By Laxman Poudel
Bhairahawa, Dec. 21: Construction of Bhairahawa Gateway has reached the final stage. Construction of the tourist gate reflecting Buddhism had begun at a cost of about Rs. 70 million.

Siddharthnagar Municipality has stated that the construction of the attractive gate, which is being built at the entrance of Lumbini, the birthplace of the Buddha, has reached the final stage.
The gate is being constructed in an area of one kilometre near Danda Bridge from Belahiya, on the Nepal-India border.
Jeevan Aryal, senior engineer of the municipality, informed that the gate reflecting Buddhism has been constructed to attract tourists.

The municipality has invested millions of rupees in constructing Darakhswa Park and its entrance with a boating facility. Kharkhaswa Park is also under construction.
The municipality has prepared a design of another reception gate at the border point as well.
The gate of Danda Bridge is expected to be completed in two phases at Rs. 69.7 million, Aryal said.

In the first phase, the main structure of the entrance was constructed at Rs. 24.8 million and in the second phase, the architectural work is being done at Rs. 44.8 million.
The deadline has been extended once so that the construction work of the second phase of the entrance, which started on June 18, 2018, will be completed by January 9, 2022, said Aryal.
According to Sachin Maharjan, designer, architect and urban planner of the gate, there will be a dome of a pinnacle size, 13 rings representing the Trayodasa Bhuwan as well as 12 Buddha statues on both sides of the entrance.

The entrance will be adorned with Ashoka pillar, arch, spire pinnacle, green zone, National Flag of Nepal and Buddha Flag as per the suggestions of the experts.
The main peace entrance is 50 metres long, 24 metres wide and 30 metres high from the road. The gate is constructed without obstructing the four-lane and service lane of the Butwal-Bhairahawa road section.
Warm lights have been fixed in the arch to make the entrance attractive at night, and a window-like opening hole has been made in the gate to convey peace and emptiness.

The design of the gate was prepared by Siddharthnagar Municipality in consultation with archaeologists, Lumbini scholars, peace activists, cultural experts, social workers, intellectuals, engineers, people's representatives, consultants, Buddhist scholars and city dwellers.