Amarinder to announce four tourist circuits soon: Sidhu

Punjab tourism and cultural affairs minister Navjot Singh Sidhu today said that Chief Minister Amarinder Singh will soon announce four tourist circuits in the state.
In a statement issued here, Sidhu said the draft proposal of the scheme aimed at attracting tourists will be placed before the chief minister for approval in a week's time.
"And the chief minister will himself announce the four circuits namely- Religious, Maharaja (Princely States), Sufi and Mughal," he said.
Pitching for transforming Punjab into a tourism and cultural hub globally, Sidhu said the unique cultural heritage bestowed by noted architect Ram Singh will be preserved, concerning which a roadmap has been prepared by the department.

Architect Ram Singh, born in 1858 in Gurdaspur district of Punjab, has to his credit various architectural masterpieces like Osborne House in London, Governor's House in Shimla and Lahore Museum.
In order to ensure further upkeep of the cultural and historical sites in Punjab, a team from UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation) has visited Patiala, Sangrur, Nabha, Amritsar and Kapurthala.

Places of historical and cultural importance will be listed under world heritage category, under the initiative.
The minister said that the religious circuit will include three 'Takhts' of Punjab, besides other places of religious importance. He also assured the devotees would be provided with all facilities to enable them to visit these places.

Under the Maharaja circuit, the places of cultural and historical importance and forts in Patiala, Nabha, Sangrur (part of erstwhile Jind State), Kapurthala and Faridkot would be included.
Similarly, under the Mughal circuit, various places like Qila Sarai Sultanpur Lodhi, Mughal Sarai Doraha, Mughal Sarai Shambhu, Kalanaur would be connected to attract tourists in large number.
The Sufi circuit would see Sufi 'Sammelans' being organised on the sacred land of Baba Sheikh Farid and Baba Bulle Shah.
With various cultural sites in Punjab getting recognition worldwide, the tourism and cultural affairs department would become self sufficient from economic perspective, besides increase in the inflow of tourists, he said.

Sidhu said his main aim is to ensure successful implementation of the scheme being formulated as per the directions of the chief minister, in order to make Punjab a leading player in tourism sector.