The Tourism Ministry has appointed a national level consultant to identify spiritual tourism circuits in the country.

These will be developed during the 12th Plan Period. Tourism Minister K. Chiranjeevi gave this information in the Lok Sabha today.

In a written reply, he said the names of the Buddhist Circuits have been identified on the basis of their tourism potential in consultation with the States and other stake holders.

The Dharmayatra Circuit covers Bodh Gaya in Bihar and Sarnath , Kushinagar and Piparvah in Uttar Pradesh.

The extended Dharmayatra Circuit covers Bodh Gaya, Nalanda, Rajgir, Patna , Vaishali and Vikramshila in Bihar. Kushinagar, Kapilvastu, Sankisa and Piparvah in Uttar Pradesh are also part of this Circuit, the Tourism Minister said.