The donation of worth $10,000 was made by the  Korea Lotus association for world enlightenment as a token support to lay the foundation for building a Buddhist temple and guesthouse for Bhutanese pilgrims at Rajgiri district in Bihar, India.

It is believed the Buddha gave one of his teachings there.

The 32-member delegation of lay Buddhists, including the chairman and advisor to the association, also handed over to the home minister Minjur Dorji a relic of Shakyamuni Buddha and the Buddhasutra in Korean and English by more than 300 of Korea’s best calligraphers.

The chief minister of Bihar, Nitesh Kumar, following the talk with the Lyonchhoen Jigmi Y Thinley last year, gave Bhutan a two-acre plot of land in Rajgiri.

“The land would be officially taken over by the government this November; construction will start by early 2012,” Lyonpo Minjur Dorji said.

About 20,000 to 30,000 Bhutanese pilgrims visit holy places and the hot springs in Bihar.

The home minister said the temple would house a statue of Buddha Shakyamuni in the centre with two eminent disciples on either side. The wall painting of the temple will be of 12 noble deeds of Buddha.

He said the association’s visit would strengthen the relationship between these two Buddhist countries and help propagate Buddhism worldwide.

The guesthouse is expected to cater to 300 plus Bhutanese pilgrims visiting the sites everyday.

The delegation from Korea will visit places of religious and historical interest and leave the country on September 25.