Lumbini Trust to excavate Kushan-era well at Nipaniya

By Laxman Paudel,Bhairahawa, Aug. 10: The Lumbini Development Trust (LDT) has decided to excavate the Kushan-era well dug on the bank of the Danav River at Nipaniya, seven kilometres south of Lumbini, the birthplace of Lord Buddha. The Trust made the decision after a team led by Member Secretary Sanuraja Shakya visited Nipaniya and inspected the well.

Talking to The Rising Nepal, Shakya said that they visited the site in Lumbini Sanskritik Municipality–12 after locals informed the LDT that the Danav River was eroding the historic well and carrying away old clay utensils buried there. "Even though the area does not fall under the jurisdiction of the Trust, we thought it is necessary to go there because it had archaeologically important artefacts," he said.

Worried that the river was damaging the well's rings and carrying away important pieces, Shakya informed that the Trust planned to dig the rings up and take them to the Lumbini Museum for safekeeping. "But the Trust cannot preserve everything alone. The locals, the provincial government and the Department of Archaeology, all need to come together. 

Shakya further hypothesised that the well was once part of the greater 'Lumbini Gamé' area mentioned in the Ashoka Pillar.

Himal Kumar Upreti, head of the Archaeology Division, said that floods in the Danav River had been sweeping away important parts of the well and other historical items every year. "This time, we will carry out a proper excavation which will be followed by efforts for preservation," he assured.

Recalling that Indian archaeologist SB Deo had described the area as a chief commercial hub during his excavations in 1964, Upreti felt that Nipaniya could be connected to the Buddha Circuit to bring in tourists.

Deo had discovered ancient bowls, plates, pitchers, holy masks, animal figures and many other items in his dig around Banjarahi and Paisiya. These items are currently being swept away by the flooded Danav River.