Sravasti (also spelled Shravasti) is an ancient city and one of India’s most important Buddhist pilgrimage sites, set on the West Rapti river in Shravasti district, Uttar Pradesh. It was the capital of the Kosala kingdom, and Buddhist tradition holds that the Buddha spent more rainy-season retreats here than anywhere else. This guide covers the Saheth and Maheth ruins, the Anandabodhi tree, the international monasteries and the practical details of a visit.
Sravasti is the excavated twin-mound site of Saheth-Maheth in Shravasti district, Uttar Pradesh, about 170 km from Lucknow. Saheth holds the Jetavana monastery where the Buddha taught; Maheth is the walled old city. It is an Archaeological Survey of India protected site and a stop on the Buddhist Circuit.
Key takeaways
- Sravasti sits in Shravasti district, Uttar Pradesh, on the West Rapti river; the old city headquarters is at Bhinga, and the ruins lie about 15 km from Bahraich (UP Tourism).
- The site has two mounds: Saheth (the Jetavana monastery, with the Gandhakuti and the Anandabodhi tree) and Maheth (the old city walls, with Pakki Kuti and Kacchi Kuti), identified by Alexander Cunningham in 1862–63.
- Buddhist tradition holds the Buddha spent more rainy-season retreats (vassa) at Sravasti than at any other place, and is said to have performed the “Twin Miracle” here.
- Best season is October to March; the Rapti is seasonal and the plains are very hot April–June. Buddha Purnima (Vesak) is the main festival.
- Nearest railhead is Balrampur (about 17 km); Gonda (about 50 km) has wider connections; the nearest airport is Lucknow, about 170 km away (Shravasti district administration).
- Monasteries built by Thailand, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, South Korea, Tibet and China, plus a Japanese World Peace Bell, cluster around the Jetavana ruins.
About Sravasti and its Buddhist significance
Sravasti was the capital of the ancient Kosala kingdom and one of the largest cities of the Buddha’s lifetime. The Uttar Pradesh Tourism site identifies the ruins with Saheth-Maheth on the banks of the Rapti river, and the surrounding area today forms Shravasti district, with its administrative headquarters at Bhinga.
The city’s importance to Buddhism is hard to overstate. According to Buddhist tradition, the Buddha spent more of his rainy-season retreats (vassa, the monsoon period when monks stay in one place) at Sravasti than anywhere else. Sources vary on the exact count: the retreats are commonly numbered at around 24 to 25, while UP Tourism states he “reportedly lived in the town for 27 years” and used it as his annual retreat.
Sravasti is also remembered as the setting of the “Twin Miracle” (Yamaka-patihariya). According to the Buddhist texts, the Buddha is said to have produced fire and water from his body, multiplied his own image, and caused rain to fall only where it was wished. The account, told in the Dhammapada commentary and the Pratiharya Sutra, is recorded here as religious belief rather than documented history. Pilgrims treat the site with the same reverence given to Bodh Gaya, Sarnath and Kushinagar on India’s Buddhist Circuit.
| Location | Shravasti district, Uttar Pradesh; on the West Rapti (Achiravati) river |
| Also known as | Shravasti, Savatthi (Pali); archaeological site called Saheth-Maheth |
| Coordinates | About 27°31′N, 82°03′E (Wikipedia) |
| Significance | Capital of Kosala; principal Buddhist pilgrimage site; Jain tirtha |
| Protected by | Archaeological Survey of India (Saheth and Maheth) |
| Nearest town | About 15 km from Bahraich; 17 km from Balrampur |
Best time to visit Sravasti
The best time to visit Sravasti is October to March, when the plains of eastern Uttar Pradesh are cool and dry and walking the open ruins is comfortable. The West Rapti river is seasonal and typically shrinks in summer, and April to June is very hot, so plan the trip for the winter half of the year.
Buddha Purnima (Vesak), which marks the birth, enlightenment and passing of the Buddha, usually falls in April or May and draws pilgrims and monks to Jetavana; expect chanting and larger crowds then. The monsoon (July–September) brings humidity and the odd flooded patch but also green fields and quieter grounds.
| Season | Months | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Winter | Oct–Mar | Best period. Cool days, cold mornings; ideal for the ruins and meditation |
| Summer | Apr–Jun | Hot and dry, 40°C and above; Buddha Purnima falls here; carry water and sun cover |
| Monsoon | Jul–Sep | Humid, intermittent rain; green surroundings, fewer visitors |
How to reach Sravasti
Sravasti is reached most easily from Lucknow, about 170 km away by road, or from the nearby railheads at Balrampur and Gonda. According to the Shravasti district administration, there is no commercial airport at Sravasti itself, so most travellers fly into Lucknow and continue by road or rail.
