Landmarks in Shravasti
- 01
Angulimala Stupa & Anathapindika's Stupa
Two named brick stupas within the wider Sahet-Mahet ruins, tied to two of the best-known stories about the Buddha's time in Shravasti: the reformed bandit Angulimala and the donor Anathapindika.
- Time needed
- 20–30 minutes
- Walking
- Easy
- Best time
- Combine with a Jetavana Monastery visit, early morning or late afternoon
- Tickets
- Covered by the same ASI-protected archaeological park as Jetavana Monastery; no separate ticket is needed once inside.
- 02
Jetavana Monastery
The core of ancient Shravasti's Buddhist monastery, where the Buddha spent more monsoon retreats than anywhere else. Brick foundations, monk's cells and the Anandabodhi tree remain inside a quiet archaeological park.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Walking
- Moderate
- Best time
- Early morning or late afternoon, October to February, to avoid the midday heat
- Tickets
- Protected by the Archaeological Survey of India; check the current entry fee and hours with the ASI or Uttar Pradesh Tourism before travelling, as small monuments often revise these without much notice.
- 03
Maheth Ancient City Walls
The larger, less-visited mound of the Sahet-Mahet complex: a fortified ancient city with earthen walls, a moat and old gateways, built and rebuilt between the 3rd century BCE and the 1st century CE.
- Time needed
- 30–40 minutes
- Walking
- Moderate
- Best time
- Early morning or late afternoon, combined with the Jetavana Monastery visit
- Tickets
- Part of the same ASI-protected Sahet-Mahet complex as Jetavana Monastery; no separate ticket.
- 04
Padma Samye Jetavan
A 100-foot stupa and monastery complex dedicated in 2004 by Tibetan Nyingma teachers to mark the site of the Buddha's miracles at Shravasti, built to last a thousand years and open daily to visitors.
- Time needed
- 45–60 minutes
- Walking
- Easy
- Best time
- Morning or late afternoon, cooler months
- Tickets
- Open daily and free to enter as a pilgrimage and visitor site; confirm current visiting hours locally, as a working monastery may close for periods of group practice.
Temples in Shravasti
- 05
Korean Temple, Shravasti
A Korean-run Buddhist monastery near Jetavana with a meditation hall, a small school teaching Korean, and simple guest rooms, popular with budget pilgrims as both a temple and a place to stay.
- Time needed
- 20–30 minutes for a visit; longer if staying overnight
- Walking
- Easy
- Best time
- Morning, when the Dhamma hall is quietest
- Tickets
- Open to visitors from roughly 7am to 5pm; the guesthouse accepts overnight guests but offers no laundry or meal service, so plan accordingly.
- 06
Nava Jetavana Temple
A 1969 Buddhist temple built by the Maha Bodhi Society of India just outside the ancient Jetavana ruins, known for sixteen murals that narrate the Buddha's life and later Buddhist history.
- Time needed
- 30–45 minutes
- Walking
- Easy
- Best time
- Morning or late afternoon, paired with a Jetavana visit
- Tickets
- Open to all visitors without a separate ticket; modest dress and quiet behaviour are expected, as it is an active place of worship, not just a monument.
- 07
Shobhnath Jain Temple
Ruins of a Jain shrine within the Shravasti site, revered as the birthplace of Sambhavanatha, the third Tirthankara, with a later medieval structure layered on top.
- Time needed
- 15–20 minutes
- Walking
- Easy
- Best time
- Combine with the Jetavana Monastery visit, morning or late afternoon
- Tickets
- Within the same ASI-protected complex as Jetavana Monastery; no separate ticket.
- 08
Thai Buddhist Temple (Wat Thai Chetavan Mahavihar)
A Thai-built Buddhist temple complex on the bluff above Jetavan Grove, known locally today as Wat Thai Chetavan Mahavihar, with Thai-style architecture that stands out from Shravasti's older Indian-built shrines.
- Time needed
- 20–30 minutes
- Walking
- Easy
- Best time
- Late afternoon, when the light suits photographs of the stupa
- Tickets
- Open to visitors as a working temple; no ticket is needed, but dress modestly and ask before photographing monks or ceremonies.
Read the Thai Buddhist Temple (Wat Thai Chetavan Mahavihar) guide →
Day trips in Shravasti
- 09
Lumbini Day Trip
The Buddha's birthplace across the Nepal border, built around the Mayadevi Temple and an Ashoka pillar, reachable from Shravasti in a day by road including the border crossing.
- Time needed
- Full day round trip from Shravasti; longer with an overnight in Lumbini
- Walking
- Easy
- Best time
- October to February, avoiding the summer heat and monsoon rain
- Tickets
- Indian nationals should carry a passport for the land border crossing into Nepal, and there is a separate entry fee for the Mayadevi Temple complex; confirm both locally as rules and fees can change.
