Shravasti

Shravasti (Śrāvastī / Sāvatthi), now a town in Uttar Pradesh, was once the capital of the ancient kingdom of Kosala, a powerful mahajanapada in the 6th–5th centuries BCE. Strategically located near the Rapti River at the junction of major trade routes, it became a prosperous urban centre tied to both commerce and religion.

For Buddhism, Shravasti is one of the most sacred sites. The wealthy merchant Anathapindika purchased the Jetavana grove from Prince Jeta and built the Jetavana Monastery, where the Buddha is said to have spent 24–25 rainy seasons, delivered many important suttas and performed the famous “Shravasti miracles.” Shravasti is also revered in Jainism as the birthplace and major centre of worship for Tirthankaras like Sambhavanatha, and is mentioned in several Jain scriptures.

Archaeology shows continuous religious and urban activity from the Buddha’s time through at least the 12th century CE, with stupas, monasteries and temples of Buddhist, Hindu and Jain traditions. The city declined and was largely destroyed around the 13th century, likely during early Delhi Sultanate expansion, and was later lost under mounds.

Rediscovered and excavated from the late 19th century onward, Shravasti today is a quiet district town surrounded by important ruins like Jetavana, continuing its legacy as a multi-faith pilgrimage centre.