Kaushambi (Kosambi) Ruins
कौशाम्बी
The ruins of the capital of Vatsa, one of the sixteen great kingdoms of the Buddha's era, featuring an Ashokan pillar and remains of the Ghositarama monastery where the Buddha once stayed.
Kaushambi lies on the banks of the Yamuna about 50 km west of Prayagraj. In the 6th century BCE it was the capital of the Vatsa kingdom. The Buddha visited several times to preach, and the wealthy merchant Ghosita built the Ghositarama monastery for him. Xuanzang's Great Tang Records on the Western Regions also mentions the site under the name Kausambi. The surviving remains include earthen ramparts, a fragment of an uninscribed Ashokan pillar, and monastery foundations, and many artifacts excavated here are housed in the Allahabad Museum. The site is spacious but has few signs, making it suitable for visitors interested in Buddhist history and archaeology. Hiring a car is recommended; the trip takes about 1.5 hours one way.
Opening hours
Daytime
Nearby sights
- Shringverpur
- Khusro Bagh
- All Saints Cathedral
- Allahabad Museum
- Chandrashekhar Azad Park (Alfred Park)
- New Yamuna Bridge
- Anand Bhavan
- Jawahar Planetarium