Chaukhandi stupa, a Buddhist mound, is an
important Buddhist attraction at Sarnath.
Chaukhandi Stupa is one of the important Buddhist
Stupas at Sarnath. It is a lofty mound of brick, whose square edifice is
surrounded by an octagonal tower. The Chaukhandi Stupa is said to be
originally a terraced temple during the Gupta period (4th to 6th
Century). Govardhan, the son of Raja Todarmal, gave the present shape to
the Chaukhandi Stupa. He built an octagonal tower to commemorate the
visit of Humayun, the great Mughal ruler. Chaukhandi Stupa was built to
mark the place where Lord Buddha met his first disciples as he traveled
from Bodh Gaya to Sarnath. Today, the Chaukhandi stupa stands neatly in
lush green lawns, well maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India.
Draped in the calmness and mystery of history, the Chaukhandi Stupa
forms a gateway to the Buddhist city of Sarnath.
