Recently, the Prime Minister of India inaugurated the Kushinagar International Airport.

About:

=> The Kushinagar Airport in Uttar Pradesh is the latest entrant in India's list of international Airports.

=> The airport is expected to provide seamless connectivity to people from Southeast and East Asian countries for Buddhist Pilgrimage Tourism.

=> Kushinagar is the centre of the Buddhist circuit, which consists of pilgrimage sites at Lumbini, Sarnath, Gaya and others.

Kushinagar Airport:

=> The inauguration of Kushinagar International airport is set to be a landmark in India-Sri Lanka relations.

=> Expected outcomes:

• It will facilitate pilgrims from across different parts of the world by providing seamless connectivity to various Buddhist sites in the region. The airport is expected to provide seamless connectivity to tourists from Sri Lanka, Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, China, Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore, etc.
• It will have a multiplier effect on the hospitality industry by promoting hotel business, tourism agencies, restaurants etc.
• It will create employment for local people by opening an immense amount of opportunities in feeder transport services, local guide jobs etc.
• This will also boost the opportunities for the export of horticultural products like bananas, strawberries and mushrooms.

About Kushinagar:

=> Kushinagar and Kasia Bazar is a town and a historical place located in the northeastern marginal area of ??Uttar Pradesh.

=> The name “Kasia Bazar” has been changed to Kushinagar and after that “Kasia Bazar” has officially become a municipality with the name “Kushinagar”.

=> Kushinagar is the centre of the Buddhist circuit, which consists of pilgrimage sites at Lumbini, Sarnath and Gaya.

=> Buddhist pilgrims consider Kushinagar a sacred site where, they believe, Gautama Buddha delivered his last sermon and attained ‘Mahaparinirvana’ or salvation and was cremated at Ramabhar at Mukut Bandhan.

=> Kushinagar also finds a mention in the accounts of Chinese travellers Fa Hsien and Hieun Tsang.