KATHMANDU: The construction of an 84-feet-tall statue of Lord Gautam Buddha is underway in Panchpokhari Thangpal Rural Municipality of Sindhupalchowk, with work progressing at an accelerated pace.
The statue is being built at Yunga Dong—a large stone site located in Bhotenamlang, Ward No. 7 of the rural municipality. According to Rural Municipality Chairperson Tashi Lama, the statue holds significant religious, cultural, and tourism value for the region.
Described as a pride project of the municipality, the initiative has been in progress for four years. Chairperson Lama shared that the statue is being carved from a single massive stone, rather than assembled from multiple pieces, which is the traditional method.
The construction of the Buddha’s head has already been completed. The total estimated cost of the project is Rs 30 million, and the goal is to complete it by next year.
The effort is being carried out with the coordination of the rural municipality and Bagmati Province, along with technical assistance from the National Academy of Fine Arts.
“This initiative aims to promote religious tourism, boost local economic development, and establish Panchpokhari Thangpal as both a spiritual hub and an international destination,” said Lama.
He added that the names of individuals and organizations who contribute financially to the project will be engraved on the stone as a mark of gratitude.
Comment