By Saurabh Sinha
New Delhi, February 17 – For Buddhists the world over, visiting important pilgrim towns — like Bodhgaya, Nalanda, Rajgir and Vaishali — is as important as the Haj is for Muslims. But they want a question answered first: “Is it okay to go to ‘Beehar’?”
Apprehension about the law-and-order situation and infrastructure in Bihar was top of the mind among delegates attending the International Conclave of Buddhism organised by the Union Tourism and Culture Ministry to promote spiritual tourism.
“I have heard horror tales from there,” said a Thai monk. “People are robbed even in moving trains. Tourists are not safe. Travelling from one place to other is dangerous.”
K. Tanaka, who teaches Tibetan Buddhism in Tokyo, said he faced problems in taking tourists to some pilgrimages. “I regularly take guided tours of Japanese tourists to the pilgrimages,” he said. “The situation can be better.”
Most visitors expressed their fears diplomatically but Union Culture Minister Jagmohan, the man behind the hardsell through the ‘Incredible India’ campaign, was more forthcoming.
“When I visited the spots in Bihar two years ago, they were in a bad shape,” the minister said. “We took them over and provided basic infrastructure like roads while the state government did not help. There is a serious law-and-order problem in Bihar but our spots like Bodhgaya are safe. We will do what we can.”
There is some good news though. The new international airport at Bodhgaya will enable pilgrims to go straight to the ‘Enlightenment Town’, avoiding the 112-km road journey from Patna.
Also, the magnificent Mahabodhi Temple in Bodhgaya has been restored. On Thursday, Unesco will accord it world heritage status.
But some things never change in Bihar. “The invitation cards for the inscription ceremony carry the chief minister’s name but we have still not been told if she is coming or not,” a Culture Ministry source said.
Another instance of the Rabri Devi government’s alleged disinterest in promoting itself — like Rajasthan or Kerala — as a tourist destination.
