Roads connecting tourist spots in Bhagalpur district getting repaired

Bhagalpur: The rural works department (RWD), road construction department (RCD) and Bhagalpur Municipal Corporation (BMC) are geared up to repair the connecting roads to the 12 tourist spots categorised as international, national and regional tourist places in the district.According to tourism department sources, more than 1.5 lakh domestic and more than 500 foreign tourists, including Buddhist followers, visited the various tourist spots in the recent past. Foreign tourists cruising on ‘MV Ganga Vilas’ cruise also visited Vikramshila Mahavihara, Bateshwar Sthan and other places in the district recently.

The graded tourist spots are Jagatpur Water Lake (Naugachia), Vikramshila Mahavihara (Kahalgaon), Bateshwar Sthan (Kahalgaon), Mahaveer Jain Temple (Nathnagar), Karna Garh (Champanagar), Mahashaya Deori (Champanagar), Bishhari Sthan (Champanagar), Giriwarnath Hills (Sahkund), Ajgaibinath Dham (Sultanganj), Namami Gange Ghat (Sultanganj) and two hilly terrains at Kahalgaon.In addition, wetlands and migratory birdwatchers visit the 60km stretch of Vikramshila Gangetic Dolphin Sanctuary (VGDS) of river Ganga from Sultanganj to Kahalgaon, which has been a declared protected area since 1991. A report was sent to the state tourist department for taking steps to promote tourism by adding on the infrastructure whereas the district administration has geared up to restore the roads in the district that connect the tourist spots.Sources said the road to Jagatpur Lake is almost complete whereas road and sewerage on the way to Lord Mahaveer Jain Temple at Nathnagar is being reconstructed by BMC. Arvind Mishra, founder of Mandar Nature Club and wildlife conservation activist, welcomed the move to promote tourism. The government and district officials should also take steps to conserve the natural serenity and environment as this region has been a paradise for migratory birds from Siberia and other far-off countries, he added.