Sariputra Stupa

Sariputra Stupa, also called the Great Stupa, is one of the main monuments in the Nalanda Mahavihara archaeological site, a UNESCO World Heritage Site about 3 km from Nalanda railway station. It is attributed to the Mauryan emperor Ashoka in the 3rd century BC and is linked to Sariputra, a favoured disciple of the Buddha, whose bones it is believed to contain. His name combines that of his mother, Sari, with putra, meaning son.

The stupa has a pyramid-like form crowned by towers and is built up in seven layers. Smaller brick stupas around it bear inscribed passages from Buddhist scriptures, and pillared structures stand close by. The Nalanda Archaeological Museum and the Hiuen Tsang Memorial Hall are both nearby.