<p class="title">To attract religious tourists from various countries, including India, Nepal has undertaken several infrastructure development projects with the support of Asian Development Bank (ADB), according to officials.</p>.<p class="bodytext">To improve regional connectivity and trade, ADB last year approved USD 180 million under the South Asia Subregional Economic Cooperation (SASEC) programme for widening the East-West Highway connecting India, ADB country-director Nepal Mukhtor Khamudkhanov said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The project implemented under the SASEC aimed at strengthening road, rail, and air links, as well as developing port infrastructure to match the needs of the regions--Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, and Sri Lanka.</p>.<p class="bodytext">As part of infrastructure development by ADB, an international airport near Lumbini, the birth place of Gautam Buddha, is expected to be operational by March next year.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The USD 70 million airport infrastructure being developed under South Asia Tourism Infrastructure Development Project, Khamudkhanov said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Gautam Buddha International Airport, Bhairahawa, a place near Lumbini, is expected to attract tourists from Buddha circuit in India and other neighbouring countries like China, Sri Lanka, Bhutan and Japan.</p>.<p class="bodytext">More than five countries, including India, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Cambodia, have shown interest in starting airline operation from the upcoming airport.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Besides Lumbini, Bivah Panchami in Janakpur is a big attraction for many tourists from India, said Suraj Vaidya National Coordinator Visit Nepal 2020.</p>.<p class="bodytext">According to mythology, Lord Rama married Sita on Bivah Panchami in Janakpur. The festival is observed every year to mark the occasion.</p>.<p class="bodytext">It attracts lot of tourists from various places including India, Vaidya said, adding, Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Yogi Adityanath paid a visit to Janakpur on Bivah Panchami last year.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Ayodhya, the birth place of Lord Rama is in Uttar Pradesh. Last year, India, Nepal started Janakpur-Ayodhya bus service under Ramayan Circuit.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"Both Uttar Pradesh and Nepal are trying to make Bivah Panchami a bigger affair. We are working with other states including Bihar on developing tourism potential which can be win-win for both the countries," he said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Vaidya said, Shiv Shakti Parikrama, a visit of holy sites related with Lord Shiva, is also part of Visit Nepal 2020 campaign.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Despite Indian Airline hijack in 1999, Nepal remains one of the important destinations for Indian tourists. The latest number also indicates so.</p>.<p class="bodytext">As per the official data, as many as 11.73 lakh tourists visited Nepal last year. Of this, nearly 2 lakh were Indians and 69,640 from Sri Lanka and 26,355 from another neighbouring country Bangladesh. </p>
<p class="title">To attract religious tourists from various countries, including India, Nepal has undertaken several infrastructure development projects with the support of Asian Development Bank (ADB), according to officials.</p>.<p class="bodytext">To improve regional connectivity and trade, ADB last year approved USD 180 million under the South Asia Subregional Economic Cooperation (SASEC) programme for widening the East-West Highway connecting India, ADB country-director Nepal Mukhtor Khamudkhanov said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The project implemented under the SASEC aimed at strengthening road, rail, and air links, as well as developing port infrastructure to match the needs of the regions--Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, and Sri Lanka.</p>.<p class="bodytext">As part of infrastructure development by ADB, an international airport near Lumbini, the birth place of Gautam Buddha, is expected to be operational by March next year.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The USD 70 million airport infrastructure being developed under South Asia Tourism Infrastructure Development Project, Khamudkhanov said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Gautam Buddha International Airport, Bhairahawa, a place near Lumbini, is expected to attract tourists from Buddha circuit in India and other neighbouring countries like China, Sri Lanka, Bhutan and Japan.</p>.<p class="bodytext">More than five countries, including India, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Cambodia, have shown interest in starting airline operation from the upcoming airport.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Besides Lumbini, Bivah Panchami in Janakpur is a big attraction for many tourists from India, said Suraj Vaidya National Coordinator Visit Nepal 2020.</p>.<p class="bodytext">According to mythology, Lord Rama married Sita on Bivah Panchami in Janakpur. The festival is observed every year to mark the occasion.</p>.<p class="bodytext">It attracts lot of tourists from various places including India, Vaidya said, adding, Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Yogi Adityanath paid a visit to Janakpur on Bivah Panchami last year.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Ayodhya, the birth place of Lord Rama is in Uttar Pradesh. Last year, India, Nepal started Janakpur-Ayodhya bus service under Ramayan Circuit.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"Both Uttar Pradesh and Nepal are trying to make Bivah Panchami a bigger affair. We are working with other states including Bihar on developing tourism potential which can be win-win for both the countries," he said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Vaidya said, Shiv Shakti Parikrama, a visit of holy sites related with Lord Shiva, is also part of Visit Nepal 2020 campaign.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Despite Indian Airline hijack in 1999, Nepal remains one of the important destinations for Indian tourists. The latest number also indicates so.</p>.<p class="bodytext">As per the official data, as many as 11.73 lakh tourists visited Nepal last year. Of this, nearly 2 lakh were Indians and 69,640 from Sri Lanka and 26,355 from another neighbouring country Bangladesh. </p>