By air: The nearest airport is Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport, Lucknow, about 170 km away, with flights across India. A small Shravasti airstrip exists but has not had scheduled commercial service; treat Lucknow as the practical gateway. From Lucknow you can pre-book a taxi or take a train to Gonda or Balrampur.
By rail: The nearest railhead is Balrampur, about 17 km from the ruins. The district administration notes that Gonda junction, about 50 km away, offers better connectivity, with trains to New Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Agra, Lucknow, Bengaluru and Ahmedabad.
By road: Lucknow is about 170 km, via Barabanki, Bahraich and Shravasti, or via Barabanki, Jarwal and Gonda. The nearest major bus terminus is at Gonda, from where UP State Road Transport Corporation (UPSRTC) and private buses run to Lucknow, Bareilly, Kanpur, Prayagraj, Agra and Mathura. Roads improved under the Buddhist Circuit scheme.
| From | Distance | Mode |
|---|---|---|
| Balrampur | About 17 km | Nearest railhead; taxi/auto |
| Bahraich | About 15 km | Road |
| Gonda | About 50 km | Rail junction and bus terminus |
| Lucknow | About 170 km | Nearest airport; road/rail |
If you are routing the trip through the state capital, our Lucknow travel guide covers arrival, where to stay and onward transport, and the wider Uttar Pradesh travel guide places Sravasti within the state’s Buddhist and heritage circuits.
Saheth: the Jetavana monastery
Saheth is the mound that holds the Jetavana (Jetavanarama) monastery, the heart of a Sravasti pilgrimage. Alexander Cunningham identified Saheth as Jetavana and Maheth as the old city in 1862–63. The grove, Buddhist texts say, once belonged to Prince Jeta, son of King Prasenjit of Kosala, and the merchant Anathapindika is said to have bought it by covering the ground with gold coins before gifting it to the Buddha’s community.
Within the fenced Saheth enclosure you walk among brick stupas and monastery foundations from several centuries. Two shrines stand out. The Gandhakuti (Mulagandhakuti, the “perfumed chamber”) is a shrine built over the remains of the hut the Buddha used during his retreats, and the nearby Kosambakuti is a second such chamber associated with him; both are focal points for offerings and chanting.
The Anandabodhi tree is the living centre of Saheth. Tradition holds it was grown from a seed of the original Maha Bodhi tree at Bodh Gaya: the elder Moggallana is said to have caught a falling fruit, Anathapindika raised the seedling, and the monk Ananda planted it at Jetavana, which gave the tree its name. Pilgrims meditate and chant beneath it. Whether the present tree is the original or a descendant cannot be confirmed, so treat the lineage as devotional belief.
Maheth: the old city, Angulimala and Anathapindika stupas
Maheth is the walled old city of Sravasti, enclosed by a crescent-shaped mud rampart whose circuit runs several kilometres. Lying a short distance north-east of Saheth, Maheth marks the inhabited city as against Saheth’s monastic grove. The ramparts, gateways and mounds here are also protected by the Archaeological Survey of India.
Two large mounds at Maheth are the best-known monuments. Pakki Kuti is among the largest mounds in the Maheth area and, according to UP Tourism, has been identified as the remains of a stupa; local tradition links it with Angulimala, the highwayman who, the texts say, renounced violence and became a monk under the Buddha. Kacchi Kuti is another significant excavated structure within Maheth, traditionally associated with the merchant Anathapindika. The names Angulimala’s stupa and Anathapindika’s stupa are commonly used for these monuments on the Buddhist Circuit.
Walking between Saheth and Maheth gives you the full sense of the ancient city: the monastery where the Buddha taught on one side, the old urban mounds and fortification on the other, with farmland and modern temples in between.
International monasteries and temples
Modern monasteries built by several Buddhist nations ring the Jetavana ruins, giving Sravasti an international pilgrim character. Buddhist communities from Thailand, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, South Korea, Tibet and China have built temples and rest houses here, and Japan contributed a World Peace Bell near the site.
These working monasteries welcome respectful visitors. The Sri Lankan temple is noted for murals depicting events in the Buddha’s life; the Burmese temple’s weathered pagoda stands just outside the Jeta Grove fence; and the Thai, Korean, Tibetan and Chinese establishments offer prayer halls, gardens and, for some, pilgrim accommodation. A Vipassana meditation centre also operates in the area. Dress modestly and keep quiet inside prayer halls, especially during chanting.
