United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has decided to excavate the ancient Kapilvastu Palace located in Tilaurakot.
UNESCO informed that excavation would be carried out at major sites and the western part of the palace.
The excavation would be carried out under the scheme of Lumbini Development Trust and the Department of Archeology.
According to UNESCO, the excavation would also help promote tourism in Tilaurakot area.
Ravines Cunningham, UNESCO representative and professor of Durban University, United Kingdom, said Sunday that the excavation works would continue for five years.
Addressing a programme organized at the district headquarters in Taulihawa to announce the excavation works, Cunningham said that Kapilvastu was enriched with archeological sites.
“Carrying an excavation in such a holy place is a privilege,” said Cunningham.
He assured that the excavation of Tilaurakot would bring the Shakya palace into limelight.
“Until now Tilaurakot, where the palace of Suddhodhana was, is under shadow but the new excavation will make it as famous as Lumbini in the world,” he said.
Lumbini Development Trust said that the excavation work will be carried from July 2011 to May 2015.
The east and west gates of historic Shakya palace were found but the main palace of Sudhodhana, the Shakya king, was yet to be ascertained.
Investigation regarding the missing parts of the palace and the hidden secrets would be made public at its earliest, informed UNESCO.
Equipment and other archeological sites found during the excavation period will be preserved in a scientific way.
Archeologist Bhesh Narayan Dahal said that Kapivastu museum would also be expanded under the excavation project.