Pune: Develop Junnar’s Buddhist Caves As A World Tourist Destination: MP Girish Bapat

Pune, 5th August 2021: MP Girish Bapat, Chairman of the Parliamentary Guidance Committee, called on Union Minister for Culture and Tourism G Kishan Reddy in New Delhi yesterday and demanded a substantial fund for the development of a group of Buddhist caves in Junnar in Pune district, on the lines of a world tourist destination. . Bapat invited Union Minister to visit Junnar.

BJP Pune secretary Sunil Mane, former vice-chancellor of Deccan College Dr Vasant Shinde were also present during the meeting.

Bapat said that Junnar city and its environs in Pune district have an ancient history of about two and a half thousand years. The area was known as the capital of the Greek and Roman Empires during the Satavahana period. This has been proved in the excavation by Deccan College. Similarly, Naneghat to Paithan was a trade route of Satavahana period. Signs of this history can still be found here. In order to spread this history nationally and internationally, the area needs to be developed for tourism.

As the group of caves in the area and Naneghat come under the purview of the Central Archaeological Department, the Central Government is making efforts to prepare a development plan for the area, he said.

As these caves are the largest not only in Pune district and Maharashtra but in the entire country, it needs to be looked at nationwide. Since Buddhism has a long tradition, developing caves with funds will increase its usefulness for followers of Buddhism. Similarly, if this group of caves is developed as a global tourist destination, tourists from all over the world will be attracted to this area. This will increase the country’s tourism. However, no one has paid any attention to this group of caves yet, said Sunil Mane.

During the visit, MP Bapat said that Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj is our adored deity and his birthplace Shivneri fort is our source of energy. Funds have also been sought for the development of this fort and funds should be made available for the proposed Satavahana period heritage museum in the Amberkhana building on the fort.