Enrouting Janakpur Ayodhya historic connection, PM Modi and Oli flag off Ramayan Circuit Bus Service

Janakpur, May 11: Touching the pious land of Janakpur, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was honoured amnd welcomed by Nepal Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli. Offering prayers at the 20th century Janaki temple in Janakpur during his two-day visit to Nepal, PM Modi and PM Oli jointly flagged off the Ramayan Circuit bus service between Ayodhya and Janakpur.

While inaugurating the bus service as part of the Ramayan Circuit to promote religious tourism in Nepal and India, PM Modi said that both the sacred places of hindus, “Janakpur and Ayodhya are being connected. This is a historic moment."

 

PM Modi further thanked PM Oli for inviting him in Nepal and pouring immense love and respect by the people to India. He said "I am honoured to have been able to come to the birthplace of 'mata Janaki'. India and Nepal will work towards building 'Ramayan' circuit between both the countries. This will act as a foundation for strong people to people contact between the two nations.”

 

Ramayana Circuit is an initiative undertaken by the Indian Ministry of Tourism to help promote religious tourism. The Indian government has identified 15 destinations in India for development under the Ramayana Circuit theme namely Ayodhya, Nandigram, Shringverpur & Chitrakoot (Uttar Pradesh), Sitamarhi, Buxar & Darbhanga (Bihar), Chitrakoot (Madhya Pradesh), Mahendragiri (Odisha), Jagdalpur (Chattisgarh), Nashik & Nagpur (Maharashtra), Bhadrachalam (Telangana), Hampi (Karnataka) and Rameshwaram (Tamil Nadu). 

Janakpur is known as the birthplace of Sita, the wife of Lord Rama. Janaki temple was built in memory of Sita in 1910. The three-storied structure made entirely of stone and marble is 50-metre high and spread over 4860 sq feet.

This is the third visit of Prime Minister Modi to Nepal and the first high-level visit from India since the formation of the new Government in Nepal this year. Ahead of his visit, Modi had said India would remain a steadfast partner of the Himalayan nation in its quest for growth and development.

Describing his trip to Nepal as a reflection of his government's commitment to "neighbourhood first" policy, Modi had said the Himalayan nation has entered a new era and India would continue to support it.