Kapilavastu is the capital of the ancient shakya kingdom in the (6 – 5) th century BC. Kapilavastu is the city where Siddhartha Goutam Buddha was grown up and spend his first 29 years before the Mahaniskraman (Leaving home for enlightment ). There is contradiction among the historians about the exact location of the ancient kapilavastu . Some historian pointing to the Tilaurkot of Nepal as the ancient kapilavastu and some to the piprahwa in India , But the majority of the Historian pointing to the Tilaurakot Nepal as ancient Kapilavastu’s exact location . Inside this city , three special palaces with different weather comfort with lots of luxury were build for siddhartha to deceive him from the real world . His father Suddhodhan want to hide any kind of human suffering , pain , sorrow from goutam , All Four sides of this city , there is four gates and the city was protected by a fortification wall . Among the gates west and east gate(from this gate Buddha leave his home for enlightenment) are most important . There is road from the north – south gate and west to east gates . Inside the city there is brick made home .
How to reach to Tilaurakot Kapilavastu ?
Most of the Historian believed that mordern day Tilaurakot is the Ancient Kapilavastu where Goutam Buddha was born and grown up . It is situated just near the India Nepal international border . From Indian side there is a border in Khunwa , from here Kapilavastu is just 15 km . Otherwise the major international border is in Sonauli , from here kapilavastu is 53 km . If you are coming from sonauli border then you will get buses toward taulihawa chowk from Bhairava bus stand or from Lumbini . After getting down there you need to book a auto or battery car to reach to the ancient site of Kapilavastu . In Nepal you will get buses toward Lumbini from any city . From lumbini you can follow the same path .
I started my kapilavastu journey from the Lumbini city . I stayed there for almost 4 days . From this city I covered the nearby places like Kapilavastu and Ramgram stupa . From here the road distance toward kapilavastu is only 30 km but all total it takes more than 2 hour . I stayed around the Gate no 5 of Mayadevi Temple . From here first I reached to the Buddhist University which is almost 2 km . Then by bus I reached a place called Tauliwa chowk . From here I take a Auto to reach to the Actual ancient city .
Nearest Airport to kapilavastu is the Goutam Buddha International Airport , Lumbini which is 42 km from the ancient city . In India Gorakhpur is the nearest airport for Kapilavastu which is 125 km from here .
Story :
This ancient city has been discovered by the Historians mainly by the description of the Medival Chines traveller Faxian and Xuanzang of 5th and 7 th century . This city has been as old as 2800 years . This city have been the capital of Shakya Dynasty . On this clan Goutam buddha was born . Later in 1899 PC Mukherjee first discovered this city . Later excavation was done by renowned archeologist D Mitra , TN Mishra and BK Raijal . Now days Durham University (UK) and Lumbini Development trust in a joint effort made excavation here . Those items found in the excavation are kept in the nearby Museum and in the other Museum of Nepal .
Major structure inside and nearby to this site are
- Eastern and Western Gate
- Central structural Complex
- Central Pond
- Samai Mai Temple
- Fortification Wall
- Northern Twin Stupa
- Eastern Stupa and Monastery
- Southern Gate of Industrial Mount
Among all the sites most Important is the Eastern Gate . From this gate Goutam Buddha in midnight , left this city and his family for enlightenment with the horse Kanthak and chariotee channa . It is believed that his Horse Kathaka and Goutam Buddha was born on the same day and only goutam buddha ride on this horse . After Buddha left this palace , Kathaka become very sorrow and left his life here .Western Gate is the Gate from which merchants , farmers and inhabitants enter the city .
Central structure is the area where archeologist found rectangular brick structure and also the palace of Goutam Buddha . It is belived that there is three palace for three different season . One for summer , one for monsoon and another for the winter . His father Suddodhan raised Goutam such a way that he never experience pain in his life , because in the time of his birth a Astrologer said either he become a great emperor or become a spiritual leader who show people the way of life . so he want goutam to be in the dillution of the material comfort . In the palace there was beautiful ladies to give him very pleasant moment . This was such a deceptive area that he does not experience the reality in life . This central Structure you see are the replica of the old structure and benith it is the old brick structure .
Samai mai temple is a ancient and Unique temple inside the complex of the Kapilavastu . Beside the central structure there was a Ancient pond of 30*30 meter .All around the city there was a fortification structure and around the fort there was a deep moat in which they put crocodile to protect the city . First , it was build by the timber palisade fence then comes the clay rampart and at last comes the Brick structure . North of this complex , there was a twin stupa which was belived to be of buddha’s parents Suddhodhan and Mayadevi . In the eastern side of the complex there was a monastery where 497 old silver coins were found . Near to the southern gate there was a iron factory where different iron made products were made.
Near to this place in NIGLIHAWA a ashoka piller was found which indicates it might be the location of the Original Kapilavastu . SAGRAHAWA was an another place with lots of stupa under the lake . it is believed that it was build to remember the massacre of Buddha’s family by the Kosala dynasty . KUDAN was the place where goutam buddha met his father after longtime and his son rahul become monk . GOTIHAWA was another place where also Ashoka’s piller was found which also bolster the evidence .
Kapilavastu Museum :
Near to this place there was a museum which have the largest collection of the Archeological remains of Kapilavastu . Here you can found the jewellery , pottery , coins and Bricks of Ancient Kapilavastu . There is a new building which depicts also the culture of the local people . Different household items and handicraft items also stored .
Summery :
Beside the ancient city there is lots of other places which are of importance with the Goutam Buddha’s life . Inside this whole complex Samai temple , Kanthak Horse’s adobe and the Goutam buddha’s palace remains are my favourite . I heard the stories of this place from a local boy . This ancient place is very poorly developed . Please come to this place . This place is totally untouched . Local economy will be supported by the tourist . Lots of shops were closed just for less tourist in the pandemic time . In my mind it is more important that Lumbini . Here Buddha spent his earlier 29 years . Lots of stories connected with this place .
