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Shravasti, Uttar Pradesh · 27.5095°, 82.0401°
The most famous vihara of early Buddhism, given by the merchant Anathapindika outside Savatthi, where the Buddha spent nineteen of his forty-five rains retreats and delivered the majority of his discourses. The complex held the Gandhakuti, gardens and a pond, and Tibetan accounts describe sixty large and sixty small halls; an inscription of 1128 CE records the Gahadavala king Govindachandra renewing grants to it, showing it was still active in the medieval period.
Prince Jeta joked that he would sell his park only if it were covered in gold coins, so Anathapindika had cartloads of gold laid over the ground until the prince relented and donated the gateway himself.
coordinates: wikipedia-2026-08-27 · sources retrieved 2026-08-26 · dynasty page: Ancient (Kosala)