The construction of a two-storey Russian Buddhist Temple has begun in Lumbini.

The construction of the infrastructure, styled to represent the 108-year-old St George’s Monastery in St Petersburg, Russia, is expected to be completed by 2025.

The project was jointly initiated by the Russian Embassy in Nepal, Russian Nepal Maitri Sangh, Russian Buddhist Temple Construction Foundation and Russian Buddhist pilgrims at an investment of Rs300 million, said Pravin Gauchan, representative of the foundation for Russian Monastery of Nepal.

Russian Ambassador to Nepal Aleksei Novikov laid the foundation for the monastery amidst Buddhist lessons from Russian monks who brought with them a piece of stone from the St Petersburg-based monastery.

The project has also been facilitated by Nepali expatriates, said Sanuraja Shakya, member secretary of Lumbini Development Fund.

So far, 27 countries have built temples and monasteries to represent their countries in Lumbini. According to the Lumbini Development Fund, agreements have been signed with 40 countries and organisations for the construction of structures.