Chief Minister Nitish Kumar will inaugurate Buddha Samyak Darshan Museum-cum-Memorial stupa tomorrow. Buddhist monks from 15 countries of China, Japan, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Nepal, Tibbet, Myanmar, Malaysia, Bhutan, Vietnam, Cambodia, Mongolia, Laos, Bangladesh and Indonesia will gather at Vaishali on the historic occasion.
The historic monument will become a centre of devotion and attraction for Buddhist followers worldwide.
“It is a pleasure to inform that Buddha Samyak Darshan Museum-cum-Memorial Stupa, Vaishali is going to be inaugurated on July 29, 2025. Buddhist monks and followers from 15 countries across the world are coming to Bihar for the inaugural ceremony. It is a matter for pride for all the people of Bihar…,” Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said in a post on his “X” handle (formerly twitter).
“…This stupa is a grand symbol of Bihar’s cultural heritage and global Buddhist legacy. The Buddha Samyak Darshan Museum-cum-Memorial Stupa will not only establish Vaishali prominently on the global Buddhist map but will also provide a new direction to tourism, culture, and employment,” Kumar added.
The stupa has been constructed near Pushkarni pond and mud ‘stupa’ on 72 acres of land at a cost of Rs 550.48 crore. The main attraction of this monument will be a relic casket of Lord Buddha which has been kept on the first floor of the memorial. The relic casket was discovered during the excavations carried out between 1958 and 1962.
It is for the first time in India’s history that a stupa has been built completely with stones in Bihar’s Vaishali district. Materials like cement, brick or concrete have not been used at all in the construction of the ‘Stupa’ whose height is 33.10 meters, internal diameter is 37.80 meters and outer diameter is 49.80 meters. It is almost double the height of the world fame ‘Sanchi stupa’.
The museum-cum-memorial stupa has used 42,373 sandstones brought from Banshi Paharpur in Rajasthan and have been joined using the tongue and groove technique. No cement or any adhesive or other material has been used to fix the stones. It has been built using modern earthquake resistant technology to ensure its safety for thousands of years. Lily ponds, attractive sculptures and beautiful landscaping around the stupa make it attractive.
The grand entrance archway from Sanchi represents the pinnacle of Buddhist architecture while 32 skylights maintain a constant flow of light and air inside the stupa.
The complex also includes meditation centre, visitor centre, library, museum block, amphitheatre, cafeteria, 500 kilowatt solar energy plant, parking and other facilities
Lord Buddha’s statue crafted by the artists from Odisha will become a special identity of this place.
