In 2016, the World Bank launched a Program for the Development of the Buddhist Circuit in South Asia with an aim of developing Buddhist tourist sites in a holistic and sustainable manner to improve both tourist experience and socio-economic standards of the local population. Under this, the state Government of Uttar Pradesh requested the Bank advisory support for the preparation of a framework/master plan for the integrated development of its main Buddhist destinations, namely: Sarnath, Kushinagar, Sravasti, Kaushambi, Kapilavastu and Sankisa.
Under this project, we supported preparation of a Master Plan for Uttar Pradesh’s Buddhist Circuit through desk and field research, stakeholders’ consultations and diagnostic study on connectivity, Infrastructure, Land use planning, local economic development etc.