A newly built Buddha Park featuring a 65‑foot‑tall statue of Buddha has officially opened in Suryodaya Municipality‑3, Baudhdham, Ilam.
The inauguration ceremony was held on Wednesday, led by Koshi Province Chief Minister Hikmat Kumar Karki. The event included a pran pratishtha, or ritual consecration, conducted by Buddhist spiritual leader Khenchen Namdol Chhiring Rinpoche alongside other religious figures.
Spread across 17 ropani of land, the park is expected to become a major tourist attraction. Located just two kilometres from Pashupatinagar on the Nepal‑India border, Baudhdham has already been drawing increasing numbers of Indian visitors. Local entrepreneurs say the site is becoming a popular first stop for travellers heading to Darjeeling.
The project began in the fiscal year 2015/16 with funding from the Mechi Tourism Promotion Development Committee. After Nepal adopted a federal structure, the Koshi Province Government and Suryodaya Municipality continued the work, with the municipality contributing 30 per cent of the budget. In total, Rs. 80 million has been spent on construction.
Acting Mayor Durga Kumar Baral expressed confidence that the Buddha Park will attract tourists not only from Nepal and India but also from further afield. Alongside the park, local businesses have developed additional infrastructure to support visitors, reinforcing hopes that the site will boost Ilam’s growing tourism industry.
With its towering statue and spiritual significance, the Buddha Park is set to become a landmark destination, blending cultural heritage with economic opportunity for the region.
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