By A Staff Reporter
Kathmandu, Mar. 24:Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation has recently approved the final draft of Buddhist Circuits under Lumbini Development Trust (LDT).
The draft aims to link the country’s Buddhist heritage sites from mountainous and hilly areas to Lumbini, the birthplace of Lord Gautam Buddha.
“Now that the draft is approved, we will discuss with Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) about bringing a package of programmes to promote the circuit among the visitors, especially followers of Buddhism,” said LDT Member Secretary Sanuraja Shakya.
LDT has developed nine Buddhist circuits as sacred pilgrimages and culture trails connecting the Buddhist sites related with the birth of Lord Buddha and his foot-steps afterward.
Circuits recommended by LDT are: Om Mane Padme Hum Circuit (OMPHC), Dolpo Buddhist and Bon Heritage Circuit (DBBHC), Greater Lumbini Buddhist Circuit (GLBC), Lumbini-Lo Kingdom Buddhist Circuit (LKBC), Tsum-Nubri Valley Sacred Kyimolung Circuit (TNVSKC), Nepal Mandala Buddhist Circuit (NMBC), Maratika (Haleshi)-Sailung-Timal Padmasambhava Meditation Cave Circuit (MSTPMC) and Everest- Rolwaling Sacred Beyul Circuit (ERSBC).
Shakya added that NTB and travel agencies had a role to play in promoting these circuits at both national and international levels.
OMPHC connects the world’s two most sacred places -- Lumbini and Mount Kailash in Tibet. What’s more, the circuit connects other historically and spirituality significant Buddhist Viharas, Stupas stone pillars, caves, monasteries and sacred valleys: Surkhet’s Kakre-Vihara, Dailekh’s, Dullu, Mamma, Sinja, Rara, Simkot, Yalbang monastery, Limi Valley, Hilsa and Mansarovar.
DBBHC connects the rare areas in the Himalayas where Bon and Buddhist have long lived side by side.
GLBC connects four major Buddhist sacred sites -- Lumbini, Kapilavastu, Ramgrama and Devadaha.
LKBC connects Lumbini with the Lo Kingdom and the Trans-Himalayan region.
Thini, Muktinath, Rangchyung Cave Chhorten, Thubten Shedrup Dhargyeling Monastery, Jhampa Lhekhang Monastery and the Thubchhen Lakhang Monastery are also connected by LKBC circuit.
The Tsum-Nubri Valley’s sacred Kyimolung Circuit connects Padmasambhava’s beyul Kyimolung (meaning stream of happiness) and other historical landmarks.
This circuit is stretched to Tsum, Kutang and upper Gorkha’s Nubri Valley.
NMBC connects Kathmandu Valley’s Buddhist heritage sites: Nagarjuna/Jamacho, Siphucho (Shivapuri), Phucho (Phulchowk) and Dhinacho (Chandragiri) and its surroundings.
MSTPMC connects perfected meditation caves and foot-prints of great Buddhist Tantric master Padmasambhava (Guru Rinpoche).
The circuit links rocky cave of Maratika, Timal area Sailung area, Charighang, Bhimeshwor in Kavre district.
ERSBC connects the perfected meditation caves of the great Tantric master Padmasambhava and Yogi Milerepa.