Sri Lanka has sponsored an idol, which will also be placed there. In addition, a Buddhist university will come up near the park.

Manohar said the State was keen that Buddha Vanam is included in the Buddhist Circuit so that it would be able to attract tourists from Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Tibet and South-East Asian countries. While about 4-5 lakh Buddhist tourists visit Bodh Gaya in Bihar, Telangana is keen to attract tourists as a part of the circuit.

The officials have identified 27 Buddhist sites in the State and efforts are on to develop them. Manohar said the State government was contemplating to bring all of them under the umbrella of Buddha Vanam. On the State Tourism Policy, he said a draft policy has been prepared and a consultant is in the process of studying it. Telangana Tourism Conclave 2018 is organised by Ftapcci, in association with Telangana Tourism, the State government and Global Panorama Showcase.

Related Topics
comment COMMENT NOW