Government working to enlist Tilaurakot in world heritage sites list: Culture Minister

KATHMANDU, May 26: Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Bhanubhakta Dhakal has said the government was actively working to carrying out scientific exploration, excavation and conservation of the historical heritages related to the Buddha and Buddhism found in the Greater Lumbini Area on a priority basis. 

He said the government was likewise preparing a master plan for the overall development of the Greater Lumbini Area for the benefit of the local people as well as for the enlistment of Tilaurakot area in the list of World Heritage Sites. Tilaurakot was the capital of the ancient kingdom of Kapilbastu and the birthplace of the Buddha. The remnants of the palace of the then king Shuddhodhana, father of Siddhartha Gautam, have been found at Tilaurakot.

Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Dhakal, stated this in a message of best wishes he gave on the occasion of the 2565th Buddha Jayanti today.

He said that the Lumbini Master Plan which was prepared with support from the United Nations and for the development and promotion of Lumbini, the centre of faith of millions of Buddhism followers and peace-loving people of the world, would be completed and that the Gautam Buddha International Airport would be brought into operation within the next two years.

"We are bound to celebrate te Buddha Jayanti and Lumbini Day this year fully in a situation of prohibition owing to the COVID-19 pandemic. In this context, I urge the venerable Bhikkhus, monks, nuns and the Lama priests available in Lumbini to celebrate the occasion by organising worship, recitation of the Paritrana text and lighting butter-fed lamps by fully abiding by the public health safety guidelines. 

Minister Dhakal also extended hearty best wishes to all the followers of Buddhism and the peace and non-violence loving people around the world  on the occasion of the 2565th Buddha Jayanti.