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Voykit pocket guide · India
Shravasti
श्रावस्ती
One full day is enough for Shravasti: visit Jetavana and the Thai Stupa in the morning, then the Jain temple and museum after lunch. Most travellers come as a day trip from Lucknow or as a stop between Ayodhya and Kushinagar.
Shravasti was the capital of the ancient Kosala kingdom and one of Buddhism's holiest sites — the Buddha spent 24 rainy seasons here. The main sights cluster around Jetavana monastery, with a giant Buddha statue and the Thai Stupa nearby. The town is quiet, with limited accommodation and food, so most visitors come for a single day.
- Country
- India
- Local name
- श्रावस्ती
- Best months
- Oct–Mar
- Avoid
- Apr–Jun (extreme heat), Jul–Sep (monsoon)
- Stay
- 1 night
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- INR
- Money
- Indian rupees (INR, ₹) in small notes for autos, street food, tips and entry tickets.
- Daily spend
- Budget ₹1,500–2,500 excl. bed · Mid ₹2,500–4,000 excl. bed · High ₹4,000+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Jio, Airtel and Vi sell tourist SIMs at airport counters and their shops; passport, visa and a photo needed; activation can take a few hours.
- Emergency
- Police 112 · Fire and ambulance 112
- Plugs
- Types C, D, M · 230 V · 50 Hz · Round two-pin C plugs fit most sockets; D (three round pins) is the common wall socket; hotels often have universal sockets. UK and US plugs need an adapter.
- Tipping
- Street food and dhabas: Nothing.; Restaurant: 5–10% if no service charge is on the bill.; Car and driver: ₹300–500 a day at the end of the trip.; Guide: ₹300–500 for a half day.; Hotel porter / housekeeping: ₹50–100.; Auto or Uber: Round up.
- Water
- Not drinkable from the tap. Buy sealed bottles (check the cap), or use RO-filtered refill stations in hotels and cafés; avoid ice from street stalls.
- Toilets
- Western toilets in hotels, malls and airports; squat toilets with a water jug or hose in stations and villages. Carry tissue and sanitiser; paid public toilets (Sulabh) cost ₹5–10.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Chai at a roadside stall | ₹10–20 |
| Vegetarian thali | ₹150–300 |
| Bottle of water (1 L) | ₹20 |
| Auto-rickshaw within town | ₹50–100 |
| Entry to Jetavana | ₹300 (check) |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- VSV · Shravasti Airport
- Flights from Lucknow; schedule is limited — check before planning.
Typical fares
- Lucknow → Shravasti by taxi
- about ₹3,000–4,000, 3–4 h (check)
- Jharkhandi station → Shravasti by auto
- about ₹400, 30 min (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Auto-rickshaws and cycle-rickshaws cover the town; walking works for the Jetavana–Thai Stupa–Shobhnath cluster. Hiring a car with driver from Lucknow is the most practical option.
See and do
Known for
- Jetavana monastery
- Mahamongkol Stupa (Thai Stupa)
- Shobhnath Jain temple
- Buddha statue
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Ayodhya | Bus or taxi via Balrampur, about 2 h | 2–2.5 h |
| Lucknow | Taxi or bus, about 3–4 h | 3.5–4.5 h |
| Sitapur | Bus or taxi, about 2 h | 2–2.5 h |
Sleep
- Near Jetavana
- The Rahi Tourist Bungalow and a few guesthouses; basic but walkable to the main sights.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | नमस्तेnamaste |
| Thank you | धन्यवादdhanyavaad |
| How much? | कितना है?kitna hai? |
| Where is Jetavana? | जेतवन कहाँ है?Jetavana kahan hai? |
| I am a vegetarian | मैं शाकाहारी हूँmain shakahari hoon |
| Please call a rickshaw | कृपया रिक्शा बुलाएँkripya ricksha bulaen |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Namaste (palms together) or a handshake between men; wait for a woman to offer her hand; avoid: Hugging or kissing strangers
- Hands and feet: Give and eat with the right hand; apologise if your foot touches someone; avoid: Pointing feet at people or shrines; touching books or food with your feet
- Temples: Shoes off, walk clockwise around shrines, accept prasad (blessed food) with the right hand; avoid: Leather in Jain temples; entering sanctums that say Hindus only
- Home visit: Bring sweets or fruit; accept tea at least once; avoid: Refusing all food; wearing shoes inside
- Questions: Expect personal questions (married? job? salary?) as friendliness; avoid: Taking offence; answer vaguely if you prefer
- Saying no: A firm, polite 'nahi, dhanyavaad' (no, thank you) and keep walking; avoid: Long explanations to touts
- Dress: Loose clothes covering shoulders and knees; kurta tops are cheap and cool; avoid: Swimwear or shorts away from Goa beaches
Scams and watch-outs
- No ATMs in the town centre — bring enough cash from Lucknow or Balrampur.
- Touts may approach at Jetavana; ignore and walk to the ticket counter.
- Monsoon (Jul–Sep) can make the paths muddy and the Rapti River area inaccessible.
Shravasti is safe for tourists, but keep valuables out of sight at the main temple sites. The biggest risks are heatstroke in summer and touts at Jetavana.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Shravasti yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Jetavana monastery
- Mahamongkol Stupa (Thai Stupa)
- Shobhnath Jain temple
- Buddha statue
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Shravasti, revision 5305390 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5305390
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Shravastiश्रावस्ती
इस पते पर, कृपया
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
The US consulate is in Mumbai; most other countries have embassies in New Delhi. For urgent help, contact your embassy's 24-hour hotline.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/shravasti). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.