Very soon the people would get to see the legendary places linked to the epics of Mahabharata and Ramayana in a new avatar. To show the epic connection in the State, the final touches are being given now to the detailed project report(DPR) as the State tourism department mulls over making Ramayana circuit akin to the central Mahabharata circuit. The survey for the same has been completed.
While the residents of the State are exhilarated the tourism department gears up this summer season to encash the epic connection of the State. A professor of English literature from Gurukul Kangri Vishwavidyalaya Shrawannath Sharma said, “The scriptures of Ramayana and Mahabharata have occupied our psyche all these years and we have grown up with hearing these legends. There are innumerable places which speak of these episodes. It is good that the government is developing these circuits.”
A tourism circuit is being built around the legend of Ramayana which would include the mounts and vales of Rishikesh and Chamoli from where Hanuman (Devotee of lord Rama) had procured the life-saving Sanjeevani herb to save lakshman.
To enhance interest among the youths, trek routes around these places of interest are also being developed in Garhwal and Kumaon regions.
Speaking to The Pioneer, the state Tourism and Culture minister Satpal Maharaj said, “In the special Ramayana circuit, the places linked to Ramayana period have been included. The temple of Devi Sita, Bharat Mandir, Shatrughan Mandir, Rishi Valmiki Mandir, Raghunath Mandir, Sita Kuti are linked to the Ramayana circuit.
People will be given information about the historicity and present landmark of these temples.
Through murals, the places would be beautified depicting legends of the Treta Yug. We are working concurrently on Ramayana and Mahabharata tourism circuits.”
Apart from developing treks in these circuits, the state government has also announced writing competitions at various levels where people can make online submissions and submit photos while trekking on these places. In all, 22 places have been earmarked by the tourism department to be linked to the tourism circuit.
The blue print of the programme has been made and soon as the budget is released, the work will start, added the minister.
Notably, for Mahabharata circuit, starting from Mana village in the Himalayas- a few kilometres above Badrinath- to the Jaunsar region bordering Himachal Pradesh, various spots would be counted into the new tourist circuit spanning to 300 km, from north-west to north-east of the state. Various Chattis en route are being also made special spots on the road map.
The cave where Sage Ved Vyas lived popularly known as Vyas Pothi, the area where Prince Pandu lived after he had abandoned the kingdom of Hastinapur and the birth place of Pandavas on the way to Badrinath, would form the part of trek in the circuit.