To attract the tourists, the Punjab Government will soon announce its four circuits — religious, maharaja (princely states), sufi and mughal.
Sharing the information, State Tourism and Cultural Affairs Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu said the draft proposal of the scheme aimed at attracting tourists would be placed before the Chief Minister, Capt Amarinder Singh, for approval in a week’s time and the Chief Minister would himself announce the four circuits.
Sidhu said out of the four circuits, the religious would include three Takhts (Sikhs’ temporal seats) in Punjab besides other places of religious significance.
He also assured that the devotees would be provided with all facilities to enable them to visit these places.
Under the Maharaja circuit, the places of cultural and historical importance and forts in Patiala, Nabha, Sangrur, which is the part of erstwhile Jind State, Kapurthala and Faridkot would be included.
Similarly, under the Mughal circuit, various places like Qila Sarai at Sultanpur lodhi, Mughal Sarai at Doraha, Mughal Sarai at Shambhu, Kalanaur would be connected to attract tourists in large number.
Sufi circuit would see Sufi Sammelans being organised on the sacred land of Baba Sheikh Farid and Baba Bulle Shah.
Further making the pitch for transforming Punjab into a tourism and cultural hub globally, Sidhu said the unique cultural heritage bestowed by noted architect Ram Singh would be preserved for future concerning which a novel roadmap has been prepared by the department.
“The architectural wonders, brought to life by architect Ram Singh, include Darbar Hall at Sangrur, Kapurthala and Khalsa College at Amritsar which would be preserved and perfectly maintained for the sake of coming generations,” the Minister said.
He said architect Ram Singh also had to his credit various other architectural masterpieces like Queen Victoria summer home in london, Governor House in Shimla and lahore Museum.
“The team from UNESCO toured cultural sites at Patiala, Sangrur, Nabha, Amritsar and Kapurthala…My aim is to get glorious cultural and historical sites of Punjab listed as world heritage sites so as to ensure their further upkeep,” he said.