In order to promote cross-border tourism
and connect world heritage sites in India and Bangladesh under a new
concept termed ‘Dhaka to Darjeeling via Paharpur’, stakeholders from the
two countries have been putting in their best efforts since 2010.
The idea was also to improve ties
between the two nations since the creation of Bangladesh after the
Indo-Pak war in 1971. Siliguri-based Help Tourism and Dustha Manabotar
Seba Sangstha (DMSS) of Joypurhat, Bangladesh have been working hard to
improve relations between the two nations through cross-border tourism,
particularly by connecting Dhaka with Darjeeling via Paharpur.
Speaking to this correspondent, DMSS
executive director Apoorva Sarkar said Paharpur in Bangladesh is
well-known for its centuries-old ruins of the Buddhist Sompura
Mahavihara, one of the oldest universities in the world. Tourists from
several countries, especially from Japan, visit the site in large
numbers, but Indian visitors are remarkably few, he said. According to
Sarkar, the governments of both the countries should ensure safety and
security in order to attract Indian tourists.
The historic ruins that were excavated
at Paharpur in Nagaon District, 10km from the town of Joypurhat,
establishes the fact that Sompura Mahavihara was built by the second
Pala king Dharmapala between 781 and 821 AD.
Help Tourism convener Raj Basu said his
is the first Indian organisation to have taken the initiative of
bolstering cross-border tourism since 2010. He said he led a delegation
to Paharpur and prepared a declaration on heritage tourism and
cross-border opportunities to highlight every heritage site in a
systematic way.
The Indian government should facilitate
the country’s tourists by issuing visas-on-arrival at the Hiley border
on the Indian side. Paharpur is just a 15-minute distance on foot from
Hiley in Balurghat. Demands for more train services between
Hiley/Balurghat and NJP and better trains from Dhaka to Joypurhat to
enhance tourism have been made by visitors from either side of the
border, added Basu.(EOIC)