The Jain tirtha link
Sravasti is also an important Jain tirtha, revered as the birthplace of Sambhavanatha, the third of the 24 Tirthankaras. The ruined Shobhnath temple (also spelt Sobhnath), which lies between the old city and the Jetavana grove, is associated with him and is a pilgrimage point for Jains. The co-existence of Buddhist and Jain sacred ground at one archaeological complex reflects how layered Sravasti’s history is, spanning the great heterodox movements of ancient north India. Treat both the Buddhist shrines and the Jain tirtha with equal respect.
Things to see, with timings and fees
The core sights cluster within a few kilometres, so most can be seen on foot or by short auto hops in a day. The table below groups the main spots; treat fees and timings as indicative and reconfirm at the site.
| Spot | What it is | Timings / fee | Time needed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saheth (Jetavana) | Monastery ruins, Gandhakuti, Kosambakuti, Anandabodhi tree | ASI site; typically sunrise–sunset; confirm current ticket | 1.5–2 hours |
| Maheth | Old city walls, Pakki Kuti, Kacchi Kuti | ASI site; open grounds; confirm ticket | 1–1.5 hours |
| International monasteries | Thai, Sri Lankan, Burmese, Korean, Tibetan, Chinese temples | Usually free; donations welcome; respect prayer hours | 1–2 hours |
| Shobhnath Jain temple | Jain tirtha linked to Sambhavanatha | Open access; confirm locally | 30–45 minutes |
| Suhaildev Wildlife Sanctuary | Forest near the Indo-Nepal border (Balrampur–Shravasti) | Check forest department timings/permits | Half day |
Suggested itinerary
A focused day covers the essentials; a second day adds calm and nearby detours. A sample plan:
- Day 1 morning: Start at Saheth (Jetavana) early. Spend time at the Gandhakuti and the Anandabodhi tree, then walk the monastery mounds.
- Day 1 afternoon: Cross to Maheth for the old city walls, Pakki Kuti and Kacchi Kuti, then visit the Shobhnath Jain temple on the way.
- Day 1 evening: Tour two or three international monasteries and see the World Peace Bell; attend evening chanting if timings allow.
- Day 2: A quiet second visit to Jetavana for meditation, a short trip to Suhaildev Wildlife Sanctuary, or onward travel toward Balrampur, Gonda or the Nepal border for Lumbini.
Where to stay
Accommodation at Sravasti is simple and pilgrimage-focused, with most beds in monastery guesthouses and budget hotels rather than resorts. Book ahead around Buddha Purnima and the winter pilgrim season.
- Budget (₹600–₹1,500 a night, indicative): Monastery rest houses (dharamshalas) run by the Thai, Sri Lankan and other temples, plus small guesthouses near the Jetavana gate. Clean and quiet; facilities are basic.
- Mid-range (₹1,500–₹3,500, indicative): A handful of hotels and the UP Tourism-linked options in Sravasti and in nearby Balrampur offer private rooms with hot water.
- More comfort: For a wider choice of hotels, base yourself in Balrampur or Gonda, or treat Sravasti as a day trip from Lucknow.
Rates are planning estimates for late 2026 and should be reconfirmed at the time of booking; they rise during festivals.
Entry, timings and rules
Saheth and Maheth are Archaeological Survey of India protected sites, and the Jetavana archaeological area is the ticketed core of a visit. ASI monuments generally open from sunrise to sunset; where a ticket applies, Indian and foreign visitors pay different rates. Because ASI revises fees and timings periodically, confirm the current charge at the ticket counter or on the ASI website before you go (as of October 2026).
No special permit is needed to visit Sravasti itself. The monasteries are active places of worship: remove footwear where asked, dress modestly (cover shoulders and knees), keep your voice low, and ask before photographing people, monks or the interiors of prayer halls. Walk clockwise around stupas as pilgrims do, and do not touch or take leaves or bark from the Anandabodhi tree.
Practical tips and budget
Sravasti is a low-key rural pilgrimage town, so plan for simplicity. Mobile coverage is generally adequate; carry some cash as ATMs and card facilities are limited near the ruins, though UPI works at many shops. The nearest full hospitals are in Balrampur and Bahraich, so carry any regular medicines. Summers are harsh, so bring a hat, sunscreen and water; winter mornings can be cold, so pack a warm layer.
