Piprahwa

Piprahwa is an archaeological site in Siddharthnagar district, India, with remains of Buddhist buildings. The grounds show a large round brick mound, foundations of old rooms, and an exhibition hall with vessels and ornaments from around 500 BCE.

A British engineer opened an earthen mound near Birdpur in 1897 and found vessels with bone fragments and an old inscription. The findings were later handed over to Buddhist communities and sparked discussions about the origin of the remains.

The name comes from nearby villages where monks established their monasteries centuries ago. Pilgrims today still walk around the remains of the old monument, bringing flowers or incense sticks while speaking quiet prayers.

The site lies about two miles (three kilometers) from the road to Birdpur and can be visited during daylight hours. Guided tours explain the history of the excavations and point out the main findings and displays in the small museum building.

The original vessels were distributed to Thai temples and other Buddhist groups after they were opened. Some of the pieces are now in collections far from the excavation site, while replicas are shown in the local museum.