Agartala, July 13 — In a major step to promote spiritual tourism, Tripura Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha on Sunday laid the foundation stone and performed *Bhumi Pujan* for the ambitious **51 Shakti Peethas Park** at Banduar in Gomati district. The ₹97.70 crore project aims to showcase replicas of the 51 revered Shakti Peethas from across South Asia.
The ceremony was attended by Finance Minister Pranajit Singha Roy, Tourism and Transport Minister Sushanta Chowdhury, and other key dignitaries. Tourism Minister Chowdhury announced that the world’s largest statue of Lord Nataraja would also be constructed within the park premises, making it a unique spiritual and cultural landmark.
The 51 Shakti Peethas are located in India and neighboring countries such as Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nepal, and Sri Lanka. The Banduar site holds additional spiritual significance as it lies just 4 km from the historic 524-year-old Tripura Sundari Temple, one of the original Shakti Peethas.
A Tourism Department official confirmed that the project is being funded by the **Union Ministry of Tourism** under the PRASHAD (Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Heritage Augmentation Drive) scheme. The park will be built in the serene village of Banduar, offering a peaceful, nature-rich environment for pilgrims and tourists alike.
Tripura is currently witnessing a tourism infrastructure boost, with projects worth ₹350 crore—including eco-tourism initiatives—underway, supported by the Asian Development Bank.
Chief Minister Saha has also proposed the introduction of a **seaplane service at Dumboor Lake**, a picturesque water body formed at the confluence of the Raima and Sarma rivers. Located 115 km from Agartala, Dumboor is home to Narkel Kunja island, a fast-emerging tourist hotspot in the state.
The new park is expected to become a spiritual tourism centerpiece, further enhancing Tripura’s growing profile on the national tourism map.
