Dharmarajika Stupa

Dharmarajika Stupa at Sarnath is one of the oldest Buddhist structures at the site, originally built by Emperor Ashoka in the 3rd century BCE. The stupa, also known as the Ashoka Stupa, was once a massive structure but was largely demolished in 1794 by Jagat Singh, a diwan of the Maharaja of Varanasi, who was seeking building materials. During this demolition, a stone box containing relics was discovered and thrown into the Ganga. Only the circular base of the stupa survives today. Despite its ruined state, the Dharmarajika Stupa remains a significant archaeological and pilgrimage site within the Sarnath complex.