Bringing Buddha home: UP moots heritage plan to restore Piprahwa relics | Lucknow News
Lucknow: The UP govt is making efforts to bring the sacred Piprahwa relics—repatriated to India recently 127 years after they were taken out of the country—back to the place they belong to — the Piprahwa village in Siddharthnagar district.The UP tourism department has proposed to develop the Kapilvastu Buddhist Heritage Park at the site. The park will showcase the confluence of history, spirituality, and modern facilities and offer a unique experience to visitors from around the world.“Our vision is to re-establish Piprahwa as a global centre of Buddhist heritage, with plans for a theme park, a Buddhist stupa, and an immersive interpretation centre,” principal secretary, tourism and culture, Mukesh Meshram told TOI.Asked about the safety and security of the precious jewels, Meshram said: “A multi-layered security system will be put in place. The jewels would be displayed in a high-security chamber with sensors. In addition, a three-layer human security cauldron and alarm system has been proposed.”Sharing more details, Meshram said: “The guiding principle is that Piprahwa is not just an archaeological site but a testimony of Lord Buddha’s journey and teachings. Spread across 20.8 hectares of land, the Kapilvastu Buddhist Heritage Park would come up opposite the stupa.”Listing key features, he said: “It will include a Life-Journey Sculpture Trail narrating Siddhartha’s transformation into the Buddha; a modern Interpretation Centre highlighting Shakya and Vedic traditions; a Buddhist stupa and dedicated meditation areas for pilgrims, besides world-class visitor amenities, including a cafeteria, dormitory, and public facilities.”Meshram added that eco-sensitive and AI-integrated storytelling technologies will be used to give an enriching experience to the new-age audience. “Once completed, the park will create an immersive spiritual landscape that positions Kapilvastu among the most attractive Buddhist destinations globally,” he said, adding, “An immigration office at the Kakrahwa border has also been proposed to provide seamless pilgrim entry into Piprahwa from Nepal.“A team from UP, led by tourism minister Jaiveer Singh and senior state officials, had discussed the project with Union tourism and culture minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat in Delhi in Aug last. “We have sought the support of the Union ministry,” Singh said, adding, “The Buddhist Circuit is one of UP’s greatest treasures, with Piprahwa forming its core. We are committed to ensuring that the relics are enshrined where they belong, and that the site is developed with world-class facilities.“BOXWhat are Piprahwa relicsThe Piprahwa relics, which include ash and bone fragments reportedly belonging to Lord Buddha, gold ornaments, and gemstones, were excavated by William Claxton Peppé, an English estate manager and engineer, in 1898 during an excavation of a stupa at Piprahwa. While most of the relics were claimed by the British Crown under the Indian Treasure Trove Act, 1878, a fifth of the total find was retained by Peppé. These gems were set to be auctioned by Sotheby’s in Hong Kong in May this year, when the Indian govt intervened and successfully sought their repatriation.
