Japan to develop MP tourism site

Followers of Buddhism from Japan and other countries will have better chances to have a closer look at the famous Sanchi Stupa and read inscriptions of Jatak tales.

Japan is learnt to have assured the Madhya Pradesh government of working on famous tourism site Sanchi Stupa, which is one of the oldest Buddhist shrines.

A World Heritage Site, Sanchi Stupa (tope) was built by the Mauryan Emperor Ashoka during the third century BC. Japan is reportedly contemplating a "mono rail project" that will chug along Sanchi and Bhopal.

Japan envoy led a business delegation recently to the state capital and later a similar delegation met the State officials in New Delhi. "They are interested in increasing the tourists visit to the most sacred place," a government spokesperson said.

The Stupas are known as the gateways to Buddhism as they contain ornamental depiction of incidents from the life of Buddha and his previous incarnations, as described in the Jataka Tales, which teach generosity and self-abnegation.

Recently Sachi Stupa had developed cracks and let water in. Historians expressed concern over the leakage from the roof onto the 16-metre high and 37-metre wide stupa.

Situated at Sanchi village the Stupa is 46 km north of the state capital Bhopal. The Stupa envelops a chamber in which is relics of Lord Buddha are placed.

Despite a number of tourists from Japan, Sri Lanka, China and other eastern nations visit Sanchi state government has made very few attempts to develop the site as a world tourist destination. A four-lane road is proposed since it takes more than 2 hours to cover the distance through poor road to Sanchi.

"We have discussed with the envoy and other business people in New Delhi and we have been told that Japan may start a mono rail project soon. The train will run at a very high speed to cover the distance in few minutes and it will connect Sanchi to Bhopal airport," Mr OP Rawat, Principal Secretary, public relations told Business Standard adding, "they may also plan a five-start hotel at Sanch."

He however was not in a position to tell the gestation period of the project but said the talks on the project may resume soon.

The previous Congress government made an attempt to woo Japanese people to start a chartered flight (in form of package tour) once a month from Japan to Bhopal but the project could not take shape.

"If no efforts are made to prevent cracks and leakages the building will collapse one day," secretary of Mahabodhi Society Sri Lanka at Sanchi said.

The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) sources also clued Business Standard that the Stupa was chemically treated months ago to protect it from toxic air and natural elements, but the institution is zero on preventing leakages. But ASI officials refutes media reports and said, "Stupa as not develop any crack. The reports are baseless."

The Sanchi Stupas gives a historic account of the development of the Buddhist architecture and sculpture from 3rd century BC to 12th century AD.

It also has some inscriptions that narrate aspect of the life of King Ashoka, who had married an ordinary woman from Sanchi, and later built the Stupa. His son visited Sanchi with his mother to launching his mission to export Buddhism to Sri Lanka.