Ramgram Stupa

When the Buddha died at Kushinagar, his cremated remains were divided among eight clans and kingdoms, each of which built a stupa over its share. One share went to the Koliyas of Ramagrama.

Ashoka and the nagas

About two centuries later Emperor Ashoka opened the original stupas to redistribute the relics into thousands of new ones across his empire. According to Buddhist tradition, when he came to Ramagrama the stupa was guarded by nagas (serpent deities) who worshipped it, and he left it undisturbed. The Chinese pilgrims Faxian and Xuanzang both recorded the story.

What you see

Today Ramgram is a large, grass-covered mound of brick beside the Jharahi river, crowned with prayer flags and surrounded by a simple garden. It does not look spectacular — its power lies in its story and in the thought that relics of the Buddha may still lie within.

Visiting

Ramgram is quiet and rarely crowded. Combine it with Lumbini, Devdaha and the Tribeni area for a day on the eastern side of the Buddhist circuit.