Prime Minister Narendra Modi on October 20, 2021, inaugurated the Kushinagar international airport, which is an endeavour to connect Buddhist pilgrimage sites around the world as well as facilitate the travel of pilgrims to the final resting place of Lord Buddha.
The airport has been built at an estimated cost of Rs 260 crore, the new international airport is part of the Modi government’s endeavour to link Buddhist pilgrimage sites around the world, a PTI report said.
It will facilitate domestic & international pilgrims to visit the Mahaparinirvana sthal of Lord Buddha in Kushinagar.
Kushinagar is the final resting place of Gautama Buddha, where he attained Mahaparinirvana after his death. The airport will help in boosting tourism on the Buddhist circuit. The first international flight at the Kushinagar International Airport landed from Colombo, Sri Lanka, carrying SriLankan delegation of over a hundred Buddhist Monks & dignitaries. Now the number of airports handling passenger flights in Uttar Pradesh has increased to 9.