Patna: CM Nitish Kumar on Friday visited the Buddha Samyak Darshan Museum and Memorial Stupa complex in Vaishali district to review tourist facilities, arrangements and ongoing development works at the site.During the visit, the CM inspected various facilities at the complex and issued necessary directions to officials present there. He also inaugurated a newly constructed pathway connecting the Buddha Samyak Darshan Museum-cum-Memorial Stupa to the ancient earthen-metal stupa by cutting the traditional ribbon.Nitish also observed the meanings and teachings of Buddhist symbols engraved on stone slabs within the museum-cum-memorial stupa complex. He later offered prayers before the statue of Lord Buddha installed on the ground floor of the memorial stupa and prayed for happiness, peace and prosperity in the state.The Samyak Darshan Museum and Memorial Stupa was inaugurated on July 29, 2025. Built over 72 acres at a cost of around Rs 550 crore, the complex houses the sacred relics of Gautama Buddha. The focal point of the complex is the relic casket (Asthi Kalash) containing the sacred bone relics of Lord Buddha.These relics were excavated between 1958 and 1962 from an ancient mud stupa in Vaishali. Historical records by the seventh-century Chinese monk Xuanzang also identify the site as the location where Buddha’s relics were originally enshrined.Speaking during his visit, Nitish said Vaishali holds immense historical and mythological significance.“Vaishali is a historic and mythological land. The Buddha Samyak Darshan Museum-cum-Memorial Stupa has been constructed here in a very fine manner. The layout of this complex has also been designed very well from an environmental perspective so that visiting tourists have a pleasant experience. It should be maintained properly at all times. The Buddha Samyak Darshan Museum-cum-Memorial Stupa will not only establish Vaishali on the global stage but will also promote tourism, culture and employment,” he said.“The state govt has developed all sites associated with Lord Buddha in Bihar. Buddhist tourist sites have been connected in a circuit. Tourists visiting Bodh Gaya can travel to Rajgir, from Rajgir to Patna, from Patna to Vaishali and from Vaishali to Kesariya Stupa, then via Lauriya Nandan Garh to Dhanaha-Ratwal (Gautam Buddha) Setu built over the Gandak river in West Champaran district, and onward to Kushinagar,” a communique issued from the chief minister’s office said.Deputy CM Samrat Choudhary, MLA Siddharth Patel, principal secretary to the chief minister Deepak Kumar, secretary to the CM Anupam Kumar, secretary to the chief minister-cum-secretary of the building construction department Kumar Ravi, secretary of the art and culture department Pranav Kumar, secretary to the chief minister Chandrashekhar Singh, Tirhut divisional commissioner Girivar Dayal Singh, Vaishali DM Varsha Singh, superintendent of police Vikram Sihag, Buddhist Bhante and other dignitaries were present on the occasion.
