Gaya: Although the number of devotes and the tourists visiting Bodhgaya has shown a rising trend, some other ancient monuments and remains related to the Buddha are languishing due to lack of adequate infrastructure. One such ancient monument near Bodhgaya is the Sujata Stupa at Bakraur village, around 3km east of the Mahavihara and 111km south of Patna.

This is where a lady named Sujata is said to have offered kheer to Siddhartha after which he attained enlightenment sitting in meditation under the Bodhi tree.

To attract tourists, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has initiated steps for beautification of the stupa site for an estimated Rs 2.83 crore. The fencing work has started. There are plans to open a cafeteria, build urinals and washrooms and a park at the site for which nearly two acres of land have been acquired. The ASI is getting the work done through an agency that was awarded the contract.

On the initiative of Bodhgaya Temple Management Committee (BTMC), excavation of the site was done in 1973-74 under the supervision of archaeologist KM Srivastava of Bengal. The 65.5m-diameter stupa was found during the excavation The bricks used in it are larger than those used in other stupas. Each brick is 15.5 inch long, 10.25 inch wide and 3.5 inch thick.

A Buddha statue was also found from the site during excavation. The remains have been preserved in museums in Bodhgaya and Calcutta.

"Bodhgaya draws a good number of tourists, but most of them return only after seeing the Mahabodhi Mahavihara," said tourist guide association of Bihar president Rakesh Kumar Pappu. "There are so many places including Sujata Stupa and the Pragbodhi caves which if developed can draw tourists. They usually do not stay for more than one or two days in Bodhgaya. If adequate facility and information is made available tourists will stay for longer, resulting in business growth and employment opportunities for local residents."