Lucknow, Feb. 22 -- Uttar Pradesh has reinforced its position as a global centre of Buddhist pilgrimage, recording nearly 8.2 million visitors across its Buddhist Circuit in 2025.
Of these, more than 4.4 lakh were international travellers, marking the highest inbound footfall recorded so far.
The sustained rise reflects improved connectivity, focused global outreach and the strengthening of visitor infrastructure across key sites.
The state holds a unique place in Buddhist sacred geography. Multiple defining moments of the Buddha's life are located within one connected landscape. From Sarnath, where the Buddha delivered his first sermon and set the Wheel of Dharma in motion, to Kushinagar, where he attained Mahaparinirvana, the circuit o...