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BUDDHIST DESTINATION |
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BUDDHIST SITES |
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| KESARIA STUPA |
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Kesariya is located about 50 kms. south of Motihari, the district headquarter of East Champaran and nearly 110 kms. north of Patna, the state capital of Bihar. The major finding is a lofty stupa locally famous as �Derora� or "Raja Bana ka Garh� under the Tejpur village of Kesaria block headquarter (Champaran Distt.). The river Gandak is about 6 kms. away from the site. The mound is traditionally associated with a mythical king of the Puranas - the ancient Indian scriptures. The Chinese Buddhist pilgrim of 7th century AD, who visited the site, also refers the same traditional story of the site in his account.
The place is believed to be associated with Alara Kalam, a great philosopher of Lord Buddha's time. It has been identified as Kesapattanigam in the ancient Buddhist texts.
The excavation has brought to light the stupa structure in terraced circular Buddhist bricks laid in a very thin layer of mud mortar and capped by a large cylindrical drum of solid brick work. The circular base of the stupa, as per present projection, measures about 123 meter in diameter and rises up in six terraces.
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| Kesaria Attractions |
The stupa is believed to be of a height of 150 ft while the Borobodur is of 138. The striking similarity in the two is that both have six floors, and the diameter of the Kesaria stupa is equal to that of the width of the Borobodur. The stupa was built to commemorate the end-life of Lord Buddha, by Licchvis, as for the matter of fact Buddha held the Lichhvis high and also preached others to do so.
The place is a reminiscent to the Buddha's last phase of life, his humanitarian approach towards all, independent of caste and creed. His simple and ethical principles also come into mind while one travels this huge Stupa, nearly twice as large as that of Sanchi.
Excavated in 1998, this place has become a global tourist attraction within a short span of time. The place exerts a spiritual effect on everybody and relieves the aesthetics. According to some archaeologists, this monument dates back to 200 AD to 750 AD, and is associated to some Raja Chakravarti. The circumference of this brick monument is nearly 1400 ft which, is a certificate of its bulky structure.
The excavation led to many significant findings such as Islamic coins, arrow heads, copper and terracotta items etc.
The landscape is also quite attractive and has a heartwarming effect on the tourists travelling to the city |
| How to Reach |
Air - Patna airport at a distance of 150 Km is the nearest airport.
Rail - Kesaria station is a well-connected railway station in broad gauge network.
Road - The road network is well connected with Muzzaffarpur, Motihari etc.
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