Buddhist Sites

-| Sopara | -

Location: District Thana (Maharastra) - Lat 19º 25'N, Long 72º 47'E

Sopara can be approached from Nalasopara railway station on the western railway. The place represents the ancient trading centre of Surpenaka in Aparanta (Northern Kokan ). The importance of this place lies in the discovery of fragments of rock edicts of the Mauryan Emperor Ashoka of 3rd century BC. The site is locally known as Buruda Raja fort or Burda Raja Ka Kota. The site contains remains of a large circular drum below the ruined dome. The contents of the excavated stupa which is one of the best known for its remarkably rich deposits among the Buddhist stupas. These findings are now preserved in the collection of Royal Asiatic society, Bombay. The stone coffer has a copper casket containing four other caskets. The last one of gold contained ten gold flowers, a piece of green glass and a spark of diamond, thirteen bits of earthen ware etc. The coins found among the finds are of the Satavahama king (74 -203 AD)

The coins belonged to the original period of construction of the stupa during 2nd century AD, whereas the bronze and the gold plaques with the figure of Lord Buddha were deposited with copper casket in about 8th-9th century AD during the time when the stupa probably underwent repairs or re-construction during the period by contemporary kings.

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