Pauni
Pauni Stupa · Padmavati Pauni · Pouni Buddhist Fortress
Vidarbha Megalithic 1100–300 BCE → Maurya 300–187 → Sunga–Satavahana 187 BCE–250 CE → Vakataka 250–500 CE·Vidarbha Megalithic → Mauryan → Satavahana → Vakataka (Vidarbha Early Historic)·🇮🇳 Maharashtra, Bhandara District, on Wainganga river loop (ancient Vidarbha capital Padmavati), India
About
About Pauni
Vidarbha Early Historic fortified city Padmavati on Wainganga oxbow — 4 km double rampart with 12 m high baked brick wall, moat and Satavahana–Vakataka palace yielding Pauni stupas. Excavations 1969–70 (M.G. Dikshit, Nagpur University) and 1995–2004 revealed two Mauryan–Sunga stupa complexes (Pauni Great Stupa 38 m dia) with limestone railing gateways, Brahmi donative inscriptions identical to Bharhut/Sanchi palaeography, plus megalithic-to-Early Historic continuity (1100 BCE–300 CE) making Pauni the only Central Indian site with uninterrupted megalithic–Mauryan–Satavahana urbanism on a single mound.
Why it mattersOnly Vidarbha city with megalithic–Mauryan–Satavahana continuity — 4 km rampart proves Early Historic Vidarbha as distinct Deccan urbanism between Kalinga and Satavahana cœur.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Is Pauni = Ashoka's 'Pataliputta of the South'?
- 02Why two stupas on one city loop like Nalanda precursor?
Theories
- 01Wainganga iron-ore corridor → Pauni as Satavahana eastern mint; Vidarbha as Mauryan test-zone before Kalinga
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c.1100 BCE megalithic → 3 c. BCE Mauryan rampart; stupa 2 c. BCE–2 c. CE
- Period
- Vidarbha Megalithic 1100–300 BCE → Maurya 300–187 → Sunga–Satavahana 187 BCE–250 CE → Vakataka 250–500 CE
- Culture
- Vidarbha Megalithic → Mauryan → Satavahana → Vakataka (Vidarbha Early Historic)
- Builders
- Vidarbha chiefs → Mauryan garrison → Satavahana donors
- Purpose
- Vidarbha capital and Buddhist pilgrimage node controlling Wainganga–Godavari iron trade and Nagpur–Kalinga route
- Abandoned
- c.500 CE post-Vakataka; Wainganga avulsion ruined rampart
- Rediscovered
- 1969 Dikshit excavation of Great Stupa; 1995–2004 Nagpur University city wall exposure
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
c.1100–300 BCE
Megalithic–early historic habitation with iron furnaces
c.300 BCE–200 CE
Mauryan–Satavahana brick rampart (4 km) and twin stupas with Brahmi railings
1969–2004
Dikshit and Nagpur University expose stupa complex and city gates
On the ground
Structures & features
20.7920° N · 79.6380° E · 263 m · 2 mapped features
Pauni Great Stupa (Jagannath Tekdi) 38 m
stupaSatavahana brick stupa 38 m dia with limestone railing, gateway and Brahmi donative inscriptions
20.7930° N · 79.6390° EWestern Rampart Gateway and Moat (Mauryan Satavahana wall)
fortificationDouble baked-brick rampart 12 m wide with western gateway tower and moat still visible on Wainganga oxbow
20.7910° N · 79.6360° E
Gallery