New Delhi: India has a rich ancient Buddhist Heritage, with several important sites associated with the life of Lord Buddha, which are of great interest for followers of Buddhism the world over. Buddhism has spread to almost all the countries of the world, with the population of Buddhists estimated to be around 350 million. Countries like China, Thailand, Cambodia have a high proportion of Buddhists in their population and the religion is also becoming quite widespread in America, Australia and United Kingdom.

India has a number of Buddhist sites including Bodhgaya, Nalanda, Rajgir and Vaishali in Bihar, Sarnath and Sravasti in Uttar Pradesh, Ajanta & Ellora in Maharashtra, Sanchi in Madhya Pradesh and many more. There is a great potential for promoting tourism to these sites and efforts are required to be made to drive tourist traffic to the sites.

With a view to showcasing and projecting the Buddhist Heritage of India, an International Buddhist Heritage Conference is being organized in Nalanda, on February 6-7, 2010. The proposed theme for the Conference is “Experience Buddhism in the land of Origin”. The main features of the event are:

• The Conference is being organized by Ministry of Tourism in collaboration with the State Government of Bihar.

• The venue for the Conference is the Nalanda-Rajgir Heritage Complex with the active support of the Nava Nalanda Mahavira, Deemed University (Ministry of Culture, Govt. of India)

• Kumari Selja, Minister of Tourism and Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation, Govt. of India will be the Chief Guest of the Conference. The inaugural session will be preceded by a walk on the footsteps of Lord Buddha.

• The Conclave sessions include Technical sessions on Buddhism for scholars and travel and Tourism sessions for the media and Tour Operators, pre-post tours and site visits in and around Nalanda for all interested delegates.

• Crafts bazaars, photographic exhibition by eminent photographer Sh. Benoy Behl, Books exhibition on Buddhism, Travel Bazaar will be some of the other highlights.

• More than 100 eminent monks and erudite scholars, reputed academicians, tour operators as well as Media representatives (mainstream media and travel journalists) from the relevant markets overseas will be participating in the Conference through the Indiatourism Offices Overseas. The delegates are coming from China, Japan, Malayasia, Cambodia, Lao PDR, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, China Taipei, Korea, France, USA, UK.

• In addition, domestic tour operators are also participating in the event and will be promoting special Buddhist packages which could be promoted through the overseas tour operators participating in the Conference.

• Along with the Conference, pre and post Conference tours to Buddhist sites in and around Nalanda have been arranged for the trade and media representatives to showcase the treasures around Nalanda.

• IRCTC is supporting through the pre-tour from Delhi to Gaya/Nalanda for all the international delegates on the Mahaparinirvana Train as part of the promotion of the train.