Ramagrama Stupa

After the Buddha's cremation his relics were divided into eight portions and stupas raised over them. Two centuries later Ashoka is recorded as opening seven of the eight to redistribute the relics into thousands of new stupas across his empire, and being prevented from opening the eighth, at Ramagrama, by the nagas who guarded it. That account, whatever its historicity, means Ramagrama is held to be the one original relic stupa still intact and undisturbed, which gives it a standing among Buddhist sites out of all proportion to its appearance: an earth mound around seven metres high beside a river, unexcavated at its core, with a small monastery and pilgrim shelter beside. Archaeology around the base has confirmed early brick construction. It is on the tentative list for World Heritage.

History

Buddhist texts say that after the Buddha's death his ashes were divided among eight princes, each of whom built a stupa near his capital, and the Koliya stupa at Ramagrama is one of these. Nepal's Department of Archaeology dates the present stupa to between the Mauryan and Gupta periods (Wikipedia, Ramagrama stupa).

What to look for

• The unopened mound - an earth stupa around seven metres high.
• The river setting - the Jharahi running beside the site.
• Excavation at the base - the exposed early brickwork around the foot.
• Pilgrim shelters - the modest buildings for visiting groups.

When to go

November to February for the Terai climate; summer is severely hot and monsoon floods the surroundings. Buddhist pilgrimage groups visit through the cool season.

What to expect

Visually it is a grass-covered mound; the significance is entirely in what it is believed to contain, which is not visible. Interpretation is minimal. Facilities are basic. The road from Lumbini takes over an hour.

Nearby

Lumbini lies west; Chitwan is northeast.

Key facts