To promote pilgrimage in Uttar Pradesh, the Yogi Adityanath government has mooted development of ‘Sikh Circuit’ comprising all religious places associated with the religion and ‘Gurus’. Sikh museums and research centres will also be set up in Lucknow and Agra. Earlier, the Chief Minister had directed the Tourism department to work on the concept.
Taking the agenda forward, Principal Secretary (Tourism) Jitendra Kumar met representatives of different UP-based Sikh organisations, including UP Punjab Academy, historians, Culture department officials and directors of state museums.
Lucknow Gurudwara Management Committee president RS Bagga suggested the state government to set up a Sikh museum and research centre in Agra as the city has several spots and relics associated with the life and struggles of Guru Tegh Bahadur. Since Agra is close to the National Capital Region (NCR) and well connected with New Delhi, the proposed centre is expected to be developed as a major tourist destination and attract a large number of national and international visitors. The proposed Sikh museum in Lucknow will be dedicated to the preservation and enrichment of Sikh culture, heritage and history.
A survey of the Sikh places and personalities — who contributed to art, culture and history — will also be undertaken as a preliminary step towards the development of ‘Sikh Circuit’. Last year, a four-point charter of demands was submitted to the CM and it included the proposal for setting up of a Sikh museum.
Meanwhile, UP is already working on several other tourism-centric religious circuits like Ramayana Circuit, Mahabharata Circuit, Buddhist Circuit etc.