Buddhist Train

A special Buddhist train, carrying some 100 delegates from 25 countries, arrived at the Cantonment railway station on Monday.

According to regional tourist officer Dinesh Kumar, it was was the first of total of 17 visits that would be made by delegates belonging to Pacific Asia Travel Association ( PATA) till April 9 next year. "The Government of India is sponsoring the visit to explore the tourism potential especially at the Buddhist sites in the country," he informed.

It may be mentioned here that the delegates include tour operators, travel agents and mediapersons from 25 countries. As per programme, the special train would leave Safdarjung station (New Delhi) to reach Varanasi the next day, making a total of 17 visits in the next nine months (nearly two visits in a month).

Meanwhile, the delegates visited Sarnath and nearby areas in the day. Later, they also visited the Urban Haat and Cultural Complex (Sanskritik Sankul), where UP Tourism organised a cultural programme in the evening. After witnessing the world famous Ganga Aarti on Dasaswamedh Ghat, the train was scheduled to leave Cantonment railway station in the late night