Ramayana and Buddhist Circuits in Uttar Pradesh
Ramayana and Buddhist Circuits in Uttar Pradesh
Development and promotion of tourism destinations and products including destination planning is primarily undertaken by the concerned State Government (SG)/Union Territory Administration (UTA). In order to complement the efforts of tourism infrastructure development in the country, Ministry of Tourism launched its Swadesh Darshan scheme (SDS) in 2014-15 and sanctioned 76 projects for Rs.5290.33 Crore under identified thematic circuits including Ramayana Circuit and Buddhist Circuit. The projects sanctioned under Swadesh Darshan scheme in Ramayana and Buddhist Circuits in the State of Uttar Pradesh are physically complete. The details of projects sanctioned in the State of Uttar Pradesh under various thematic circuits including Ramayana and Buddhist Circuits in Swadesh Darshan Scheme is annexed.
Government of India under its ‘Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI) – Development of Iconic Tourist Centres to Global Scale’ scheme, has also sanctioned projects in the country with the primary objective to comprehensively develop iconic tourist centres in the country, branding and marketing them at global scale. Under this scheme, the project ‘Integrated Buddhist Tourism Development in Shrawasti’ has been sanctioned in 2024-25 for Rs.80.24 Crore.
This information was given by Union Minister for Tourism and Culture Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat in a written reply in Lok Sabha on 9th February 2026.
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Sunil Kumar Tiwari
ANNEXURE
Details of projects sanctioned under Swadesh Darshan Scheme in the State of Uttar Pradesh
Sl. No.
State/UT
Circuit / Sanction Year
Name of the Project
Amount Sanctioned (₹ Cr.)
Amount Released
/Authorised
(₹ Cr.)
Amount Utilised
(₹ Cr.)
1.
Uttar Pradesh
Buddhist Circuit
2016-17
Development of Srawasti, Kushinagar, &Kapilwastu
87.89
72.56
68.43
2.
Uttar Pradesh
Ramayana Circuit
2016-17
Development of Chitrakoot and Shringverpur
69.45
64.09
56.03
3.
Uttar Pradesh
Spiritual Circuit
2016-17
Development of Ahar-Aligarh-Kasganj-Sarosi (Unnao)-Pratapgarh- Kausambi-Mirzapur-Gorakhpur-Domariyaganj-Basti-Barabanki-Azamgarh-Kairana- Baghpat- Shahjahanpur
71.91
69.63
69.63
4.
Uttar Pradesh
Spiritual Circuit
2016-17
Development of Bijnor- Meerut- Kanpur- Kanpur Dehat- Banda- Ghazipur- Salempur- Ghosi- Balia- Ambedkar Nagar- Aligarh- Fatehpur- Deoria- Mahoba- Sonbhadra- Chandauli- Mishrikh- Bhadohi
67.51
64.14
63.62
5.
Uttar Pradesh
Heritage Circuit
2016-17
Development of Kalinjar Fort (Banda)- MagharDham(SantKabir Nagar)- ChauriChaura, Shaheed Sthal (Fatehpur)- MahuarshaheedSthal (Ghosi)- Shaheed Smarak (Meerut)
36.65
36.65
36.65
6.
Uttar Pradesh
Ramayana Circuit
2017-18
Development of Ayodhya
127.21
115.46
113.22
7.
Uttar Pradesh
Spiritual Circuit
2018-19
Development of Jewar-Dadri-Sikandrabad-Noida-Khurja-Banda
12.03
11.43
11.43
8.
Uttar Pradesh
Spiritual Circuit
2018-19
Development of Gorakhnath Temple (Gorakhpur), Devipattan Temple (Balrampur) and Vatvashni Temple (Domariyagunj)
18.30
18.12