Lauria Nandangarh Ashoka Pillar

Historical Site Ancient Ashoka pillar near Nandangarh, Bihar

An Ashokan pillar at Lauria Nandangarh, Bihar, one of the imperial columns from the 3rd century BCE. Visitors interested in archaeology and epigraphy stop to see the pillar and nearby excavated remains.

Main image
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Asokan Edict Pillar, Lauriya Nandangarh, Champaran district; photo by Benjamin Simpson c1860s.jpg
Back of Ashokan piller in lauria West Champaran.jpg
Close view of Lauriya Nandangarh Ashoka Pillar.jpg
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Lauria Nandangarh pillar of Ashoka side view.jpg
Lauriya Nandangarh Ashoka Pillar capital.jpg
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Lauriya Nandangarh East Face.jpg

The Lauria Nandangarh Ashoka pillar is an archaeological monument in Bihar, India, consisting of a polished stone column erected during the Mauryan period and associated with Emperor Ashoka. It is one of several Ashokan pillars found across northern India and is significant for illustrating imperial Buddhist-era monuments.

The site includes the pillar and nearby mounded remains interpreted as a stupa complex and related settlement activity. The pillar and surrounding archaeological features reflect the religious and administrative presence of the Mauryan state in the region.

The pillar was erected in the 3rd century BCE and later became an object of antiquarian and archaeological interest during modern excavations and surveys. Over time the site has been examined by archaeologists and protected as part of India’s heritage record.

Geographically the pillar stands near the village of Lauriya Nandangarh in Bihar, in a rural setting characterized by agricultural land and low archaeological mounds. The nearest larger administrative centers are in Bihar state.

  • Dating: Dates to the Mauryan period, broadly attributed to the reign of Emperor Ashoka in the 3rd century BCE.

What to See #

  • Ashoka pillar: A monolithic stone column erected during the Mauryan period and attributed to Emperor Ashoka, surviving in situ as an archaeological monument.
  • Stupa complex and mounds: Remains of a nearby stupa complex and archaeological mounds that indicate the site was a Buddhist religious center during the early historic period.
Lauria Nandangarh Ashoka Pillar
Lauriya Nandangarh village area, West Champaran district (Bihar), India
26.9981, 84.4087

How to Get to Lauria Nandangarh Ashoka Pillar #

Lauriya Nandangarh lies in rural Bihar. The nearest regional rail and road hubs are in the district towns; most visitors reach the village by hired car from the district center. Expect unpaved village tracks for the final few kilometers-arrange local transport in advance.

Tips for Visiting Lauria Nandangarh Ashoka Pillar #

  • Ask at the local archaeology office or district tourism office for the site key facts-there is little in the way of on-site signage beyond the pillar itself.
  • Visit in the cooler months (November-February) to avoid the intense subtropical heat and to make walking the surrounding low ridges pleasant.
  • Combine the visit with nearby archaeological sites and museums in Bihar-transportation is sparse, so hire a car from a regional center.

Best Time to Visit Lauria Nandangarh Ashoka Pillar #

Best visited in the cool, dry months (November-February) when heat and rain are at their lowest and rural roads are most passable.

Cool season
November-February · 10-25°C (50-77°F)
Pleasant days and cool mornings-best for walking the village tracks and inspecting the pillar and nearby mounds.
Monsoon
June-September · 25-35°C (77-95°F)
Heavy rains can make access tracks muddy and unpredictable; many visitors avoid this season.

Weather & Climate near Lauria Nandangarh Ashoka Pillar #

Climate

Lauria Nandangarh Ashoka Pillar's climate is classified as Humid Subtropical (Dry Winter) - Humid Subtropical (Dry Winter) climate with very hot summers (peaking in May) and mild winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from 9°C to 37°C. Abundant rainfall (1351 mm/year), wettest in July with a pronounced dry season.

Best Time to Visit
MarchNovemberFebruary
Temperature & Rainfall
Temperature Range
47°
Warmest Month
Coldest Month
Monthly Conditions

January

January is the coolest month with highs of 23°C and lows of 9°C. Light rainfall.

