Buddha calling

Associated Press Writer, Nirmala George, presents a very balanced view of Buddhist tourism in Bihar. The tone of the language is truthful. It acknowledges the present and at the same time delves into how future can be better and what is being done to make it better. Read the full article: India's Buddhist heritage draws seekers. Few excerpts: Not that Bihar isn't trying. While the state doesn't track religious tourists, officials say the Buddhist trail is increasingly hot. Since 2002, when the Mahabodhi Temple was named a World Heritage site, Bodh Gaya has seen a steady rise in visitors. As India's torrid summer gives way to the monsoon rains and cooler weather in October, they come flocking. "In the fast-paced lives that people lead, increasingly — perhaps instinctively — there is a trend to discover our inner selves. And most of the tourists who come here are doing so in search of that inner peace," said Rama Shankar Tewari, Bihar's top tourism official. Tourism authorities are trying to cash in with an ambitious tourist campaign, "Come to India: Walk with the Buddha." As part of that, roads are being repaved, museums are being refurbished and public restrooms being built or repaired. Security around the shrines and monasteries has also been stepped up to ensure that pilgrims are not hounded too much by touts and beggars. Still, most sites have their share of children holding out stick-thin arms and trinket vendors periodically shooed away by security guards. In the words of a tourist from Spain: "Everyone warned me against visiting Bihar. Even after we landed in India, people kept saying: 'Be careful, it's Bihar.' But our experience has been splendid," said Natalie Halle, a schoolteacher from Valencia, Spain, visiting Bodh Gaya for the second time in as many years. "The serenity about this place, brings you back, and you forget all the warnings," she said. A nice piece of journalism related to tourism. My thumbs up to the author. What about junta?