I was fired by a zeal to visit all the sites of Buddhist significance and so it dawned on me that I should visit Kausambhi too, which was held in reverence by many a devout in the days of yore. From Allahabad it is only a distance of 50 kms to Kausambhi.

The journey itself was very thrilling. After covering most of the distance from Allahabad by a cab I had to board a “Tonga”, a cart pulled either by horses or by bullocks, for the exact place is not accessible on cars or buses.

Kausambhi was visited by Buddha in the 6th and 9th years after his enlightenment. He delivered several sermons here, elevating it to a center of learning for Buddhists. But what remains there today is only a shadow of its erstwhile splendour.

I visited the ruins of an Ashokan Pillar, an old fort and the Ghositaram Monastery. Earlier, at the Allahabad Museum, I had already seen the archaeological excavations found here. The artefacts include a large number of sculptures and figurines, coins, punch-marked and cast coins and terra-cotta sculptures.

Kausambhi was no less a memorable experience for me. It deserves to visited by any devout Buddhist.