The Uttar Pradesh Tourism Department is progressing steadily with the development of a Buddha Theme Park at Kosam Inam village in Kaushambi district, modelled on the lines of Buddhavanam at Nagarjuna Sagar in Telangana.
The project, spread over nearly 11 hectares and being implemented at a cost of ₹22.93 crore, is expected to be completed by December 2026. It aims to transform Kaushambi into a prominent destination for spiritual tourism.
The theme park will feature several dedicated zones, including a Jataka Mural Gallery, Dhyana Vanam and a Stupa Gallery.
Notably, the Stupa Gallery will house 13 replicas of iconic stupas from countries such as Sri Lanka, Thailand, South Korea, Myanmar, Nepal, Tibet and Afghanistan, along with representations from Indian states including Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. This will position the park as a comprehensive cultural and spiritual landmark of national and international significance.
The upcoming theme park will also include meditation and cultural facilities. A meditation centre will showcase various mudras, such as Dharmachakra Mudra, Abhaya Mudra, Bhumisparsha Mudra and others.
A major attraction, the Buddhacharita Vanam, will depict the life journey of Lord Buddha through sculptures, from his birth (Janan) to his final nirvana (Mahaparinirvana). The installation will portray key encounters (Nimitta), along with a Dhamma Bell and Buddhapadas (Footprints of the Buddha).
Speaking on the project, Principal Secretary, Tourism and Culture, Amrit Abhijat, said on Friday that the Buddha Theme Park at Kaushambi reflects a focused effort to combine heritage conservation with high-quality tourism infrastructure.
He noted that Kaushambi’s strong association with Buddhism gives it international importance, and the development is being planned to ensure authenticity, tranquillity and sustainability, while providing modern amenities for pilgrims and tourists alike.
Kaushambi’s history predates Buddhism. In ancient India, it served as the capital of the Vatsa janapada, one of the prominent early political entities of the Indo-Aryan world. References to Kaushambi appear in the Brahmanas and Upanishads, highlighting its importance during the Vedic age. Texts such as the Shatapatha Brahmana mention Proti Kaushambeya, a native of the city, while the Mahabharata and the Ramayana trace its foundation to Kusamba, linking the city’s origins to legendary royal lineages.
Buddhist scriptures record that Gautama Buddha spent his sixth and ninth varshavasas, or monsoon retreats, in Kaushambi. During these three-month periods, monks traditionally remained in one place to deepen meditation and spiritual practice. It was during these retreats that the Buddha delivered several important discourses, strengthening the spread of Buddhist philosophy in the region and establishing Kaushambi as a vibrant centre of spiritual learning.
Tourism and Culture Minister Jaiveer Singh said that Kaushambi occupies a distinctive place in Uttar Pradesh’s Buddhist Circuit. Apart from followers of Buddhism, the district also attracts historians, researchers and tourists from other faiths. Between January and September 2025, more than 23.19 lakh tourists visited the district, including 2,884 foreign visitors. The department has been consistently improving tourist facilities at sites linked to the Buddhist Circuit, and the positive impact of these efforts is clearly visible.
Projects such as the Buddha Theme Park not only help preserve ancient civilisational heritage but also play a vital role in passing on the teachings and message of Lord Buddha to future generations. The project is expected to further enhance Kaushambi’s appeal to domestic and international visitors, particularly pilgrims from Buddhist-majority countries, while reinforcing Uttar Pradesh’s position as a leading hub for spiritual and cultural tourism.