The ancient Mahabodhi Mahavihara Temple at Bodhgaya, already a world heritage site, is all set to get more attention. A four-member team from UNESCO world heritage centre will be on a four-day visit to the site from February 22 to ascertain what steps could be taken to preserve it.
Bodhgaya Temple Management Committee (BTMC) secretary Nangzey Dorjee told The Telegraph: “The team members will have a meeting with the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) officials in New Delhi before coming to Bodhgaya. They will discuss the possibilities to enhance the popularity of the Mahabodhi Mahavihara Temple and the surrounding sites. They will also visit some adjoining villages and other Buddhist sites.
“The team will discuss how the guidelines of UNESCO can be implemented at the site. They will also meet the district administration,” added Dorjee
BTMC is responsible for the upkeep and management of the heritage site and ASI is the nodal agency for world heritage sites in India.
This will be the second visit of a UNESCO team, since the site was enlisted as a world heritage site on June 27, 2002. Earlier, a two-member team of UNESCO experts — Herb Stovel and Juno Okahasi — had visited the site in April 2005.
Dorjee had been invited as a special guest to the four-day sub-regional workshop on “Second cycle of the periodic reporting on the implementation of the world heritage convention for Asia and Pacific”. The workshop was held at Dehradun from June 2 to June 5 last year. At Dehradun, Dorjee had invited the UNESCO members to visit Bodhgaya.
Former member secretary of BTMC, Kalicharan Singh Yadav said the surrounding villages and other places should also be developed, as they are also of historical importance. In fact, the adjoining areas should come up as “heritage village” having facilities like sewerage, concrete roads, adequate power and healthcare so that they can attract tourists.
Author: Alok Kumar | Source: The Telegraph/India [February 14, 2011]