About Lauriya Nandangarh Ashokan Pillar
The Lauriya Nandangarh Ashokan Pillar is a 3rd-century BCE Mauryan monolithic column located in Lauriya Nandangarh village, West Champaran district, Bihar. Erected by Emperor Ashoka, it is renowned for its highly polished sandstone shaft, well-preserved lion capital, and Brahmi inscriptions. Standing about 32 feet tall near the large Nandangarh stupa mound, it is a protected Archaeological Survey of India monument illustrating Mauryan art and early Buddhist heritage.
Visitors guide
Visitors can expect to see a single highly polished sandstone Ashokan pillar standing in an open, flat rural setting with agricultural fields around. The pillar is about 32 feet high with a bell-shaped capital topped by a seated lion statue and Brahmi inscriptions on the shaft. Nearby is the large brick Nandangarh mound, believed to be a stupa. The site is open-air, minimally developed, with informational signage and fenced enclosure. Visitors can walk around the pillar, view the stupa mound, and take photographs.
Key highlights
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32-foot monolithic polished sandstone Ashokan pillar from 3rd century BCE
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Well-preserved lion capital seated on top of the pillar
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Brahmi inscriptions of Emperor Ashoka's edicts on the shaft
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Adjacent Nandangarh Stupa mound, one of the tallest and largest stupas in the region
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Protected monument maintained by Archaeological Survey of India showcasing Mauryan craftsmanship
History of Lauriya Nandangarh Ashokan Pillar
Erected in the 3rd century BCE during the reign of Mauryan Emperor Ashoka (c. 268-232 BCE), the Lauriya Nandangarh pillar is one of the surviving Ashokan pillars known for Mauryan polished stone technology. It bears Ashokan edicts inscribed in Brahmi script and is topped by a single lion capital. The adjacent Nandangarh mound is identified as a Mauryan-period stupa, indicating the area's importance in early Buddhism and Mauryan administration.
Culture & Context
The pillar represents Mauryan art and early Buddhist heritage, with its lion capital and edicts reflecting Ashoka's propagation of Dhamma. It is an important archaeological and cultural landmark of Bihar, illustrating ancient stone craftsmanship and the region's association with Buddhism.