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Today's Piprahwa 22 km from Siddharthnagar is identified with ancient Kapilvastu where Lord Buddha spent the early years of his life. Kapilvastu was the capital of the Shakya clan whose ruler was the father of Lord Buddha, and therefore Lord Buddha is also called as Shakyamuni. The Sakya domain was one of the sixteen independent principalities of the 6th century BC. Prince Gautam, as the Buddha was then known, left his palace in Kapilvastu at the age of 29, and revisited in 12 years later, after attaining enlightenment. Today, Kapilvastu Comprises of Several villages, mainly piprahwa and Ganvaria. A large Stupa stands at the ancient site which is said to have housed the bone relics of Lord Buddha. The presence of these relics is testified by an ancient Brahmi inscription found at Piprahwa. The ruins of the royal palace are spread over a large area.
Important Address
Air Gorakhpur Airport-109 Km. Sravasti airstrip-146 Km. Kasia aristrip-160 Km. Amausi Airport, Lucknow-310 Km. and Babatpur Airport, Varanasi-330 Km. Rail Nearest Railway Station is Naugarh 22 km. Road Some of the major road distances are : Berdpur-8 Km., Sonauli-48 Km., Lumbini (Nepal)-86 Km., Gorakhpur-104 Km., Sravasti-147 Km., Kushinagar-157 Km., Lucknow-308 Km., Varanasi-327 Km. Stupa Complex
Palace Site Excavations carried out by Dr. K.M. Srivastava indicated the ruins of the palace of King Shuddhodhan, the father of Prince Gautam (Lord Buddha). It is said to be the place where Lord Buddha spent the first 29 years of his life. |
Area: 06 sq. km. 
This is the main
archaeological site which was discovered during excavations in
1973-74. The seals and inscriptions over the lid of the pot discovered read
"Om Deoputra Vihare Kapilvastu Bhikschu Mahasanghasa" and "Om Deoputra
Vihare Kapilvastu Bhikschu Sanghasa". The title Deoputra refers to
Kanishka, a great patron of Buddhism who built the biggest Vihara at
Kapilvastu and renovated the main stupa here.