Kapilvastu archaeological museum awaits renovation

Bharat Koirala

Tilaurakot, April 3:

The Kapilvastu Regional Museum which showcases artefacts found during excavation in Tilaurakot, a village related with the life of Lord Gautam Buddha, is in a dilapidated condition posing threat to the materials of archaeological importance kept there.

The museum located near the Bhuddha’s father King Shuddhodan’s ruined palace is an attraction to both the domestic and foreign tourists.

Authorities there say the artefacts showcased there date back from eighth century BC but they are not kept in proper cases and lack of space has made the museum congested which makes people feel difficult to move around freely while observing the objects kept there.

Moreover, the museum roof badly leaks making it impossible to visit during the rainy season. This has further helped in destroying the rare ancient artefacts there.

Technician in the museum, Shanker Dhital, said, “Although the artefacts showcased here are of great value for the country and the world, proper conservation efforts have not been made. We have reported the situation to the Department of Archaeology but it has done nothing to improve the museum.”

The museum was established in 1961 in Taulihawa, the district headquarters of Kapilvastu, with the aim to preserve the artefacts found during the excavation in Lumbini, Kapilvastu and other sites related with the life of Lord Gautam Buddha.

The museum was shifted to Tilaurakot in 1985 and later name as the Kapilvastu Regional Museum. The museum has collection of artefacts, utensils, coins including other materials of great archaeological values. The visitors to the museum have also considerably gone down recently. The museum has altogether 11 staffers and runs with an annual budget of Rs 1.113 million. Since the fund is spent for paying the staffers, much attention could not paid for renovation of the museum, technician Dhital said.