Experiences of the Tourists in Buddhist Circuit Destinations Akhilesh Singh* is based on the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama (born Abstract in Lumbini, Nepal), who is popularly known as Buddha The Buddhist cultural heritage has a long and special history of (literally the enlightened one or awakened one). It is a dates back more than 2,500 years and actually unites most of philosophy encompassing a variety of traditions, beliefs south, south-east and east-Asia. The influence of Buddhism can and practices largely based on the teachings attributed to be seen across all Asian countries in terms of history and culture. Lord Buddha. There are two major branches of Buddhism: Buddhism is a religion, which arose in and around ancient Magadh Theravada (“The School of the Elders”) and Mahayana (Bihar), India and is based on the teachings of Siddhartha Gautam, who is widely known as Gautam Buddha. The Buddha (Awakened (“The Great Vehicle”). Theravada is mostly followed in one) was a historical figure who is generally believed to have lived Southeast Asia and Sri Lanka. Mahayana is the largest from about 563 to 483 BC. The Buddhist Circuit includes all high body of Buddhist tradition. It is practiced in broader East significant holy sites of Buddhism religion; where Lord Buddha Asia and followed by over half of World’s Buddhists. was born, attained enlightenment, preached first sermon and Initially, Buddhism remained one of the many small reached at Nirvana. Bodhgaya, Sarnath and Kushinagar are the sects in India. The main breakthrough came when King primary pilgrimage places of Buddhist Circuit in India associated Ashoka converted to Buddhism. He not only organized with the life and teachings of Lord Buddha. There are numerous the spreading of Buddhism throughout India, but also other sites where Buddha travelled during his life. Today, visitors beyond, most importantly to Sri Lanka. Buddhism is can travel through this Buddhist Circuit to savour the splendid based on the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama, who beauty and great appeal of Buddhism religion. Around six million was born in a wealthy family near the border of modern people practice Buddhism religion in India, fewer than either India and Nepal in 563 BC. Confronted by the reality of follower of Christianity or Sikhism religion. There are thousands of ageing, begging, sickness and death, he left his rich home historically and spiritually important established destinations turned to become the great centres of national and international tourists. at 29, and spent seven years while travelling in different The present research paper attempts to discuss the experiences of parts of India as an ascetic. Substituting meditation for the interviewed tourists mainly their satisfaction on quality of used physical self-punishment, he was sitting under a sacred services at the selected Buddhist Circuit destinations. fig tree (Peepal Tree or Bodhi Tree) when he had his first three enlightened revelations. Buddhists have no belief Keywords: Buddhism, Religion, Buddha, Buddhist Circuit, in higher deities, but propose a path towards freedom Tourist from suffering or individual enlightenment, through deep reflection on the nature of existence. This focus on self-redemption makes it qualitatively quite different Introduction from other belief systems which base themselves around The Buddhist cultural heritage has a long and special history concepts of divine mercy or grace. After enlightenment, of dates back more than 2,500 years and actually unites Buddha taught for the next 45 years of his life. His most of South, South-East and East Asia. The influence of adherents taught more adherents to spread the thoughts Buddhism can be seen across all Asian countries in terms of Lord Buddha. The Buddha’s teaching (dharma) is of history and cultural. Buddhism is a religion, which arose the cornerstone of Buddhism. Two hundred years after in and around ancient Magadha (today’s Bihar) India, and Gautama’s death (253 BCE) a thousand monks worked * Assistant Professor, Department of Tourism, Uttarakhand Open University, Haldwani (Nainital), Uttarakhand, India. Experiences of the Tourists in Buddhist Circuit Destinations 71 for nine months to classify and write down the traditions places associated with Gautam Buddha in India are- that had only existed orally. This work, called the Pali Bodhgaya, where he attained enlightenment, Sarnath in canon, is the foundational teaching text for the Theravadic Varanasi, where he preached his first sermon, Kushinagar Buddhists. Different Buddhist groups recognize other near Gorakhpur, where he achieved Mahaparinirvana and authoritative texts. Under pressure from Hindu religion Vaishali, where he delivered his last sermon. Amongst growth, the Buddhist