The excavation of the stupa at Piprahwa in 1898 by W.C. Peppe is a significant event in the history of Indian archaeology, unveiling what is believed to be one of the earliest Buddhist stupas, possibly associated with the Buddha’s relics.

1. The stupa is located at Piprahwa, in the Siddharthnagar District of Uttar Pradesh, near the Indo-Nepal border.
2. W.C. Peppe, a British colonial engineer and landowner, discovered the stupa during an excavation on his estate.
3. The solid brick stupa originally stood 7 meters (23 feet) high.
4. The cupola of the stupa measured approximately 35 meters (114 feet 10 inches) in diameter, making it a massive and significant architectural structure.
5. The stupa is estimated to be 2,500 years old, dating it to around the 5th century BCE.
6. It is believed to be one of the earliest Buddhist stupas, predating the more widely known stupas built during the reign of Emperor Ashoka (c. 273–232 BCE), who was known for spreading Buddhism and constructing stupas across his empire.
7. The excavation uncovered a relic casket, which contained bone fragments, beads, and gold objects.
8. Inscriptions on the casket suggested that the relics could be those of Buddha’s family members or close disciples.
9. Further excavations were conducted in the early 20th century by Indian archaeologist K.M. Srivastava.
10. These investigations reinforced the belief that the site could indeed house relics related to the Buddha, contributing to its significance as a major Buddhist pilgrimage site.
11. While most surviving stupas in India date back to the Mauryan period under Emperor Ashoka, the Piprahwa Stupa stands out as a potentially older structure, offering insights into the earliest phase of Buddhist architecture and the spread of Buddhism.

• The Piprahwa Stupa has become an important Buddhist pilgrimage site, attracting devotees and scholars interested in the early history of Buddhism.
• The relics and the site itself symbolize the spread of Buddhism from its origins in India to other parts of Asia.

The Piprahwa Stupa continues to be a significant archaeological and religious site, shedding light on the early phases of Buddhist religious practices and architecture.