Haryana's Mukhya Mantri Tirth Yatra Scheme: Boosting Religious Tourism
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Scheme Name | Mukhya Mantri Tirth Yatra Scheme |
| Announced By | Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini |
| Objective | To facilitate pilgrimages for economically disadvantaged and elderly citizens. |
| Eligibility | - Families with annual income less than ₹1.80 lakh - Members aged 60 years and above |
| Pilgrimage Sites | Ayodhya, Varanasi, and other holy sites |
| Focus on Religious Tourism | - Efforts to boost religious tourism in Haryana - Kurukshetra emerging as a center for religious tourism - Exploration of tourism opportunities in other locations |
| About Varanasi | - Located in southeastern Uttar Pradesh on the left bank of the Ganges River - One of the seven sacred cities of Hinduism - One of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world |
| Historical Significance | - Capital of the kingdom of Kashi during the Buddha's time (6th century BCE) - Centre of religious, educational, and artistic activities - Visited by Chinese Buddhist pilgrim Xuanzang in 635 CE |
| Modern History | - Became an independent kingdom in the 18th century - British established Varanasi as a new Indian state in 1910 - Became part of Uttar Pradesh after Indian independence in 1947 |