Telangana aims global Buddhist tourism hub as Jupally Krishna Rao honoured

Last Updated:March 27, 2026, 8:34 PM IST

Telangana’s Tourism, Culture, and Archaeology Minister Jupally Krishna Rao was honored with the ‘Grand Prize for Contribution to World Peace’ on Friday in Hyderabad.

News18

Telangana’s push to position itself as a key centre for spiritual and cultural tourism received a boost on Friday, with Tourism, Culture and Archaeology Minister Jupally Krishna Rao being honoured with the ‘Grand Prize for Contribution to World Peace’ in Hyderabad.

The award was given at the opening session of the International Buddhist Conference on World Peace 2026, held at Haritha Plaza.

Around 150 delegates, including well-known monks and representatives from 22 countries, attended the event.

Krishna Rao shared his gratitude on X, saying he was proud to receive the award from the International Interchange Development Association. He said this recognition shows Telangana’s dedication to peace, tolerance, and non-violence under Chief Minister Revanth Reddy. He also spoke about Telangana’s strong Buddhist heritage, mentioning that Acharya Nagarjuna developed the Madhyamika philosophy and the concept of Shunyata along the Krishna River, making the region a historic center of learning.

Rao highlighted important heritage sites like Phanigiri, Nelakondapalli, and Dhulikatta, calling them lasting symbols of the region’s rich history. He said the government wants to make Telangana a top destination for Buddhist tourism worldwide. Projects like Buddhavanam, covering 274 acres, are key to this goal.

There are also plans to preserve and develop more heritage sites, including Kothilingala, and to build a complete Buddhist tourism circuit for pilgrims. The conference, organized by the Telangana Tourism Development Corporation under the Buddhavanam initiative, aims to promote global peace and cultural exchange. Rao said, ‘Under Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, we will make Telangana a leader in international Buddhist tourism. The Buddhavanam project near Nagarjuna Sagar is a source of pride for Telangana.

The government is committed to preserving and developing historical sites like Phanigiri, Nelakondapalli, Dhulikatta, and Kothilingala. By creating a full Buddhist tourism circuit, we will give pilgrims a world-class experience. This conference will set new milestones for global peace.’

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