| Places of Interest |
| Introduction | Places of Interest | How to Reach |
| Kesariya-Stup |
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About 74 kms west from Muzaffarpur, 48 kms northwest from Basarh or modern Vaishali and 22 kms southwest from Chakia, Kesariya in the East Champaran District has the proud privilege of housing the tallest ever-excavated Buddhist stupa. Rising to a height of 104 feet, ruined and much reduced than its original height, this stupa, even in its crumbled stage, is 1 feet higher than that of the famous Borobodur stupa in Java, a World Heritage Monument. The stupa commemorates the place where Lord Buddha had stayed and handed over his begging bowl to the people of Vaishali during his last journey to Kushinagar where he breathed his last. Buddha who could see through the future image of history had predicted about his impending death within three months at Chapal Chaitya and then Kutagarshala both in Vaishali. The people of Vaishali who were emotionally attached with Buddha could not bear the news of the impending death of Buddha. Throwing dust on their head and wailing as if some calamity had over taken then the people of Vaishali followed Buddha when he left Vaishali. Looking back at the city that was the scene of many momentous events of his life Buddha said, This is for the last time I am beholding the city of Vaishali ". In the surcharged atmosphere without caring for the instructions of the master whose every word they meticulously followed till then Vaishalians followed Buddha. But at Kesariya Buddha firmly but politely requested them to turn back and as an expression of his determination handed over his begging bowl to them. In order to mark this emotional moment in the life of Buddha a small mud stupa was built here. In course of time during the Maurya, Sunga and Kushana period it became a brick stupa with several additions and enlargements. |
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