ASI has resumed excavations at Patna’s Kumhar Park, uncovering the ’80-pillared hall’ of the Maurya kings. The site, which has been buried for centuries, will soon be opened to the public, allowing the present generation to discover the city’s rich history.
The hall, once the site of important conferences in ancient times, was reburied in 2004 to ensure preservation, although a pillar remains on display in Cummer Park. (Local 18)
Patna, today the capital of Bihar, was anciently known as Patliputra, with earlier names such as Kasampur and Pushpur. Located at the confluence of the Ganga and Sone rivers, Pataliputra is a historic city that has witnessed the rise and fall of India’s most powerful empires.
Ajatashtra’s successor, Udin, established it as the capital of Magadha, and it became a central center during the Maurya Empire.
To appreciate the rich heritage of Pataliputra, one can still see the remnants of the Maurya era at Patna’s Kumhar Park. In an effort to shed more light on the Mauryan Empire, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has begun excavations of the “Hall of 80 Pillars”, an important structure buried within Kumhar Park. The glorious history of their city.
ASI Superintendent Archaeologist Dr Sujit Nain told Local 18 that most of the relics of Magadha and Pataliputra are buried in Kumhar Park. The site preserves the legacy of the Mauryan period. The first excavations at Kumhar revealed a hospital attributed to the famous Gupta-era physician Dhanvantri. An architectural marvel from the era of Emperor Ashoka, known as the ‘Hall of 80 Pillars’, has been discovered.
The hall, once the site of important conferences in ancient times, was reburied in 2004 to ensure preservation, although a pillar remains on display in Cummer Park. ASI now plans to uncover the remaining pillars once again.
Importance of the hall
According to Dr. Nain, between 1912 and 1915, ASI’s DB Spooner first discovered the Mauryan Hall during excavations at Kumharar with the financial support of the late Ratan Tata. Further excavations by the KP Jaiswal Research Institute in Patna between 1951 and 1955 revealed eight additional hall pillars as well as four entrance pillars. Since then, it has been called the ‘Hall of 80 Pillars’.
The pillars were arranged in two rows: 10 pillars running from east to west and eight from north to south, with the entrance to the south. About 4.57 meters across, these sandstone pillars featured the famous Mauryan polish. Each pillar was 9.75 meters high, with 2.74 meters buried in the ground, supported by square wooden bases. The hall, a wall-less mandap, had a wooden floor and roof, possibly covered with bricks and lime mortar. It stood near the river Sone.
Seven platforms possibly used to connect the 13.11 m wide and 3.05 m deep canal from the Sone River to the entrance of the hall were also discovered. These platforms facilitated the movement of boat passengers and enabled the transportation of heavy Chinar sandstone through the Ganges. Scholars believe that this hall hosted the Third Buddhist Council. However, it was destroyed during the Indo-Greek invasion in the 2nd century BCE, excavations yielded ash traces that provide evidence of fire.
According to Dr. Sujit Nain, until 2004, the site and its pillars were visible above ground and accessible to the public. However, due to development activities in the area and rise in groundwater level, the structure became submerged. Tragically, a child drowned while playing near the site.
A team of experts then determined that prolonged immersion in water could damage the ancient pillars. Based on their findings and recommendations, the site was filled with soil and sand in 2005 to protect the structure. Since then, the 80-pillared hall has been buried.
Why is the excavation being resumed now?
Recently, Archaeologist Dr Sujit Nain, Superintendent Archaeologist, Patna Circle, Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) took charge and expressed his belief that the heritage of Magadha should be accessible to the public. Over the last 20 years, the geographical conditions of the region have changed significantly. Dr Nin believes that the re-excavation will allow people to witness this important part of their history.
A team of experts led by ASI Director General Yedubir Singh Rawat inspected the site and gave permission for excavation. A team of engineers under the supervision of Dr. Nain has started the work. Currently, the top layer is removed. The next phase involves unveiling some of the pillars and a full review by next year. If the results show that the site can be safely and securely displayed, it will be reopened to the public.
Dr Nin also noted the growing curiosity among local people. Many have expressed their eagerness to see their city’s historical treasures, saying that although the gardens are plentiful, they want to connect with their heritage. Keeping these sentiments in mind, efforts are being made to make the site accessible to the public within a year.