CM Nitish Kumar inaugurated the ‘Buddha’ museum and Smriti Stupa in Vaishali, a boost for tourism.

Patna, July 29, 2025: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Tuesday inaugurated the long-awaited ‘Buddha’ Samyak Darshan Museum-cum-Smriti Stupa, a grand cultural and religious monument constructed at a cost of Rs. 550.48 crore.

 Built on 72 acres, the stupa complex spans across Vaishali and Muzaffarpur districts and aims to position Bihar prominently on the global ‘Buddhist’ tourism map.

A dream project of Nitish Kumar was realized after six years:

After a six-year-long wait, Nitish Kumar’s flagship heritage project has now been opened to the public.

The inauguration ceremony was attended by a large number of dignitaries, including Deputy Chief Ministers Samrat Choudhary and Vijay Kumar Sinha, along with ‘Buddhist’ monks from 15 countries, who performed rituals before the official unveiling.

Nitish Kumar also inspected the complex, which he termed a symbol of Bihar’s rich cultural and Buddhist legacy. He had closely monitored the project since its inception and posted on the Social media platform X that its completion was a “moment of pride for all Biharis.”

Spread over a sprawling 72 acres near the historic Pushkarni pond and Mud Stupa, the Smriti Stupa complex includes a library and museum block, a visitor centre and meditation hall, amphitheatre and cafeteria, a 500 kW solar power plant, parking and modern amenities and an earthquake-resistant structure.

The stupa has been constructed entirely of 42,373 sandstone blocks sourced from Vanshi Paharpur, Rajasthan, using a tongue-and-groove technique, ensuring both aesthetics and resilience.

The sacred bone urn is installed:

A major spiritual feature of the site is the installation of Lord Buddha’s holy bone urn on the first floor of the museum.

This urn was unearthed during excavations in Vaishali between 1958-1962, and is considered the most authentic relic of the Buddha’s remains.

Chinese traveler Hiuen Tsang had also referenced these relics in his accounts.

The site also features a statue of Lord Buddha crafted by artisans from Odisha, adding to its uniqueness.

Officials emphasized that the project would boost local tourism, culture, and employment, turning Vaishali into a major stop for global ‘Buddhist’ pilgrims.

“This stupa will not only elevate Vaishali on the world Buddhist map but also provide a new direction to tourism and economic opportunities for the local population,” said Pranav Kumar, Secretary of the Building Construction Department.

Environment and heritage integration:

Built with a focus on eco-friendliness, the project blends modern sustainability features with ancient heritage aesthetics to provide a serene and immersive experience for visitors.

Vaishali is recognized as the world’s first republic and historic centre of women’s empowerment—the first place where women were included in the ‘Buddhist’ Sangha.

The inauguration of the Smiriti Stupa reaffirms Bihar’s status as a global heritage and spiritual destination.

Also Read: Nitish Kumar will inaugurate the Buddha Samyak Darshan museum in Vaishali on July 29.

EOM.