The “1st Meeting of National
Committee on Ramayan Circuit and National Committee on Krishna Circuit” under
Swadesh Darshan Scheme of Ministry of Tourism held under the chairmanship of
the Minister of Tourism & Culture Dr. Mahesh Sharma here today. Secretary,
M/o Tourism Shri Vinod Zutshi, experts and senior officers of M/o Tourism were
present. Presentations were made on Pan-India Ramayana & Krishna Circuit on
the occasion.

Under Ramayana Circuit, 11
destinations spread across 6 states have been proposed. The destinations
covered are: Ayodhya, Nandigram, Shringhverpur & Chitrakoot (Uttar
Pradesh); Sitamarhi, Buxar & Darbhanga (Bihar); Jagdalpur (Chattisgarh);
Bhadrachalam (Telangana); Hampi (Karnataka); and Rameshwaram (Tamil Nadu).
Expert committee suggested to include Chitrakoot (Madhya Pradesh), Nashik &
Nagpur (Maharashtra) and Mahendragiri (Odisha) in the proposed circuit.
Under Krishna circuit, 12 destinations
spread across 5 states have been proposed. The destinations covered are: Dwarka
(Gujarat); Nathdwara, Jaipur & Sikar (Rajasthan); Kurukshetra (Haryana),
Mathura, Vrindavan, Gokul, Barsana, Nandgaon & Govardhan (Uttar Pradesh);
Puri (Odisha). The destinations were approved by the expert committee.
Further, projects worth more
than Three Hundred Crores Rupees were approved in-principle in Uttar Pradesh
under both the circuits.

The Ministry of Tourism has launched the
Swadesh Darshan Scheme in 2014-15 with an aim to develop theme based tourist
circuits in the country on the principles of high tourist value,
competitiveness and sustainability in an integrated manner by synergizing
efforts to focus on needs and concerns of all stakeholders to enrich tourist
experience and enhance employment opportunities.
Under the Swadesh Darshan scheme, thirteen thematic circuits have been
identified, for development namely: North-East India Circuit, Buddhist Circuit,
Himalayan Circuit, Coastal Circuit, Krishna Circuit, Desert Circuit, Tribal
Circuit, Eco Circuit, Wildlife Circuit, Rural Circuit, Spiritual Circuit,
Ramayana Circuit and Heritage Circuit.
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Sanjay Kumar/jk/Tourism/14.06.2016