For verification of this paper, please visit on http://www.socialresearchfoundation.com/innovation.php#8

Tourism is the most effective financial activity of significance of countrywide development; however is likewise a vital medium of cultural adjustments amongst country of the arena. Tourism as a mean of social training act as competing pressure for fostering higher understanding amongst country of the arena for growing nearer cultural and enterprise relations and as a giant factor, contributing to World peace. Tourism has been identified as a vital industry in Himachal Pradesh. During the British period, some locations such as, Shimla, Mandi, Dalhousie etc. had been evolved as hill lodges for the British officers and different dignitaries. Various Sanitariums had been additionally evolved in their locations. These have long gone an extended way in offering the infrastructure for tourism to develop in Himachal. The geo-climatic situations of Himachal Pradesh offer an adequate scope for tourism to develop. Given the geographical and weather situations especially throughout the summer, whilst it receives warm with inside the plains, the hills of Himachal Pradesh gives refuge and remedy to the human beings of those areas. During, winter, the blizzard additionally turns into as a main appeal to the visitors. We always keep the contribution of tourism sector for the development of the country and the state. If we talk about Himachal Tourism, then the contribution of BUDDHIST CIRCUIT is not less, it has not only developed tourism but has also provided basic infrastructure. Through this paper, the researcher will shed light on the various tourist destinations of Buddhist circuit for exploration.

1. To highlights Buddhist circuit of Himachal Pradesh as tourist destination. 2. To give brief overview of Buddhist circuit destination of Himachal Pradesh destination

Buddhism in Himachal Pradesh

Buddhism became added into Himachal Pradesh with inside the 1/3 century BC with the aid of using the missionaries led with the aid of using Ven. Majjhima who had been deputed with the aid of using Asoka, the first Buddhist Emperor of India, to evangelise the Dhamma with inside the Himalayan place.

As a part of his Dhamma Vijaya campaign, Asoka had additionally issued a range of of Pillar and Rock Edicts containing the essence of the Dhamma for the gain of the human beings dwelling in a ways off locations. The discovery of 1 such Rock Edict at Kalsi close to the confluence of Yamuna and Tons rivers at Paonta in district Sirmaur of Himachal Pradesh indicates how keen Asoka became to unfold the Dhamma on this place.

Asoka is stated to have constructed amp[le number of stupas all through his empire which nearly protected the complete of India of these days. Hiuen Tsang, the well-known Chinese pilgrim, who visited India, after 1,000 years of Asoka, withinside the 7th century AD, noticed a massive quantity of Asokan pillars and stupas nonetheless status at diverse locations. In Himachal Pradesh, he noticed Asokan stupas, one at Kuluta (current Kulu) and the opposite at Tamsavana (current Raghunathpur or Sultanpur).

Buddhism in Himachal Pradesh, as each in which else in North India, acquired similarly impetus at some stage in the reign of the Kushana King, Kanishka (78-101 AD), a top notch consumer of Buddhism, after Asoka.

The Kushana dynasty persisted to rule until approximately 225 AD. Significantly enough, a range of of archaeological stay of 2d century AD were located in Himachal Pradesh. For instance, within side the Kangra district, near Pathiar, 6 miles south-east of Kanihara, four miles from Dharamsala at the Chanru river, rock votive inscriptions in Brahmi and Kharosthi were located which report the muse of Buddhist monasteries, withinside the 2d century AD at some stage in the reign of the Kushana kings. The ruins of a massive stupa, circumference of that is greater than 800 feet, have additionally been located at Chetru, located at a distance of five miles east of Nagarkot (Kot Kangra). A a great deal later inscription (of 5th or sixth century) located at Cheri, a village & miles east of Nagarkot includes the Triple-Gem components of the Buddhists. A monk’s goblet (copper lota) of the second one century AD became located with the aid of using Major Hay in 1857 at village Kundlah in Kulu place. The lota became located buried in a monastic mobileular which became uncovered with the aid of using a landslide. (10)

