Uttar Pradesh discussed the proposed Kushan Trail on 28 April 2026 in Lucknow during a review of tourism and culture department projects. The trail is planned as a heritage circuit linking monuments from the Kushan period, which ruled parts of North India and Central Asia between the 1st century BCE and the 3rd century CE.
Kushan Period Heritage
The Kushan Empire is associated with Buddhist art, trade routes, and urban centres in the north-western subcontinent. Kushan-era sites in Uttar Pradesh are being considered for thematic linkage under the proposed trail.
Tourism Infrastructure Features
- The plan includes interpretation centres at heritage sites.
- The plan includes libraries and basic public amenities for visitors.
- The project is part of a wider tourism strategy covering heritage tourism, eco-tourism, rural tourism, wellness tourism, and experiential travel.
Heritage Protection and Related Projects
On 28 April 2026, the state government approved protection for 39 historical sites, including Musa Bagh in Lucknow. Uttar Pradesh has also aimed to complete 156 pending tourism projects by December 2025 in destinations such as Varanasi, Mathura, Prayagraj, and Ayodhya.
Central Tourism Schemes in Uttar Pradesh
The Union Ministry of Tourism has supported tourism infrastructure in Uttar Pradesh under PRASHAD, Swadesh Darshan, Swadesh Darshan 2.0, and the Challenge Based Destination Development programme. In February 2026, the Union Tourism and Culture Minister stated that all sanctioned projects under the Ramayana and Buddhist Circuits of Swadesh Darshan in Uttar Pradesh had been physically completed.
Eco-Tourism Development
On 23 March 2026, Uttar Pradesh released ₹8.79 crore for eco-tourism infrastructure. Dudhwa National Park is among the sites identified for eco-tourism development in the state.
Last Modified: April 29, 2026