Shravasti

Shravasti was one of the great cities of the Buddha's time, and the merchant Anathapindika bought a grove here from Prince Jeta, reputedly by covering the ground with gold coins, and gave it to the sangha; the Buddha then spent more rainy season retreats at Jetavana than at any other place, and a large share of the surviving discourses are set here. What remains are excavated brick foundations of monasteries, stupas and the Gandhakuti where he stayed, spread through a quiet wooded park, with the Anandabodhi tree grown from a cutting of the Bodh Gaya tree still standing and hung with prayer flags.

History

Shravasti was the capital of the ancient kingdom of Kosala and the home of King Prasenajit, a royal patron of the Buddha, and of Anathapindada, the richest early donor, who gave the Buddha his Jetavana grove. Buddhist texts say the Buddha spent twenty-five rainy seasons here, by one count 871 suttas of the four Nikayas are set in Shravasti, and it is where he is believed to have performed the "great miracle" and the "twin miracle" (Wikipedia, Shravasti).

What you'll find

• The Jetavana foundations - excavated monastery and stupa bases in parkland.
• The Gandhakuti - the platform of the hut where the Buddha stayed.
• The Anandabodhi tree - a descendant of the Bodh Gaya tree, hung with flags.
• The city mounds - the ramparts and gates of ancient Shravasti nearby.

When to go

October to March; the plains are extremely hot from April and wet in the monsoon. The site is peaceful and rarely crowded except during organised pilgrimage tours.

Things to know

The ruins are foundations, needing imagination and interpretation. Accommodation nearby is limited, mostly monastery guesthouses. Public transport is slow and the site is well off standard routes.

Nearby

Balrampur lies south; Lucknow is southwest.

Key facts