89 Excellent

Comfort

16°
Feels Like Cool
16°C
Temperature
23°
52%
Humidity
Humid

Weather

20 mm
Rainfall
0.8 m/s
Wind
Calm
0.6
UV Index
Moderate
10.6h daylight

February

February is mild with highs of 26°C and lows of 11°C. Almost no rain and mostly sunny skies.

93 Ideal

Comfort

18°
Feels Like Mild
18°C
Temperature
11° 26°
44%
Humidity
Comfortable

Weather

8 mm
Rainfall
1.1 m/s
Wind
Calm
1.0
UV Index
High
11.1h daylight

March

March is mild with highs of 32°C and lows of 15°C. Light rainfall and mostly sunny skies.

97 Ideal

Comfort

24°
Feels Like Mild
24°C
Temperature
15° 32°
33%
Humidity
Comfortable

Weather

12 mm
Rainfall
1.4 m/s
Wind
Calm
1.5
UV Index
Very High
11.9h daylight

April

April is hot with highs of 37°C and lows of 20°C. Light rainfall and mostly sunny skies.

93 Ideal

Comfort

29°
Feels Like Hot
29°C
Temperature
20° 37°
28%
Humidity
Dry

Weather

15 mm
Rainfall
1.8 m/s
Wind
Calm
1.9
UV Index
Very High
12.7h daylight

May

May is the hottest month with highs of 37°C and lows of 24°C. Moderate rainfall (45 mm) and mostly sunny skies.

81 Excellent

Comfort

30°
Feels Like Hot
30°C
Temperature
24° 37°
37%
Humidity
Comfortable

Weather

45 mm
Rainfall
1.9 m/s
Wind
Calm
1.9
UV Index
Very High
13.3h daylight

June

June is hot, feeling like 32°C. Heavy rain (234 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

65 Good

Comfort

32°
Feels Like Hot
30°C
Temperature
26° 35°
54%
Humidity
Humid

Weather

234 mm
Rainfall
1.8 m/s
Wind
Calm
1.8
UV Index
Very High
13.6h daylight

July

July is hot, feeling like 34°C due to high humidity. The wettest month with heavy rain (404 mm) and mostly overcast skies.

55 Acceptable

Comfort

34°
Feels Like Hot
29°C
Temperature
25° 33°
78%
Humidity
Very Humid

Weather

404 mm
Rainfall
1.5 m/s
Wind
Calm
1.7
UV Index
Very High
13.5h daylight

August

August is hot, feeling like 35°C with oppressive humidity. Heavy rain (331 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

59 Acceptable

Comfort

35°
Feels Like Hot
29°C
Temperature
25° 32°
83%
Humidity
Very Humid

Weather

331 mm
Rainfall
1.5 m/s
Wind
Calm
1.8
UV Index
Very High
12.9h daylight

September

September is hot, feeling like 33°C with oppressive humidity. Heavy rain (218 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

65 Good

Comfort

33°
Feels Like Hot
28°C
Temperature
25° 32°
83%
Humidity
Very Humid

Weather

218 mm
Rainfall
1.2 m/s
Wind
Calm
1.6
UV Index
Very High
12.2h daylight

October

October is warm with highs of 31°C and lows of 21°C. Moderate rainfall (57 mm) and mostly sunny skies.

91 Ideal

Comfort

26°
Feels Like Warm
26°C
Temperature
21° 31°
73%
Humidity
Very Humid

Weather

57 mm
Rainfall
0.8 m/s
Wind
Calm
1.2
UV Index
High
11.4h daylight

November

November is mild with highs of 29°C and lows of 14°C. Almost no rain and clear sunny skies.

97 Ideal

Comfort

21°
Feels Like Mild
21°C
Temperature
14° 29°
63%
Humidity
Humid

Weather

4 mm
Rainfall
0.7 m/s
Wind
Calm
0.8
UV Index
Moderate
10.7h daylight

December

December is cool with highs of 25°C and lows of 10°C. The driest month with just 3 mm and mostly sunny skies.

93 Ideal

Comfort

17°
Feels Like Cool
17°C
Temperature
10° 25°
57%
Humidity
Humid

Weather

3 mm
Rainfall
0.5 m/s
Wind
Calm
0.5
UV Index
Moderate
10.4h daylight

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