Giriyak Stupa, Buddhist stupa in Nalanda district, India.
Giriyak Stupa is a brick structure built in the form of a Buddhist shrine in Nalanda district and rises approximately 9 meters high with a diameter of about 8.5 meters. The monument rests on a foundation about 4.4 meters deep near the Panchane River and displays the characteristic architecture of ancient Buddhist religious buildings.
The stupa was built between 400 and 500 CE during the Gupta period, an era of cultural flourishing in ancient India. It gained scholarly recognition through excavations by Alexander Cunningham in the 1800s, which documented its role as a religious structure.
The structure reflects Theravada Buddhist traditions and displays decorative brick patterns that showcase the craftsmanship of ancient Indian builders. These ornamental details reveal the religious practices that took root at this location over time.
The site sits about 15 kilometers east of Rajgir and can be reached via National Highway 20. Visitors should be prepared for uneven ground and wear sturdy footwear, as the stupa sits in an area that continues to be studied by archaeologists.
Clearance work revealed an ancient stone pathway about 6 meters wide, hinting at the site's importance as a pilgrimage destination. Around the stupa's base, brick pillars also emerged that once formed an enclosure around the shrine.
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