Kesaria

Kesariya is a small city in Bihar, India. It is the site of (possibly) the biggest stupa of India, built by King Ashoka. Kesariya used to be called Kesaputta during the time of the Buddha. It was a township of the Kosalans and the residence of the Kalamas. The Buddha once stayed there, on which occasion he preached the Kesaputtiya Suttas (a group of sutras preached to the Kalamas of Kesaputta - A.i.188), amongst which is the famous Kalama Sutta.

Kesaria Stupa

Kesaria is located in the district of East Champaran 40 km from its headquarters Motihari, 10 KM from Rampur Khajuria (NH28). It is reported to have the tallest and the largest Buddhist Stupa in the world, following its discovery in 1998 through excavation by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). Rising to a height of 104 feet, and much reduced than its reported original height, it is still one foot taller than the famous Borobodur Stupa in Java. The Stupa is located near the town of Kasaria, 120 km from Patna, capital of Bihar. According to the National Informatics Centre of East Champaran (Motihari) publication, the Kesaria Stupa was 123 feet tall before the 1934 earthquake in Bihar. Originally the Kesaria Stupa was reported to have been 150 feet tall, 12 feet taller than the Borobodur stupa, which is 138 feet, according to the A.S.I. report. At present Kesaria Stupa is 104 feet and Borobodur Stupa is 103 feet. The height of ‘Sanchi Stupa ‘ a world heritage site is only 77.50 feet. Legend states that Buddha, on his last Journey, is reported to have spent a memorable night at Kesaria. his tsix-floors structure, Kesaria Stupa stands as a reminder to the last days of Lord Buddha.^[1] It is the largest and tallest Stupa, while second largest discovered at Ghorakatora in Nalanda district.^[2] According to some archaeologists, this monument dates back to 200 AD to 750 AD, and is associated to some Raja Chakravarti.^[3]

Transportation and hotels

Bihar State Tourism Development Corporation (Bihar Tourism) provides travel facility from state capital Patna to visit Bodh circuit (Bodhgaya, Rajgir, Nalanda, Vaishali, Kesaria, Lumbini, Kushinagar, Sarnath), Jain Circuit (Rajgir, Pawapuri) and Sikh Circuit in Bihar. Also, Corporation owns hotels and circuit house at respective tourist places. These hotels are available for tourist at a very reasonable price.

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References