**Executive Summary**
The Ministry of Tourism launched the Swadesh Darshan Scheme (SDS) in 2014-15 and sanctioned 76 projects for Rs.5290.33 Crore under identified thematic circuits including Ramayana Circuit and Buddhist Circuit. The projects sanctioned under the Swadesh Darshan scheme in Ramayana and Buddhist Circuits in the State of Uttar Pradesh are physically complete. Additionally, the 'Integrated Buddhist Tourism Development in Shrawasti' project has been sanctioned for 2024-25 for Rs.80.24 Crore under the SASCI scheme.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Swadesh Darshan Scheme (SDS):**
* Launched in 2014-15.
* Sanctioned 76 projects worth Rs.5290.33 Crore.
* Focuses on identified thematic circuits like Ramayana and Buddhist Circuits.
* **Projects in Uttar Pradesh:**
* Projects sanctioned under SDS for Ramayana and Buddhist Circuits in Uttar Pradesh are physically complete.
* Details of sanctioned projects under the Swadesh Darshan Scheme in Uttar Pradesh are listed in the annexure.
* **Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI):**
* Scheme aimed at developing iconic tourist centers to a global scale.
* 'Integrated Buddhist Tourism Development in Shrawasti' sanctioned for Rs.80.24 Crore in 2024-25.
**Impact Analysis**
**Ministry of Tourism**
* **Impact:** Responsible for the development and promotion of tourism destinations and products.
* **Action Required:** To continue to monitor and support the development of tourism infrastructure in Uttar Pradesh through various schemes.
**State Government (SG)/Union Territory Administration (UTA)**
* **Impact:** Primarily responsible for the development and promotion of tourism destinations and products, including destination planning.
* **Action Required:** To continue to work with the Ministry of Tourism to develop and promote tourism in Uttar Pradesh.
**Stakeholders in Uttar Pradesh**
* **Impact:** Benefit from the development of tourism infrastructure and the promotion of tourism destinations in the state.
* **Action Required:** To continue to support the development of tourism in Uttar Pradesh.
Key Entities Referenced
Swadesh Darshan scheme (SDS): A scheme launched by the Ministry of Tourism to develop tourism infrastructure based on thematic circuits.
Uttar Pradesh: The state where the Ramayana and Buddhist Circuits projects were sanctioned under the Swadesh Darshan Scheme.
Ramayana Circuit: A thematic tourism circuit focusing on sites related to the Ramayana epic.
Buddhist Circuit: A thematic tourism circuit focusing on sites related to Buddhism.
Ministry of Tourism: The government body responsible for launching and overseeing the Swadesh Darshan scheme.
Ministry of Tourism
Ramayana and Buddhist Circuits in Uttar
Pradesh
Posted On: 10 FEB 2026 11:57AM by PIB Delhi
Development and promotion of tourism destinations and products including destination planning is
primarily undertaken by the concerned State Government (SG)/Union Territory Administration (UTA). In
order to complement the efforts of tourism infrastructure development in the country, Ministry of Tourism
launched its Swadesh Darshan scheme (SDS) in 2014-15 and sanctioned 76 projects for Rs.5290.33 Crore
under identified thematic circuits including Ramayana Circuit and Buddhist Circuit. The projects
sanctioned under Swadesh Darshan scheme in Ramayana and Buddhist Circuits in the State of Uttar
Pradesh are physically complete. The details of projects sanctioned in the State of Uttar Pradesh under
various thematic circuits including Ramayana and Buddhist Circuits in Swadesh Darshan Scheme is
annexed.
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. Under this scheme, the project ‘Integrated Buddhist Tourism
Development in Shrawasti’ has been sanctioned in 2024-25 for Rs.80.24 Crore.
This information was given by Union Minister for Tourism and Culture Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat in
a written reply in Lok Sabha on 9th February 2026.
****
Sunil Kumar Tiwari
tourism4pib[at]gmail[dot]com
ANNEXURE
Details of projects sanctioned under Swadesh Darshan Scheme in the State of Uttar Pradesh
Sl. State/UT Circuit / Name of the Project Amount Amount Amount
No. Sanction Sanctioned (₹ Released Utilised
Year Cr.) /Authorised (₹ Cr.)
(₹ Cr.)
1. Uttar Buddhist Development of 87.89 72.56 68.43
Pradesh Circuit Srawasti, Kushinagar,
2016-17 &Kapilwastu2. Uttar Ramayana Development of 69.45 64.09 56.03
Pradesh Circuit Chitrakoot and
2016-17 Shringverpur
3. Uttar Spiritual Development of Ahar- 71.91 69.63 69.63
Pradesh Circuit Aligarh-Kasganj-Sarosi
2016-17 (Unnao)-Pratapgarh-
Kausambi-Mirzapur-
Gorakhpur-
Domariyaganj-Basti-
Barabanki-Azamgarh-
Kairana- Baghpat-
Shahjahanpur
4. Uttar Spiritual Development of Bijnor- 67.51 64.14 63.62
Pradesh Circuit Meerut- Kanpur-
2016-17 Kanpur Dehat- Banda-
Ghazipur- Salempur-
Ghosi- Balia- Ambedkar
Nagar- Aligarh-
Fatehpur- Deoria-
Mahoba- Sonbhadra-
Chandauli- Mishrikh-
Bhadohi
5. Uttar Heritage Development of 36.65 36.65 36.65
Pradesh Circuit Kalinjar Fort (Banda)-
2016-17 MagharDham(SantKabir
Nagar)- ChauriChaura,
Shaheed Sthal
(Fatehpur)-
MahuarshaheedSthal
(Ghosi)- Shaheed
Smarak (Meerut)
6. Uttar Ramayana Development of 127.21 115.46 113.22
Pradesh Circuit Ayodhya
2017-18
7. Uttar Spiritual Development of Jewar- 12.03 11.43 11.43
Pradesh Circuit Dadri-Sikandrabad-
2018-19 Noida-Khurja-Banda8. Uttar Spiritual Development of 18.30 18.12 18.12
Pradesh Circuit Gorakhnath Temple
2018-19 (Gorakhpur), Devipattan
Temple (Balrampur) and
Vatvashni Temple
(Domariyagunj)
(Release ID: 2225709) Visitor Counter : 378
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