Buddha could help Chinese tourists conquer their fear of India

Chinese tourists don't especially like traveling to India. That's a fact.

"Of the estimated 47 million Chinese who travel abroad every year, around 102,000 -- or only 0.21 percent -- traveled to India, according to 2009 statistics," reported The Hindu newspaper. "Vietnam, South Korea and Japan each attracted more than 10 times that number." 

So the Indian government is pitching a new angle to the Chinese -- the world's fastest-growing Buddhist population -- based on something Buddha told his followers.

Namely, that they can attain merit and a noble rebirth by making a pilgrimage to the places in India where he was born (Lumbini), gained enlightenment (Bodhgaya), first taught (Sarnath), and attained Nirvana (Kushinagar).

The Mahaparinirvan Express, better known as the Buddhist Circuit Special Train, has actually been running since 2007 and is operated by Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC).

“India is blessed to have a lot of pilgrimage sites connected with the Buddha's life,” Rakesh Tandon, managing director of the IRCTC, reportedly told Chinese tour operators and travel agents at the launch of a promotion campaign in Beijing last week.

"He promised them a “safe and fully air-conditioned” pilgrimage experience, looking to address Chinese travellers' two biggest concerns about traveling to India -- widespread perceptions of lack of safety and the hot tropical climate," said The Hindu.

Starting in New Delhi, the seven-day train journey takes travellers through the following route with a bonus Taj Mahal stop on the way back, to sweeten the deal.

Mahaparinirvan Express itinerary

Day 1: Afternoon departure from New Delhi's Safdarjung Station bound for Gaya.
Day 2: Arrive in Gaya in the morning. Visit Bodhgaya. Overnight stay at the hotel.
Day 3: Visit Rajgir and Nalanda. Departure for Varanasi in the evening.
Day 4: Arrive Varanasi in the morning. Visit Sarnath. Visit the Ganges for the evening Aarti prayer. Departure for Gorakhpur in the evening.
Day 5 and 6: Arrive Gorakhpur (near the border with Nepal) in the morning. Visit Kushinagar/Lumbini, in a day trip to Nepal. Overnight stay at hotel. Breakfast at hotel and sightseeing. Lunch at hotel. Return to Gorakhpur. Departure for Gonda.
Day 7: Arrive Gonda in the morning. Visit Sravasti. Departure Gonda for Agra in the evening.
Day 8: Arrive Agra in the morning. Visit Taj Mahal. Departure for New Delhi in the afternoon. Arrive in New Delhi in the evening.

Costs start from US$105 per day, or $735 to $1,270 for the full tour.

The Mahaparinirvan Express usually departs from New Delhi once or twice a month; www.mahaparinirvanexpress.com