Vikramshila Mahavihara, the ancient seat of learning, is conspicuously absent from the route of the Buddhist circuit tourist train.

Meant for promoting Buddhist tourism in the country, the Mahaparinirvan Express is a special train that travels across the country over seven days and eight nights. Places like Bodhgaya, Nalanda and Rajgir in Bihar have been included in the route.

The railway's decision to drop Vikramshilahas not gone down well with the residents. N.K. Jaishwal, president of Vikramshila Nagarik Manch, a body which has been fighting for Vikramshila's inclusion in the route, alleged that both the state and the Centre are to be blamed for such a decision. Pawan Kumar Choudhary, an expert in Vikramshila affairs in Kahalgaon, said: "The slogan framed by the railways for this special train states 'Come discover the path to enlightenment with the Buddhist circuit special train'. However, it seems to have forgotten the role of the ancient university in the context of Buddhism."

Jaishwal said: "Foreigners still want to visit Vikramshila, the place that was instrumental in establishing Lamaism (Tibetan Buddhism). However, the department concerned has yet not included this ancient site in the proposed route."

Neeraj Gupta, a social activist at Kahalgaon, said: "If Vikramshila would have been included in the route, many foreign tourists could visit the place which would subsequently get the global attention it deserves."

Railways sources blamed the state government and the Indian tourism department. "There is no infrastructure at Vikramshila. How can the place be included as a tourist destination when foreigners have mostly opted to be a part of this package?" the source pointed out.

BJP's Godda MP Nishi Kant Dubey too held the state government responsible for not being able to improve the infrastructures at Vikramshila Mahavihara.