Buddhism persisted to flourish in Himachal Pradesh withinside the next centuries is showed with the aid of using the Buddhist monastic webweb sites and the Buddha photographs of fifth-6th centuries AD. In this context, O.C. Handa says, “Besides the Buddhist archaeological webweb sites, a stray inlaid bronze of the Buddha, measuring approximately 30 cm in top, became located from a Dharmsala at Fatehpur in Nurpur tehsil. The photo became ascribed to the sixth century A.D. on the idea of the inscription at the pedestal. The relic is currently withinside the Lahore Museum. But, that iconographic proof can't be taken into consideration to be a remoted case. In fact, photographs of the Buddha, wrought in bronze, and someday inlaid, may be seen even nowadays  in severa Vaisnava, Saiva and Sakti temples and family altars on this place. Most of these photographs are nonetheless below worship however at the secondary role at the altar. Stylistically, all the ones bronzes are generally Gandharan. During the route of the ritual grouping rite in September 1981, a bronze photo of the Buddha became delivered out in conjunction with different relics from the vault of the Parsurama temple at Nirmand. This Buddha photo, on stylistic grounds, can also additionally belong to the sixth or early seventh century while, withinside the wake of the Brahminic thrust, Buddhism became progressively dropping famous support.”

Kuluta is the current metropolis of Kullu and the regions round withinside the top valley of the Beas river. In this valley is a celebrated vicinity of pilgrimage, Trilokanath (Trailokyanath) located on a hill withinside the village Tunda at the left financial institution of the Chandra-bhaga (Chenab) river. It includes an photo of Avalokitesvara Budhisatttva, with six hand now worshipped as an photo of Mahadeva. Lord Buddha is stated to have come right here and transformed a Yaksha who in a while constructed a monastery. In in advance instances right here became a stupa referred to as the chi-chi tope which contained a relic of the Buddha. Asoka had additionally erected right here a stupa which became nonetheless intact while Hiuen Tsang visited Kullu in August 635.

The records of Buddhism took an eventful flip while, on an invite from the Tibetan king. Sron Tsang Gampo, Padmasambhava, a top notch Mahayana Buddhist monk and Tantrist at University of Nalanda, reached Tibet to assist the propagation of Buddhism in that united states,which became dealing with a stiff competition from the indigenous Bon faith in that united states. Padmasambhava to triumph over the hard state of affairs added a brand new shape of Buddhism, the Lamaism, wherein sure Bon practices had been additionally retained. Thereafter, it became this shape of Buddhism, that unfold withinside the entire Himalayan place, which include Lahaul, Spiti and Kinnaur, adjacent Tibet.

The keep of Buddhism at the human beings of the Lahul – Spiti, Kinnaur place have become similarly more potent while withinside the 10th century, Skyde-Ide-Nyimagon, a Tibetan Prince, who had taken refuge at Purang and married the 2 daughters of the Chief of Purang (Purig), based the Guge nation in western Tibet in 922 AD. Nyimagon significantly prolonged his nation with the aid of using bringing below his sway all of the Tibetan speakme tribal regions upto Baltistan in addition to the valleys of Lahaul, Spiti and Kinnaur (Himachal Pradesh). Just earlier than his death, 930 AD or 970 AD, Nyimagon divided the Guge nation into 3 components and gave one each to his 3 sons. The eldest son, Lha-chen Palgyigon were given Ladakh proper, from Zojila to Rutog, the second one son became allocated a protracted and slim strip of united states alongside the northern slope of the Himalaya of which Purang and Guge shaped part. And the youngest son, Lde Tsug gon acquired the southern a part of the dominion which covered Zanskar, Lahaul, Spiti and Kinnaur. Thus, 3 Guge Kingdoms got here into being. The more youthful brothers appear to be vassals below their eldest brother and king of Ladakh.(2)

Buddhism acquired a top notch fillip withinside the 11th century due to Lama-Rin Chen-b– Zang - po (958-1055 AD), who became current of the pious Guge king Khor-Re, who later have become a Buddhist monk and followed the call of Ye-She-Od (Prajna Prabha). Born at Sumra in Kinnaur, Rinchen-bZang-po (Ratnabhadra) became the best student and translator produced with the aid of using Kinnaur who now no longer simplest preached and propagated the Dhamma withinside the Guge kingdoms however additionally Tibet. He based a massive quantity of Buddhist monasteries and temples all through the place. Most of the monasteries nonetheless surviving in Lahaul-Spiti Kinnaur are stated to be based with the aid of using him. The maximum essential Monasteries amongst them are the Alchi Mohastery in Ladakh and the Tabo Monastery in Spiti. The Guge nation on this place seems to have damaged up withinside the twelfth century and thereafter Lahaul-Spiti-Kinnaur place became additionally administered with the aid of using the Buddhist kings of Ladakh. Later Kinnaur became annexed with the aid of using the kings of Bushahr. However, in due route, the roylty of Bushahr got here to be stimulated with the aid of using Buddhism and Tika Raghunath Singh constructed a Buddhist temple in 1897 at Rampur, the capital of Bushahr.[3]

