Kausambi Travel Guide
Distance : 63km from
Allahabad
¤ Historic Prespective
Kausambi was first discovered by Alexander Cunningham, the father of
Indian archaeology. The extensive ruins of this ancient city are
contained today in the two villages of Kosam-Inam and Kosam-Khiraj.
Objects excavated from the place indicate that by the end of the 2nd
millennium b.c., the inhabitants of the city lived comfortable lives
and were acquainted with the use of metal.
Kausambi shot to prominence when it was made the capital of the
descendants of the Pandavas of the Mahabharata fame. Parakshit, who
was this lineage transferred his capital to this city from Hastinapur
when the latter was flooded.
¤ Kausambi At A Glance
Kausambi was one of the six cities that early Buddhist texts referred
to as ‘flourishing’ in the 6th century b.c.
Situated on the banks of the river Jamuna, it was the capital of the
Vatsa kingdom, one of the 16 great Janapadas(great nations) to occupy
the territory from the Kabul valley to the Godavari, on the eve of the
rise of Buddhism. Udayana was the most important king of this dynasty.
Later the kingdom was incorporated in Magadha.
¤ Buddhist Pilgrimage Site
Huien Tsang, the famous Chinese traveller to visit India in the 7th
century b.c., refers to Kausambi in his accounts. According to him,
the Buddha visited this place many times and preached his sermons
here.
All the Buddhist structures are now in ruins. The main stupa that
dates back to the 5th century b.c. has now gone to seed. Once an
imposing structure, it was 25m in diametre and 25m tall. Around the
main stupa were the lesser stupas. Besides these, there are some
remnants of monasteries and shrine-rooms.
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