Bihar fails to boost Nalanda tourism despite Unesco heritage site status

NALANDA: The state government appears to have failed to capitalise on the coveted Unesco world heritage status conferred on the ancient ruins of Nalanda University even after three years of receiving the prestigious tag.
Despite being located in CM Nitish Kumar’s turf, the tourism potential of arguably the second oldest university site in the world remains untapped with hardly any tourist infrastructure or even basic public amenities for the few tourists who do land up here.
A group of more than 50 tourists from Maharashtra, including senior citizens and children, were seen cooking their own food on the pavement right outside the ruins as there are no decent eateries around this world heritage site.
“We are from Aurangabad in Maharashtra and visited Buddhist sites in Sarnath near Varanasi and Mahabodhi Mahavihara in Bodh Gaya before coming here. But we are facing the worst conditions here at Nalanda as there is no place to even sit and have food. This place doesn’t even have public toilets outside the archaeological site. Even small tourist places in Maharashtra have better facilities than this world heritage site,” said Sharda Maske, the leader of the group.
B S Chautmal, another tourist in the group, pointed out the lack of street lights around the site. “We came in the late afternoon. But as you can see, there are no street lights here, hence within minutes we will have to use torches while eating. It is a security concern for tourists as well,” he said.
Despite the rich history of the site and the coveted world heritage tag, there are no hotels or quality eateries near the Nalanda ruins. Women have no toilet facilities despite the tall claims of Swachch Bharat mission.
Locals blame the sitting MP and MLA of the JD (U) for poor amenities. “Shrawan Kumar of JD (U) has been the MLA of Nalanda assembly segment for five consecutive terms but he has hardly done any work. Tourists come here and ask for public toilets but there isn’t any. The entire place gropes under darkness after sunset as there are no streetlights here,” said Nandu Mistri, a local staying in the vicinity of Nalanda ruins.
Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) officials also blamed the state government. “As per the commitment made to the World Heritage Committee, ASI is doing scientific conservation and site management works. However, the responsibility of developing public amenities outside the boundary wall of the protected site is of the state government, which is unfortunately not doing its part,” said an official of ASI at Nalanda.
As per commitment to World Heritage Committee of Unesco, the vendors and shop- keepers on the approach road to the ruins were required to be rehabilitated but nothing of that sort happened. Vehicular movement on the approach road was also required to be prohibited by providing alternate routes. Parking areas were to be developed and only battery-operated vehicles were to be allowed in the vicinity of the ruins. Besides, there should have been provisions for foreign exchange, cloak room, waiting room, amenities for differently- abled persons. But all such proposals are still only on papers, which results in troubles for the tourists.
Local guides at Nalanda ruins claim that the number of tourists have also not increased despite the coveted tag.
Nalanda DM Yogendra Singh said he would look into the matter when asked about the lack of amenities. “I have been transferred here recently and elections are also underway. However, I would look into the matter and necessary amenities will be developed as per the recommendations made by the authorities concerned,” Singh said.
Nalanda goes to polls in the seventh of the on going Lok Sabha elections on May 19.