Monasteries in Himachal Pradesh

Monasteries in Himachal Pradesh are divided into 4 components:

1.Lahul Valley

2.SpitiValley

3.Satluj Valley

4..Beas Valley

Lahul Valley

Lahul is the simplest place with inside the western Himalyas had been Buddhism should live to tell the tale in continuity from the Kushna age to current. Archaeological evidences advise that Buddhism need to have entered Lahul valley across the 2nd century A.D. to which era the monk’s goblet - (Lota), located with the aid of using foremost Hay, belongs. Traditions additionally advise that the founding of the temples of Triloknath and Gandhola may match returned to the instances of Nagarjuna. However, at the strength of Numismatic evidences it can be affirmed that Buddhism need to have entered Lahul valley even withinside the Asokan era.

Trilokinath Temple

Trilokinath temple at Tunde of an similarly hoary beyond can be the webweb page of the Trilokinath temple of village Tunde at the left financial institution of the Chandra-bhag. But not anything of  the unique shape now stays besides the folk way of life which nonetheless data this vicinity to be a Buddhist Vihara.

Guru Ghantal Monastery at Tupchiling

Located at the precipice overlooking the Chandra-bhaga confluence, the Guru Ghantal Monastery may be approached with the aid of using 4 kilometers of steep and tortuous ascent from the confluence. The monastery is placed in village Gandhola. In Lahul the Largest Monastery is that of Guru Ghantal based with the aid of using padma sambhava withinside the 8th Century. It has a timber shape with pyramidal roofs and it has very great wooden carving.

Koksar

Koksar is the connection of the roads that cause Lahul and Leh on one hand, and to spiti & Kinnaur on the opposite. Keylong is the district head region of Lahaul and Spiti. It is flawlessly sited for journeying for numerous Buddhist Monasteries and those that may be without problems considered from keylong are Guru Ghantal (eight km), related to each padmasambhava and the top notch instructor and translator, ‘Lot-saba’ Rinchensang po: that is appeared to be the oldest one in Lahul. Kardany (five km), is One of the maximum respected locations of the Drug-Pa sect. Tayul (6 km) and Gemur (18 Km) are different essential monasteries close to Keylong. The monasteries of Shashur, Gurughantal and Triloknath are different well-known ones to visit.

Kardong Monastery Lahul

The maximum famous Monastery is that of Kardong contrary Keylong based a few 960 years ago. Lama Noibu renovated it in 1912. Chorten or Chaitya is derived from the stupa and became added withinside the excessive hills while Mahayana became fostering new ideas. The primary shape is a rectangular basis over that is a dome, after which there are steps leading to a parasol that is crowned with the aid of using the dual image uniting the solar and the moon.

Kardang Monastery Lahul It is set five kms. From Keylong throughout Bhaga river it's miles located at a top of 3500 meters it's miles believed to be constructed in twelfth century. Monastery has a massive library of Kangyur andTangyur volumes of Buddhist scriptures in Bhoti. Kardang village became as soon as the capital of Lahul.

Shashur Monastery Lahul

Located on a hill approximately three kms from keylong closer to north at the identical slope. During June/July this monastery draws a massive quantity of site visitors while lamas perform the satan dance. It became based with inside the seventeenth century A.D. It belongs to purple hat Sec and is placed amongst the blue pines. The art work constitutes the records of eighty four Buddha’s.

Spiti Valley

The Spiti valley can be one in all such uncommon wallet in which you can actually hint a non-stop route of the improvement of Lamaism from its very primitive shape of the times of Padamsambhava..

Gungri Monastery

Gungri Monastery (additionally referred to as pin monastery is the primary centre of the Nyingma-Pa Set in Spiti place. The monastery is assumed to have been based with the aid of using Padamasambhava.

Tangyud (Tung-r Gyud) Gompa

It is placed thirteen kms above Kaza serving western a part of imperative Spiti. Situated in a secluded vicinity withinside the slim gauge of Kaza Nallah, it usually has a lama from Tibet. Above this there's a protracted plateau, which ends in shillla peak.

