Unearthed temple in Nepal sheds new light on Buddha’s early life
Archaeologists hope the newly discovered ruins at Siddhartha Gautam’s childhood palace will help secure Unesco World Heritage status
A newly unearthed temple could change that, archaeologists say, offering fresh evidence that Tilaurakot once held far greater religious significance to Buddhists than its quiet present suggests.
The apsidal temple – distinguished by its semicircular rear wall – was uncovered within the ancient citadel and is believed to date from between the third and fifth centuries AD. Researchers say it is the first structure of its kind identified in Nepal.
They argue the discovery, announced last week, adds to evidence that Tilaurakot was not only a political centre of the Sakya kingdom but also an active site of Buddhist worship and pilgrimage.
Robin Coningham, a professor at England’s Durham University and co-director of the excavations, told This Week in Asia that the temple was discovered inside a monastery courtyard built over the remains of a palatial complex.