Official Gazette Notification Text
Official TranscriptMinistry of Tourism Development of Buddhist Heritage Sites in Andhra Pradesh Posted On: 04 FEB 2026 2:34PM by PIB Delhi While development and promotion of tourism destinations and products is primarily undertaken by the concerned State Government (SG)/Union Territory Administration (UTA), Ministry of Tourism through its central sector schemes of ‘Swadesh Darshan (SD), ‘Swadesh Darshan 2.0...
Ministry of Tourism Development of Buddhist Heritage Sites in Andhra Pradesh
Posted On: 04 FEB 2026 2:34PM by PIB Delhi While development and promotion of tourism destinations and products is primarily undertaken by the concerned State Government (SG)/Union Territory Administration (UTA), Ministry of Tourism through its central sector schemes of ‘Swadesh Darshan (SD), ‘Swadesh Darshan 2.0 (SD2.0)’, ‘Challenge Based Destination Development (CBDD), a sub-scheme of Swadesh Darshan 2.0 scheme’ and ‘Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Heritage Augmentation Drive (PRASHAD)’ complements the efforts of tourism infrastructure development in the country including those in Coastal and Buddhist Destinations by extending financial assistance to the SGs/UTAs; on receipt of the project proposals from the concerned State Government/Union Territory Administration in synergy with the scheme guidelines, Government directions, availability of funds, inter-se priority etc. Projects sanctioned under these schemes cover multiple components related to the development of tourism infrastructure and visitor experiences, including last-mile connectivity, depending on the specific requirements of each project.
Government of India under its ‘Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI) – Development of Iconic Tourist Centres to Global Scale’ scheme, has also sanctioned projects in the country with the primary objective to comprehensively develop iconic tourist centres in the country, branding and marketing them at global scale.
The Ministry of Tourism holistically promotes various tourism destinations and products of the country, which also covers Buddhist heritage in global markets including in Southeast Asian countries.
The details of the projects sanctioned under SD, SD2.0, CBDD, PRASHAD and SASCI schemes in the state of Andhra Pradesh including those in Buddhist and Coastal region is annexed.
This information was given by Union Minister for Tourism and Culture Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat in a written reply in Lok Sabha on 2nd February 2026. **** Sunil Kumar Tiwari tourism4pib[at]gmail[dot]com ANNEXURE Details of the projects sanctioned under Swadesh Darshan (SD), SD2.0, CBDD, PRASHAD and
SASCI schemes in the state of Andhra Pradesh: (Amount in ₹Crore)Scheme/ S. Name of the Circuit/ Year of Amount Amount Status Sub- No. Project/ Destination sanction sanctioned Released (Physicall scheme Experience (R)/ complete utilized implemen
(U)/ stage Released or authorized for utilization
(A) Swadesh 1 Development of Coastal Circuit 2014-15 67.83 67.83 (U) Physically Darshan Kakinada - Hope complete
(SD) Island - Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary - Passarlapudi - Aduru - S Yanam – Kotipally
2. Development of Coastal Circuit 2015-16 49.55 49.55 Physically Nellore - Pulikat complete
(U) Lake - UbblamaduguWater Falls – Nelapattu- Kothakoduru- Mypadu - Ramateertham – Iskapalli
3. Development of Buddhist Circuit 2017-18 35.24 30.02 Physically
Buddhist Circuit: complete
(U) Shalihundam- Bavikonda- Bojjanakonda - Amravati- Anupu SD2.0 4. Development of Bapatala 2024-25 97.52 9.75 (A) implemen Suryalanka Beach stage Experience
5. Borra Cave Araku- 2023-24 29.88 2.99 (A) implemen Experience at Lambasingi stage ArakuCBDD 6. Enriching NagarjunaSagar 2024-25 25.00 2.50 (A) implemen Buddhist stage Heritage and Cultural Experiences at NagarjunaSagar (under Culture & Heritage category)
7. Development of Ahobilam 2024-25 24.99 2.50 (A) implemen Abhobilam as a Temple stage Spiritual Odyssey (under Spiritual Tourism category) SASCI 8. Enriching the Gandikota 2024-25 77.91 implemen Fort and Gorge stage Experience in
113.75 Gandikota
(A)
9. Akhanda Raja 2024-25 94.44 implemen Godavari- Mahendravaram stage (Havelok Bridge & Pushkar Ghat) in Raja MahendravaramPRASHAD 10. Development of Amaravati 2015-16 27.77 27.77 (U) Physically Amaravati Town, Town complete Guntur District as a Tourist Destination
11. Development of Srisailam 2017-18 43.08 43.08 Physically Srisailam Temple complete
(U)
12. Sri Varaha Vishakhapatnam 2022-23 54.04 27.37 (U) implemen Lakshmi stage Narsimha Swami VariDevasthanam at Simhachalam in Vishakhapatnam Temple
13. Development of Annavaram 2024-25 25.33 6.74 (R) implemen Pilgrimage Tourism stage
2.04 (U) Infrastructure in Annavaram Temple Town (Release ID: 2223045) Visitor Counter : 172
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