Tabo Monasteries

Tabo is located in decrease Spiti at the financial institution of Spiti river. It is at a top of 3050 meters and is a complicated that holds nine temples, 23 Chortens, a monk’s Chamber and an extension that homes the nun’s chamber. An excessive dust wall surrounds this complicated, 6300 sq meters in place. The centre of hobby is the primary temple wherein is hooked up the imperative divnity, a 4 fold white stucco photo of vairochana, under which might be placed photographs of Rin-Chan-Sang-po. Tabo celebrated a millennium of its wonderful existence. Tabo is offen referred to as the “Ajanta of the Himalayas”. Tabo is in arid Spiti in which there are thirty monasteries unfold over its rugged terrain. This is the biggest Monasteric complicated in Spiti. This has been declared a World Heritage webweb page with the aid of using UNESCO.

Dankhar Gompa Spiti

The Dankar Gompa became constructed almost one thousand years ago. It became as soon as the capital of Spiti, and later a jail. The gompa has greater than one hundred fifty resident lamas. Some great thangkas, sculptures, frescoes and a statue of Dhyan Buddha (questioning Buddha) are housed withinside the Gompa. Herbs developing round right here are stated to cure lung and coronary heart complaints. The highest temple has a group of Bhotia Buddhist scriptures and thrilling Murals of medicinal drug Buddha’s and protector deities. It is eight kms trek from shilling.[5]

Satluj Valley

Extended on each the banks of the Satluj round its top maximum place bordering Tibet, is the fabled valley of Kinnaur. It is fortified with the aid of using excessive mountain from all facets which has made it geographically and socio-culturally a sequestered place. Satluj valley covers the monasteries of Kinnaur, Rampur and Shimla.

Shimla

Current State capital of Himachal Pradesh and the former ‘Summer Capital of British India’.

Its numerous sights encompass lately constructed friaries. The geluk-Pa Sect has one at Sanjauli and the Nyingna-Pa one is at Kasumpti.

Rampur

Rampur constructed with the aid of using the waters of the Satluj, this became the capital of the erst at the same time as Princely nation of Bushair or even nowadays is an essential buying and selling center. It is well known for antique Buddhist temple.

Reckong Peo

Reckong peo is the district head region of the district Kinnaur. There are thirty three Buddhist Monasteries and temples in Kinnaur and the Nying Ma-pa, Drug-Pa and Geluk Pa sects are nicely represented. Reckong peo has a lately constructed gompa in which his holiness the Dalai lama performed a “Kalachakra” rite in 1992.

Rarang:Jangi, Lippa, Kanum and Pooh

These are small villages with a mostly Buddhist Monasteries and temples. For example, Lippa has three temples, homes the sacred Kangyur and Tangyur texts, and the 1/3 is the “Goldang Chakodar”. Kanum is a complete Monastic village. Pooh is alongside the excessive manner and homes pretty massive Drug-Pa Gompa. Jangi is the begin of the well-known Kinner Kailash ’Parikarma’.

Nako

Nako on a facet street bifurcating close to Yangthang,the village of Nako is constructed round a lake. On its northern facet are four Buddhist temples with stucco photographs and murals. Within the village, temples  residence massive prayer wheels. Near Nako is a rock, in which a footprint like influence is ascribed to padmasambhava.

Beas valley

Beas valley covers the monasteries of Kullu, Kangra and Mandi districts. The essential Buddhist centres on this valley are Kulu and Dharamsala. The foremost transit railhead for each of them is Pathankot.

The metropolis of Kullu, which is set one hundred seventy five miles past Pathankot, has even withinside the beyond performed an essential position withinside the records of Buddhism withinside the Punjab. In the seventh century A.D. it became such an essential centre of Buddhism that Hiuen Tsang, now no longer minding the risky path via the excessive mountain passes and deep ravines, got here all of the manner from Jalandhar to Kullu. At that time, it became called Kuluta and had as many as 20 sangharamas. Kullu is now the headquarters of the Himalayan Buddhist Society which became hooked up with the aid of using the neighborhood Buddhists in 1942 as a way to provide impetus to the renaissance motion among the Buddhists of this valley. There is likewise a Himalayan Buddhist Cultural Association at Manali. A Tibetan Buddhist temple has additionally arise at Manali.

