Guj govt speed up preservation of Buddhist sites for tourism

Last Updated: Monday, April 04, 2011, 12:06

Tags: Gujarat, Buddhist sites, tourism

Ahmedabad: The Gujarat government has accelerated efforts for preservation of sites that are going to be part of the Buddhist tourism circuit comprising caves in Saurashtra and remains of Buddhist monastery in Central Gujarat region.

While the proposal for Buddhist tourism circuit awaits approval from the Centre, Gujarat government has sped up work on preservation of ancient Buddhist caves and sites which are presently being excavated by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).

Chief minister Narendra Modi himself has taken keen interest in the activities and had recently visited the excavation site in Vadnagar of Mehsana district in North Gujarat to take stock of the works taken up there.

"In ancient times thousands of Buddhist monks were coming to Vadnagar in search of spiritual knowledge. It is believed that eastern belt of India is especially influenced by Buddha but with the finding of Buddhist relics in Vadnagar, an opportunity to study his influence on western belt has also opened up," Modi said during his visit.

According to an official of the department of youth and Cultural affairs, they plan to built a shed made out of special fibre to protect the Vadnagar excavation site from rain and other disturbances.

"We also plan to erect a cultural wall that would display the relics of the Buddhist monastery and coins. An amount of Rs 40 lakh has been allocated for it," the official said on the condition of anonymity.

PTI

First Published: Monday, April 04, 2011, 12:06