Back from Hong Kong, Piprahwa gems may return to original site in UP

One of the lesser visited spots in the state’s Buddhist circuit, Uttar Pradesh now plans to develop at this nearly 20-hectare site a theme park depicting the early life of Lord Buddha, a stupa that will likely showcase the relics and thematic meditation areas, among other attractions.

The theme park will be located in front of the existing Piprahwa stupa, a site protected by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and linked to the Shakya kingdom in the ancient city of Kapilvastu, the childhood home of Lord Buddha.

Since the proposal is at a “preliminary stage”, a state official said they don’t have a timeline or budget estimates at present.

Uttar Pradesh Tourism Minister Jaiveer Singh and senior state officials with Union Tourism and Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat in New Delhi on August 18. (Photo by Special Arrangement)

Officials said Uttar Pradesh also has plans to set up an immigration office at the Kakrahwa border of Siddharthnagar district for ease of entry of Buddhist pilgrims visiting Piprahwa from Lumbini in Nepal.

The 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 government intervened and successfully sought their repatriation.

On August 18, a team comprising Uttar Pradesh Tourism Minister Jaiveer Singh and senior state officials met Union Tourism and Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat in New Delhi to discuss the project. Sources said the state is seeking a collaboration with the Union Ministry of Tourism and Culture on the project.

Before bringing the relics back to the state — to the original site of excavation — Uttar Pradesh plans to transform the spot by setting up a “world Buddhist tourism site” to attract both domestic and international tourists.

“We are working on a plan to enhance the tourist experience at Piprahwa. A theme park and a Buddhist stupa are in the pipeline for the same,” said Mukesh Meshram, principal secretary, state Tourism and Culture.

The proposed project aims to create “a heritage and eco-sensitive visitor experience, which would complement both the archaeological and spiritual legacy of Kapilvastu”.

Among the project’s various proposals are a sculpture trail that would depict the various stages of Lord Buddha’s life when he was still known as Prince Siddhartha, an interpretation centre that will showcase both Shakya and Vedic traditions, and the use of artificial intelligence for story telling. The site will also have state-of-the-art visitor infrastructure, with a cafeteria, dormitory and public amenities.

Of late, sources said, there has been a rise in tourist footfall at Kapilvastu. While just 26,805 tourists visited Piprahwa in 2022, official records show that the figure rose two times over to 70,006 in 2023. A minor rise — 79,418 tourists — was recorded in 2024. Data from the first quarter of 2025 shows a tremendous rise in the number of visitors among tourists visiting Buddhist sites in the state. Between January and March this year, tourist footfall in Piprahwa was 23,507. Officials estimate around 1 lakh tourists to visit by the end of this year.