An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v1.c19.s12.t2.8

v1.c19.s12.t2.8

When Hiuen Tsang visited India in the 7th century many monasteries in different parts of India had fallen into disuse. At the same time this was the period when *saṅghārāmas* were transformed into seats of learning and these were generally larger settlements with Buddhist temples as the main place of worship. NĀLANDĀ, which was founded in the Gupta period, rose to great fame, thanks to the efforts of Harṣavardhana (606-47). Excavations here have yielded no less than 11 monasteries, all of them at least double-storeyed, besides a number of towering Buddhist temples. This township must have accommodated 3000 inmates and attracted pupils from other Buddhist countries. By I Tsing's times who landed at Tāmralipta in 773, Valabhī in Gujarat had gained as much importance as NĀLANDĀ as a seat of learning.