The world-famous Buddhist monuments and museum here draw a large number of visitors throughout the year but their filthy surroundings are spoiling the atmosphere.
These are tourist spots of global significance which ought to have the best upkeep.
However, those going to see the historic structures will be struck by an auto-rickshaw stand doubling as a public toilet, heaps of dried Palmyra shells, haystacks and other such material strewn along the front-side fencing of the museum.
The Buddhist stupa and ASI (Archaeological Survey of India) museum are very well maintained inside but their surroundings are not so imposing.
Another appalling thing is the lack of protection for the statue of Acharya Nagarjuna which is situated on the road margin. It has no shelter that protects it from the elements or even a fence. This is the statue that was inaugurated by His Holiness Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama, in January 2006 during the initiation of 30th Kalachakra in this town which is a major pilgrim centre for the Hindus also. Sanitation in the town is generally poor but there could be no excuse for poor maintenance of the area surrounding the reputed tourist spots which certainly deserve a better deal.