Dharamsala

Dharamsala, the headquarter of Kangra district, has a lovely newly constructed Gelugpa Tibetan monastery. Being the everlasting dwelling house of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, who took asylum in India in 1959 below compelling circumstances, Dharamsala has now turn out to be an area of Pilgrimage of the Buddhists. The Council of Religious Affairs of His Holiness the Dalai Lama which manages Tibetan establishments in India has additionally its headquarters at Dharamsala. In Kangra district, a massive Buddhist monastic complicated has lately arise at Bir, a village in Tehsil Palampur. Built with the aid of using the Tibetan settlers.[7] the complicated has 5 monasteries. These monasteries have large photographs of the Buddha, Padmasambhava, and different divinities. One of those monasteries, called Sherabling, or “The land of wisdom”, is placed on a hill pinnacle with forests all round. The foremost temple, a 3-storey building, faces a courtyard enclosed with the aid of using school rooms and dwelling cells for monks. The ornately carved throne of the Tai Situ, adorned with the conventional Dharmachakra and dragons dominates the shrine room. Sherab-ling is a full-size undertaking designed to cater to the spiritual, cultural, medical, and academic desires of the human beings. The complicated has provided visitor homes and retreat homes with meditation cells.

Adequate academic centers have additionally been provided. Bir is now attracting many site visitors, from India and abroad, who come right here for take a look at and meditation. Another Buddhist monastery in district Kangra is at Trilokpur, 20 miles under Dharamsala, and at the straight manner from Pathankot to Mandi. It is a Mahayana Monastery for Nuns.

Rewalsar, 20 Km from Mandi, is the maximum essential Buddhist shrine in Mandi district.

Here, an honest referred to as Sichu takes vicinity each 12 months withinside the month of Phalguna (March-April) withinside the mani pani temple-an antique shrine committed to Guru Padmasambhava who reflected right here in AD 747 earlier than going to Tibet. According to a legend, Padmasambhava have become an instructor of the daughter of the Raja of Mandi who became living in a nunnery. Not satisfied with this, the king ordered that Padmasambhava be placed to death with the aid of using burning however while the pyre became lit Padmasambhava modified the flames into a lake and he emerged from it sitting on a lotus. The lake as a consequence created got here to be called Rewalsar. Since Padmasambhava, additionally called Guru Rimpoche [9] is respected with the aid of using all of the fans of Mahayana-Vajrayana Buddhism, the Sichu honest held right here is attended with the aid of using a tremendous quantity of Buddhists from all over Himachal Pradesh, or even Ladakh.

At the end with the help of discussion it is clearly highlighted that Buddhist circuit can play an vital role as tourist destination for Himachal Pradesh which can ultimately beneficial for the overall development of the state in particular and tourism development as particular. Finally it will also promote tourism which leads to economic growth of the state. By this review one can clearly understand Buddhist circuit and its importance as USP for tourism and tourist for Himachal Government has to promote and develop infrastructure in this way one can easily access these locations and enjoy about Buddhism ant its related concepts. Further there should be some connectivity for Buddhist circuits for linkage along with well skilled tourism professionals.

1. Sarkar, Arun Kumar and Dhar, Premnath, “Indian Tourism: Economic planning and Strategies”, Kanishka Publishers, Distributors, New Delhi, 1998, pp.V-1. 2. “Tourism in Himachal Pradesh:- A Case Study of Shimla Town”. Desertation Submitted by Dhanna Lal Thakur. H.P.U. Shimla (1991), p-7. 3. Pran Nath Seth, Sushma Seth Bhat, “An introduction to travel and tourism”, PP-6,8. 4. R.N. Kaul, “Dynamic of tourism the phenomenon” New Delhi Sterling Publishers, 1985, Vol-1. 5. “United Nation Conference on International travel and tourism ROME”. 1963. 6. “Ram, Acharya, Civil Aviation and tourism Administration in India”- A Case Study in Management, New Delhi, National Publishers (1978) pp 179. 7. Arun Kumar Sarkar, Prem Nath Dhar, “Indian Tourism Economic planning and Strategies”. Kanishka publishers and Distributors (1998), pp 78, 79. 8. Dr. S.P. Bansal, “Sushma, Sonia & Chander Mohan, “Tourism in new Millennium Challenge and opportunity”. Abhishek Publication in 2002, p 239. 9. Information from Directorate of Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation, Shimla-1. 10. K.Rama, “Buddhism a World Religion” New Delhi, Sundeep Prakashan, 1999, pp 6,7,10,15,19. 11. D.C. Ahir, “Himalayan Buddhism Past and Present” Sri Satguru Publication (1993).pp. 64,65,69 12. O.C. Handa, “Buddhist Monasteries in Himachal Pradesh”, Indus Publishing Company (1987), pp. 68, 109.