Buddhavanam will be developed as global centre for peace and spiritual tourism, says Jupally Krishna Rao

The Telangana government is working towards transforming Buddhavanam into an international hub for peace and spirituality as part of its efforts to position the State as a key destination for spiritual tourism, Tourism and Culture Minister Jupally Krishna Rao said on Monday, March 2.

The Minister was speaking at the closing ceremony of the third Buddha Dhamma Yatra held at Nagarjunasagar, which he attended along with Minister Vivek Venkataswamy. The yatra, which began at Siddhartha Buddha Vihar in Kalaburagi, concluded at Buddhavanam after passing through several Buddhist sites.

Mr. Rao said it was significant that the Dhamma Yatra had reached the banks of Nagarjunasagar while carrying the message of peace and compassion. He noted that the region associated with Acharya Nagarjuna held immense civilisational importance and the teachings of Lord Buddha offered a strong foundation for building a society based on freedom, equality and fraternity.

The Minister said the government had prepared concrete plans to elevate Buddhist sites in Telangana to international prominence. As part of this initiative, a tourism circuit was being developed to provide a world-class pilgrimage experience by connecting historically important sites such as Phanigiri, Nelakondapalli and Dhuli Katta with Buddhavanam.

He also announced plans to establish a Digital Experience Centre at Buddhavanam, aimed at bringing the teachings of Buddha closer to the younger generation through the use of modern technology.