CM to announce four tourist circuits in state soon: Sidhu

Punjab tourism minister Navjot Singh Sidhu said chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh will soon announce four tourist circuits — Religious, Maharaja (princely states), Sufi and Mughal — in the state.

In a statement issued here on Wednesday, Sidhu said the draft proposal of the scheme will be placed before the CM for approval in a week’s time.

Sidhu said the unique cultural heritage bestowed by noted architect Ram Singh will be preserved, concerning which a roadmap has been prepared by the department.

Architect Ram Singh, born in 1858 in Gurdaspur district of Punjab, has to his credit various architectural masterpieces like Osborne House in London, Governor’s House in Shimla and Lahore Museum.

In order to ensure upkeep of the cultural and historical sites , a team from UNESCO has visited Patiala, Sangrur, Nabha, Amritsar and Kapurthala. Places of historical and cultural importance will be listed under world heritage category, under the initiative. The minister said that the religious circuit will include three Takhts of Punjab and other places of religious importance.

Under the maharaja circuit, the places of cultural and historical importance and forts in Patiala, Nabha, Sangrur (part of erstwhile Jind state), Kapurthala and Faridkot would be included.

Similarly, under the Mughal circuit, various places like Qila Sarai, Sultanpur Lodhi, Mughal Sarai, Doraha, Mughal Sarai Shambhu, Kalanaur would be connected to attract tourists.

The Sufi circuit would see Sufi ‘sammelans’ being organised on the sacred land of Baba Sheikh Farid and Baba Bulle Shah.