Lauriya Nandangarh, Bihar - Buddhist Stupa

Lauriya Nandangarh, Patna Overview

Lauriya Nandangarh is a small town situated 28 km northwest of Bettiah famous for its beautifully erected Ashokan Pillar. Lauriya gets its name from a pillar (Laur) of Mauryan emperor Ashoka, which is sited here. Nandangarh is the name of a bank, located about 2 km to the south-west of the Ashoka Pillar. Lauriya Nandangarh is also a site for about 20 archaeological banks organized in three rows. Forty pillars were built here by Emperor Ashoka originally but today only one pillar exists in complete form, at its initial position in Lauriya Nandangarh.

Lauriya Nandangarh is a historic town in the state of Bihar and is located at a distance of 22 km from the district of Bettiah. Lauriya Nandangarh boasts of housing the Ashokan pillar, which consists of the six Ashokan proclamations. The height of the pillar is more than twelve meters and even after so many years, the Mauryan polish used on the pillar maintains its radiance and sheen. The pillar has been inscribed with six Ashokan edicts, issued by the Emperor in the year 244 BC and the top of the pillar is adorned with a lion, in a crouching position. One of the main tourist attractions of Lauriya Nandangarh is a large stupa, which is believed to be one of the biggest stupas in India. The massive stupa is 24m in height and has a circumference of almost 457 m.

Best Time To Visit Lauriya Nandangarh

The ideal time to visit Lauriya Nandagarh is during the cool winter months from November to February. By this time, the summer heat is gone and the monsoon rain wraps the place in fresh greenery. The water bodies also swell with renewed spirit. This is the best time to plan a trip to this place. Though the summers are quite hot, the season is the best time to visit wildlife sanctuaries and parks

Sightseeing Around Lauriya Nandangarh

This village is popular for its huge stupa which is 26 meters high and is built of bricks. The stupa, people say, treasures the ashes of Lord Buddha. Another place worth seeing is the Ashok Pillar sited barely half a kilometre from the village and rises to a height of 32 feet. The pillar is a sandstone structure the top of which is shaped like a bell. It has a circular abacus, decorated with a row of Brahmi geese packing their food and it holds the statue of a lion. Carved in the pillar is the proclamation of Ashoka in clear and beautiful characters.

Shopping At Lauriya Nandangarh

There is a wide range of variety in terms of shopping. Government Emporia and private shops have local and handicraft products. The shops have a good collection of local handicrafts and handloom products along with the products from other parts of India. Paintings from Madhubani School of painting are popular among tourists who visit this place. Some other famous shopping items in Bihar are stone and bead-jewellery, hand-painted wall hangings, miniatures in paper and leaves, applique work on fabric, stone pottery, bamboo and cane work, wooden stools, leather goods, etc.

Local Experiences At Lauriya Nandangarh

This land of Buddhism and Jainism is rich in culture and tradition. People in Bihar celebrate a whole range of festivals and these festivals are connected with the lifestyle and culture of people of Bihar. People in Bihar celebrate Holi, Saraswati Puja, Durga Puja or Dussehra, Diwali and Bhaiya Dooj. _Ãƒâ€˜Ãƒâ€°Chhath_Ãƒâ€˜ÃƒÂ© is a festival specifically celebrated in Bihar.ÃƒÂ«_ Bihar is popular for its handicrafts like hand-painted wall hangings, wooden stools, miniatures in paper and leaves, stone pottery, bamboo, leather goods and appliquÃƒâ€¢Ã‚Â© work.

Sample Itinerary For Lauriya Nandangarh

Reach Bettiah and check into a hotel. Take a taxi or cab to Lauriya Nandagarh and see the stupa and the Ashokan Pillar. After this, have your lunch at some nearby restaurant. You can see Lauriya Areraj after this, which is located some 31 km north west of Motihari and is famous for a stone column that was established by Ashoka in 249 BC. The stone pillar looms to a height of 11.5 meters and was carved out of a single piece of polished sandstone. Inscribed on the pillar are six proclamations of emperor Ashoka. A visit to Kesariya will also be an enriching experience. Kesariya which is another great place to visit. It is known for being the place where Lord Buddha delivered his world famous Kalama Sutra. The major attraction here is a stupa that stands as a reminder to the incident when Lord Buddha advised a number of his followers to go back to their home and not follow Him to Kushner.ÃƒÂ«_

How to reach Lauriya Nandangarh

Air: Patna airport is the closest one to Lauriya . There are regular flights from here to cities like Mumbai, Kolkata, Delhi, Luck now and Ranchi. Patna is 225 km from Bettiah.
Rail: Nearest railhead to Lauriya Nandangarh is in Bettiah. It is connected to destinations like Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai and Jammu.Ã«_
Road: Bettiah is accessible by road from Patna by luxurious buses and taxis. From Bettiah, Lauriya is easily reachable by taxis.