Angulimala Stupa

Angulimala Stupa is an ancient Buddhist stupa located in Sahet, Shravasti, Uttar Pradesh, near the Jetavana Monastery complex. It is associated with the story of Angulimala, a former bandit who was converted by Gautama Buddha and became a monk. The brick-built stupa marks the site linked to his legend and is an important pilgrimage and archaeological site within the larger Shravasti Buddhist circuit, dating to early historic periods with later reconstructions.

Visitors can expect a large ancient brick stupa set in an open archaeological park near Jetavana. The structure is partially ruined with a domed mound and exposed brickwork surrounded by grassy grounds and scattered ruins. The site is quiet and primarily visited for sightseeing, photography and Buddhist pilgrimage. Information boards explain the Angulimala legend. The area is walkable and typically explored on foot as part of the Shravasti Buddhist circuit.

Angulimala Stupa is linked to the Buddhist narrative of Angulimala, a notorious bandit who was converted by Gautama Buddha at Shravasti and later became a monk. Shravasti was a major city during the Buddha's lifetime and a centre of early Buddhism. The stupa is believed to have early historic origins with brick construction phases attributed to Mauryan, Kushana and Gupta periods and later restorations, marking the commemorative site associated with Angulimala within the Jetavana vicinity.

The stupa holds religious significance for Buddhists as a pilgrimage site commemorating the Buddha's compassion and the transformation of Angulimala. It forms part of the sacred Shravasti circuit alongside Jetavana Monastery and other stupas, visited by pilgrims and monks for reverence, meditation and understanding of Buddhist teachings.