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A CIRCUIT OF BUDDHIST MONASTERIES

         IN HIMACHAL PRADESH

      'As the dew-drop slips into the shining sea', the teachings of the Buddha 'The Enlightened One' (c 563 -c 483 B.C.) sought for the individual to merge with the universal life .He could thus attain nirvana and end the cycle of birth, rebirth and suffering.

In Himachal Pradesh, a part of the world where natural beauty abounds and where legends seem to merge with verifiable history, there lies a necklace of Buddhist monasteries, gompas etched across its landscape. And no measure of money can value this treasure, for its significance is something past compare.

Some gompas go back to the time when Buddhism was a shadow less sapling in the region. The seed for its rise in the area had been sown in the seventh century A. D.When the Tibetan king Songtsen Gampo (Sron-b Tsan Sgam -po) was influenced by two of his wives -Wen Cheng from China and Bkrikuti Devi from Nepal. A century later, king Trison Detsen (Khri-Sron-lde- btsan 755 -797 A.D.) embraced the way of the Buddha. And from India came masters like Santarakshita and the famous teacher and tantric Padmasambhava.

The ninth century witnessed a break in the spread of Buddhism, but the tenth and eleventh centuries witnessed a grand revival and it was an age of great teachers -Atisha, Marpa, Milarepa and Rinchensangpo. With the passage of time, Buddhism became the major religion of Tibet, Ladakh, Lahaul and Spiti -and its influence also lay in other neighbouring areas like Kinnaur. And the gompas -apart from their religious influence -also became the founts of power and the repositories of the region's art and manuscripts. A millennium old, Tabo in Spiti is one of the area's most revered monastery.

There are monasteries which are barely a few decades old and came into being after 1959, when His Holiness the Dalai Lama left Tibet along with several followers and came to reside in India.

And as surely as the chant of prayers accompanied with rhythmic drum beats and interspersed with the roll of cymbals and the calls of long horns-ring out of their hallowed halls, they stand blessing the land and welcoming every pilgrim and traveler.

The historic and ancient Buddhist Monasteries of Himachal falling on the Manali-Leh tourist circuit are poised for a massive facelift. Thanks to the Rs. 6.53 crore ambitious 'Integrated Buddhist Circuit Development Project sanctioned recently by the Tourism Department of Government of India. The prestigious project envisages to provide world class tourist infrastructure like tourist reception centres, wayside amenities, folk museums, interpretation centres, car parks apart from refurbishing the age old monasteries and land- scaping the tourist hot spots. The total amount that will be spent on this circuit by Government of India, including area that falls in Ladhakh will be upto Rs. 25 crore. In the second phase, Himachal will receive another tranche of about Rs. 8 crore for covering the left out areas and monasteries in the State.
              Over the years the Gompas in Himachal Pradesh have emerged as prominent destinations for the tourists. Indeed, these monasteries have caught the fancy of foreign tourists whose numbers have been increasing at the rate of 18 percent annually. Needless to say the project has come as a great boon to the tourist, especially the foreigners for whom Himachal has become the Buddhist Capital of the world ever since His Holiness, the Dalia Lama set up his headquarters and residence in Dharmshala.
              The Integrated Buddhist Circuit Development Project is one of the 6 major circuits identified by the Ministry of Tourism, Govt. of India. The project has two circuits: The first circuit includes Chandigarh, Swarghat, Bilaspur, Mandi, Rewalsar, Kullu-Manali, Rohtang, Koksar, Keylong, Jispa, Sarahan and Leh. The second circuit includes the places of historical and tourists interest viz; Shimla, Rampur, Rekong Peo, Rarang, Jangi, Lippa, Kanum and Pooh, Nako, Tabo, Dhankar Gompa, Kaza, Ki (Key) Monasteries and Kibber.

                   Bilaspur which falls midway between Chandigarh and Manali will provide top class wayside amenities to the tourist by way of fast food counters restaurants, recreation centres, parks, aquarium etc.
                   Rewalsar's holy lake and its environs will be land scaped and similar facilities as above will be provided to the tourist here. Pirdi near Kullu will have a river rafting centre with all amenities for the tourists under one roof. The landscaping and refurbishment of Buddhist Monastery at Manali will be undertaken while parking and mobile wayside amenities will be provided at Rohtang Pass. Setting up of garbage disposal system and installation of incinerator for Rohtang and Solang Nalla will be an important feature of the project. A rescue centre with medical facility will be set up at Rohtang/Marhi. In Lahaul, Khardang, Shashur, Guru ghantal, Trilokinath and Gemur gompas will be refurbished and amenities provided for the tourists.
                 On the second circuit via Shimla refurbishment of Buddhist Monestaries at Rampur, Kanam and Jangi will be undertaken apart from repairs of forts of Kamru, Mourang and Labang. The wayside amenities will be developed at Pooh, Nako, Kaza, Kibber, Losar, Kokksar and Chhota Dhara. As many as 1.43 lacs foreign tourists visited Himachal in 2001-2002 out of which more than 70 percent visited the Buddhist circuit Dharmshala today has become the second town after Goa visited by largest number of foreign tourists.
                At present about 10,12,386 tourists visit these two circuits every year and contribute around Rs. 101.23 crore to the local and State economy. With the improvement of the basic infrastructure, there will be an increase of more than 20% in the flow of tourists to these areas during the initial 2 years. Subsequently, the number of tourists is likely to go up by more than 30 % in the next three years. Therefore the net income to the region in the next five years would be to the tune of Rs. 506 crores approximately. Apart from this the employment opportunities will also increase in the field of transportation, adventure tourism, handicrafts and religious tourism.