BHOJPUR: The construction of a Buddhist stupa in Bhojpur’s Panchdhare, Temkemaiyung Rural Municipality-9, aimed at promoting the area as a tourist and religious destination, has been completed. The stupa has been built to encourage religious tourism and foster religious tolerance.
Ward Chairman of Temkemaiyung-9, Navaraj Mangpahang, stated that the project was completed with a budget of Rs 2.7 million provided by the Federal Ministry of Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation. The stupa was modeled after the Boudhanath Stupa in Kathmandu in both style and structure.
Chairman Mangpahang added that skilled craftsmen from the Khumbu region were brought in to carry out the construction. “The stupa has been built to serve both the Buddhist community and to promote the tourist potential of the area,” he said.
“We aim to boost local income by promoting tourism, as Panchdhara has both religious and natural potential,” Mangpahang added. “We are confident that the stupa will help attract more tourists to the region.”
He further mentioned that the development of the ‘Panch Dham’ concept is underway to establish Panchdhare as a comprehensive religious destination. As part of the project, a stairway path has been constructed leading to the stupa. Plans are also in place to build another smaller stupa this fiscal year, with a budget of Rs 300,000 allocated by the provincial government.
Consumers’ Committee Chairman Binod Kumar Rai noted that the newly constructed stupa measures 26 feet in length and width, and stands 21 feet high. He emphasized that the infrastructure will significantly contribute to the development of tourism in Panchdhare.
Ramadevi Rai, Vice-Chairperson of the rural municipality, highlighted the focus on planned development of tourist areas within Temkemaiyung. “The rural municipality is implementing programs that prioritize both agriculture and tourism,” she said.
“Temkemaiyung has great potential in agriculture and tourism,” Vice-Chairperson Rai added. “Our goal is to link agricultural development and tourism to improve the livelihoods of local residents.”
Comment