Food is mostly simple vegetarian North Indian fare: thali (a plate of dal, vegetable, roti and rice), chaat (savoury snacks), samosa, kachori (fried spiced pastry) and sweets such as peda. Monastery canteens sometimes serve Thai, Sri Lankan or Tibetan dishes to pilgrims. The town is a sacred site, so alcohol and non-vegetarian food are best avoided near the monasteries.
| Item | Budget (₹) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Stay (2 nights) | 1,200–7,000 | Dharamshala to mid-range hotel |
| Food (2 days) | 600–1,500 | Simple vegetarian meals, tea, snacks |
| Local transport | 600–1,500 | Autos/taxi between Saheth, Maheth, monasteries |
| Entry/donations | 200–600 | ASI ticket (reconfirm) plus temple donations |
| Total (excl. travel to Sravasti) | 2,600–10,600 | Per person; add train/flight to Lucknow or Gonda |
Nearby places
Sravasti pairs naturally with the wider Buddhist Circuit and eastern Uttar Pradesh. The table lists the main onward stops.
| Place | Distance (approx.) | Why go |
|---|---|---|
| Balrampur | 17 km | Nearest town; hotels, railhead, base for the ruins |
| Gonda | 50 km | Rail junction and bus hub; onward connections |
| Lucknow | 170 km | Nearest airport; see our Lucknow travel guide |
| Kapilvastu (Piprahwa) | About 110 km | Buddhist Circuit; associated with the Buddha’s early life |
| Lumbini (Nepal) | About 120 km via the border | Buddha’s birthplace; requires crossing into Nepal |
For planning a longer loop across the state, the Uttar Pradesh travel guide outlines how Sravasti connects with Sarnath, Kushinagar and the rest of the Buddhist trail.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Sravasti and which district is it in?
Sravasti is in Shravasti district, Uttar Pradesh, in north-eastern India, on the West Rapti river. The ancient city survives as the Saheth-Maheth archaeological site, about 170 km from Lucknow, 17 km from Balrampur and roughly 15 km from Bahraich. The district headquarters is at Bhinga.
Why is Sravasti important in Buddhism?
Sravasti was the capital of the Kosala kingdom and, by Buddhist tradition, the place where the Buddha spent more rainy-season retreats than anywhere else, teaching at the Jetavana monastery. It is also remembered as the setting of the “Twin Miracle.” These accounts are held as religious belief and draw pilgrims from across the Buddhist world.
What is the difference between Saheth and Maheth?
Saheth and Maheth are the two mounds of ancient Sravasti. Saheth is the Jetavana monastery, with the Gandhakuti shrine and the Anandabodhi tree; Maheth is the walled old city, with the Pakki Kuti and Kacchi Kuti mounds. Cunningham identified them in 1862–63, and both are protected by the Archaeological Survey of India.
What is the best time to visit Sravasti?
The best time to visit Sravasti is October to March, when the plains of eastern Uttar Pradesh are cool and dry and the open ruins are comfortable to walk. April to June is very hot. Buddha Purnima (Vesak), usually in April or May, is the main festival and brings larger crowds of pilgrims.
How do I reach Sravasti by train and air?
The nearest railhead to Sravasti is Balrampur, about 17 km away, while Gonda junction (about 50 km) has wider connections to Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Lucknow. The nearest airport is Lucknow, about 170 km away. From either, continue by taxi or bus; roads improved under the Buddhist Circuit scheme.
Is Sravasti also a Jain pilgrimage site?
Yes. Sravasti is an important Jain tirtha, revered as the birthplace of Sambhavanatha, the third Tirthankara. The ruined Shobhnath temple, between the old city and the Jetavana grove, is associated with him. Sravasti is therefore sacred to both Buddhists and Jains, and both sets of shrines deserve equal respect.
Last updated and sources
Sravasti rewards unhurried pilgrims and anyone drawn to ancient India’s Buddhist and Jain heritage; come in the cool October-to-March window and give it at least a full day. Travel light, dress modestly, and reconfirm fees and timings before you set out.
Last updated: 23 October 2026. Fees, timings and permits change — reconfirm with official sources before you travel.
Sources: Uttar Pradesh Tourism — Sravasti; Shravasti district administration — How to reach / tourist places; Wikipedia — Shravasti (used to locate primary facts: coordinates, Kosala capital, international monasteries, Jain link); Live History India — The Miracle at Shravasti (Cunningham identification, Jetavana history, Anandabodhi, Twin Miracle); and the Archaeological Survey of India for the protected status of Saheth-Maheth. Accessed October 2026.
