Sravasti Trip
Distance : 150km from
Lucknow
Historic Prespective
Situated in Gonda district, Sravasti was one of the six great cities
of India in the days of the Buddha. An important centre for trade and
commerce, it was the junction of two important trade routes.
It was the capital of the kingdom of Kosala, one of the two great
monarchies of the 6th century b.c. Maghadha was the another monarchy.
The Kosalan rulers extended the boundaries of the kingdom in all
directions at the expense of their neighbours. The Sakyas (the clan to
which the Buddha belonged) in the Nepalese foothills and the kingdom
of Kasi (Varanasi) were also absorbed into the Kosalan kingdom. The
most powerful Kosalan king was Prasenjit. However, the imperialist
tendencies of Kosala were checked by the rise of the powerful kingdom
of Magadha in South Bihar.
¤ Sravasti -- Once An Important Buddhist Town
It has the distinction of being a place where the Buddha preached
most of his sermons. Here he is said to have performed many miracles,
and levitated. During the monsoon, he used to stay at the Jetavana
monastery on the outskirts of this town. The monastery was donated to
him by Sudatta, the richest merchant at the time. Ashoka visited the
place in the 3rd century a.d. and issued an inscription to
commemorate the event.
The extensive ruins of this great city now cover the villages of
Saheth and Maheth. The architectural ruins of the stupas, or Buddhist
temples and the Jetavana monastery are found at Sahet. The earliest of
these dates back to the 3rd century b.c. Mahet is on the right bank of
the Achiravati River. The village contains the remains of two stupas,
some temples, the city gate and ramparts.
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