Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said he aspires to build a grand monument of Lord Buddha in Gujarat's Aravalli district where Buddhist relics were found during an excavation.


Addressing a gathering in Modasa city on the second day of his visit to the state, Modi, dressed in a traditional tribal attire, said the recent excavations in Aravalli have established that the Buddha was revered in the western belt of India as well.


"There was a general notion earlier that Lord Buddha was popular in the eastern belt of the country only. But, the excavation at Dev ni Mori near Shamlaji temple (in Aravalli) some time back has established that Lord Buddha's influence had reached the western belt too," he said.


"It is my dream to build a grand monument of Lord Buddha at Dev ni Mori, so that people from across the world can come here and visit this place. I'm confident of fulfilling my dream with your blessings," Modi said.


Image: The Buddha monument in Hong Kong.