Rajgir, Bihar 28 September, 2010 – Bhutanese pilgrims, who visit the famous Rajgir tsachu (hot spring) in Bihar, could circumambulate a Buddhist temple, stay in a guest house and enjoy free space in the near future, with Bihar’s chief minister Nitish Kumar assuring the facility during Prime Minister Lyonchhoen Jigmi Y Thinley’s visit to Bodhgaya.
Lyonchhoen requested the facility, reasoning that thousands of Bhutanese visit the sacred Buddhist place every year, and that the annual pilgrimage is increasing by about 20 percent. The Lyonchhoen requested the chief minister for a plot of land in Rajgir, about 3 acres, to build a temple, an area for meditation and a rest house (dharamsala) for Bhutanese.
According to a press release from the PMO, the chief minister of Bihar, Nitish Kumar, had assured the facility and has already asked designated officials to identify the land. Congratulating Lyonchhoen on becoming the president of the Mahabodhi society of India, the chief minister also asked Lyonchhoen to appoint a designated Bhutanese person to look into the matter, according to the press release.
Meeting the chief minister on Sunday, during his visit to Bodhgaya, Lyonchhoen thanked the chief for all the support rendered to Bhutanese people during their visit to the holy sites.
“Bihar is an important place, in the spiritual point of view, not just for Bhutanese people but for a growing number of Buddhist people all over the world,†Lyonchhoen said, adding that he appreciates the way in which the chief minister has provided patronage and support for the rich cultural heritage.
Lyonchhoen Jigmi Y Thinley, who is now the president of the Mahabodhi society, urged the chief minister to work together with the Mahabodhi society to make Bodhgaya and its rich cultural heritage accessible to everyone. “We must be more active and make teachings of dharma more accessible to people, by not being evangelical and unethical,†Lyonchhoen said.
The chief minister said that, even though Bodhgaya is well connected through train routes, the domestic flights services would also increase alongside the expansion of the runway. “A new airport will also come up in due course of time,†he said.
They also discussed plans and programmes to establish additional flights to Bodhgaya and increase the frequency of these flights. “We’re very grateful for the support and care that Bihar government has provided not just to the Bhutanese, but also those from all over the country,†said Lyonchhoen.
Rajgir, which means ‘house of the king’, was the ancient capital city of the Magadha kings until the 5th century BC. Located 46 km from Bodhgaya, the town is sacred to the memory of the founders of both Buddhism and Jainism, and houses historical remains like the cyclopean wall and marks engraved in rocks.