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This
once great city was the capital of Vamsa and the scene of
several important events in the Buddha's life. You will
see one of Asoka's pillar and a little further on the ruins
of the Ghositarama, first built during the Buddha's lifetime.
The huge ancient ramparts of the city though now all in
ruins are also interesting. Read the lovely Kosambiya Sutta
from the Middle Length Discourses. To get to Kosambi you
have to pass through Allahabad, the main town from which
to visit Kosambi, has three things worth seeing.
The
Allahabad Museum has most of the antiquities discovered
at Kosambi, an excellent collection of Hindu, Buddhist and
Jain sculpture and other interesting exhibits. Unfortunately
they are now charging a ridiculous R.200 admission. During
my last two visits the lights were out or perhaps they only
turn them on when there are enough visitors to justify it.
The museum is on Kamala Nehru Road and is open from 10:15
am to 4:30 pm and closed on Monday, public holidays and
every second Sunday. The
Archaeological Museum in the Department of Ancient History,
Allahabad University, has an extensive collection of the
minor antiquities found at Kosambi and will mainly be of
interest to the specialist. Then go down to the where the
Yamuna and Ganges meet. You might see ascetics practising
the very types of austerities that their predecessors did
during the Buddha's time. A good place to stay in Allahabad
is the Hotel Ilawart situated right next to the bus stand
and a short distance from the railway station. It is clean
and friendly and they can arrange a hire car that you will
need to visit Kosambi and Prabhosa.
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