High Commissioner of Sri Lanka to India, Mahishini Colonne, today visited the SriKrishna Museum in Kurukshetra and said that India is home to historical sites associated with Gautam Buddha, and the government has preserved these sites carefully.The High Commissioner said that the sites associated with Buddha will serve as beacons for future generations, guiding them towards mutual brotherhood and propagating the teachings of Buddha.Museum in-charge Balwan Singh informed that the high commissioner arrived here on the occasion of Buddha Purnima and also paid obeisance at the sacred Bodhi Tree situated within the premises of the museum.The tree was planted on the occasion of Buddha Purnima on May 16, 1992, by the then Governor of Haryana and Chairman of the Kurukshetra Development Board.On the occasion, Buddhist monks, including Ananda and his companions, conducted a prayer ceremony beneath a 34-year-old Peepal tree, in accordance with Buddhist traditions.CEO of Kurukshetra Development Board Pankaj Setia welcomed the Mahishini Colonne, and apprised about the Museum and its galleries.While viewing the exhibitions titled “Buddhist Heritage of Kurukshetra” and “Other Prominent Buddhist Sites in Haryana”—displayed within the museum’s archaeological gallery—she lauded the region’s rich Buddhist traditions and archaeological significance.A coffee table book dedicated to Kurukshetra was also presented to the High Commissioner by Setia.As per the museum officials, the High Commissioner gained insights into various historical sites, including the Assandh Stupa in Karnal, the Ancient Mound of Agroha, the Chaneti Stupa, the Buddhist Vihara, Adi Badri, and Topra Kalan.Setia explained that archaeological remains dating back to various historical periods have been unearthed at the Assandh Stupa site in Karnal. A brick-built structure discovered at this location has been identified as a Buddhist Stupa.He further noted that the Ancient Mound of Agroha represents an ancient urban settlement where excavations have yielded remains of residential structures alongside those of a Buddhist Stupa, thereby indicating the historical presence of Buddhist activities in the region. Similarly, the Chaneti Stupa in Yamunanagar—an ancient brick-built stupa situated near Jagadhri—possesses a rich history.The Buddhist Vihara at Adi Badri in Yamunanagar is another key archaeological site within the Saraswati region. Excavations here have uncovered monastic structures and terracotta artifacts, attesting to a historical Buddhist presence.Setia further stated that, within Vedic literature, Kurukshetra is described in ancient Vedic texts as a sacred region linked to the Saraswati River. In the context of ancient Indian tradition, it has been revered as a pivotal centre for religious rituals and cultural activities.