Dharmarajika

The Dharmarajika site, which dates to the 3rd century BCE, has several parts. The largest is the worship area centered on the Dharmarajika Stupa. Next is the education area referred to by some as the earliest such place in South Asia. Finally, a couple monasteries were located here.
Buddhists still come here regularly on pilgrimage. This stupa was built on relics of the Buddha, himself, including a tooth and some of his ashes .
The 1st picture is of the stupa and some of the surrounding structures. The 2nd picture is the walkway around the stupa. The Stupa is to the right and private meditation rooms are to the left and extend all around.
The 3rd and 4th pictures show the bases of devotional stupas built by grateful worshippers. This is adjacent to the ring of meditation rooms. The larger structure is of interest as there is a double headed eagle carved here.
The 5th picture is of 2 trees: the closer is a banyan tree (the type Buddha is said to have meditated under); the other is called the Buddha tree, though I didn't learn why.
The 6th picture is in the education area. The recessed area was a water reservoir surrounded by "classrooms" (see the next picture for an example) where teaching occurred.
The next 2 pictures are of the surrounding areas that are unexcavated parts of the site.
The pits in the 10th picture are where materials were mixed for worshippers to make idols. Next are a pair of baths for ritual cleansing, and the last is part of the remains of one of the monasteries.Read more