presence in India eventually began the various key destinations, majority of the sites come to decline from about the 7th Century AD. Buddhism under two states i.e., Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. There flourished in many other parts of Asian continent, notably are numerous other sites where Lord Buddha and his in China and Japan. Today, there are about 488 million follower monks traveled during their life, which are also Buddhists worldwide, representing 7% of the World’s great sites for deep veneration and meditation. Visitors total population as of 2010. China is the country with can travel through this Buddhist Circuit today, to savor the largest population of Buddhists approximately 244 the splendid beauty and great appeal of Buddhism. The million or 18.2% of its total population. It is estimated greatest impetus of Buddha’s teachings came from the that there about 244 million Buddhists living in countries Indian King Ashoka who went on a great pilgrimage, outside of China (Pew Research Center 2012). visiting the important sites that are directly associated with the footsteps of Lord Buddha. There are other places Tourism is one of the fastest growing industries of the of lesser significance on the footsteps of Lord Buddha. world. In the recent past, it has grown as one of the key The studies conducted from time to time have different sectors of the world economy. It is being recognized findings (Sawarkar K.P. & Mishra S.K., 2009). as one of the largest industries in the world. In fact, the nature has gifted us so many natural beauties like Review of Literature thousands miles of beaches, hills, mountains, rivers, forests, deserts, oceans, seas, islands, waterfalls, glaciers, Agapito D., Valle P.O. & Mendes J.C. (2012) in their snowfall, flora and fauna etc. Besides, man has also research stated that all the five senses to be important to created several tourism products such as unique cultures, tourists in order to have an intensive global experience life styles, languages, museums, art galleries, folklores, in the rural area under study. Although importance is folk dances, classical dance forms etc. These are turning attributed to all the senses in their global experience, into important tourist attractions for international and tourists seem to identify fewer haptic impressions in their domestic tourists. Tourism is also understood as a leisure experiences than the other senses. activity which involves discretionary use of time and Pine & Gulmore, (1998) experiences have been recognized money. Recreation is often remains the main purpose of as a distinct economic offer, occupying a central role in participation in tourism (Kamra. K. K., 2009) society and holding a premium position on the four-stage- However, the tourists around the world travel from one continuum of the progression of economic values, after place to another keeping several factors in their mind but commodities, goods and services. religion figures the most popular motivational factor for Carlson, (1997) the managerial approach considers millions of them. People belonging to different religions that although experiences are individual and internal, have been traveling over long distances to appease the comprises by a constant flow of conscious thoughts and Gods and Goddesses. This procedure of worshipping the feelings. God, in various forms and incarnations, has been going on since times immemorial. Religious tours or pilgrimage Schmit (1999) postulates that experiences can be tours are conducted in all parts of the world. Muslims characterized by five strategic experience modules; complete Haj at “Mecca Sharif”, Hindus undertake “Char sensory (sense), affective (feel), creative cognitive DhamYatra” at four prominent religious shrines. Further, (think), physical/behaviours & lifestyles (act) and social- Sikhs travel at “Shri Harimandir Sahib” (Amritsar), identity (social). These modules are circumscribed but are Christians visit at Vatican City (Italy) and finally Buddhists connected and interact with each other. travel at important “Buddhist Circuit” destinations. Ellis & Rossman (2008) alert us about the need to There are several Buddhist destinations across India, preserve the autonomy of the participant, pointing to important from pilgrimage perspective. The four holy the motivational factors that have a pivotal role in the 72 Avahan: A Journal on Hospitality and Tourism Volume 4 Issue 1 individual’s experience and in its evaluation, which It is hoped that the size of the selected destination and somewhat mitigate the effect of artistic and technological respondents will be a fairly good number to speak about factors. the overall features and experiences of all the Buddhist Circuit destinations in India. Trauer (2006) suggested that tourism involves