An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v2.c48.232

v2.c48.232

Virbhadra (30°4′; 78°17′), Dt Hardwar, situated on the confluence of the Rambha, a rivulet, and the river Ganga, about 5 km downstream from Rishikesh. According to a version of the *Skanda-purāṇa* Māyāpuri, the chief city of Māyāpura-kṣetra, was on the confluence of the Rambha and Ganga; Virbhadra may therefore be identified with Māyāpuri. The site was explored in 1963-4 by M.N. Deshpande (*IAR 1963-4*, p. 45). Renewed excavation in 1973-4 and 1974-5 carried out by the writer on behalf of the ASI has revealed deposits of 3·80 m without a break, which is divisible into early, middle and late phases. No brick fortification suspected earlier has however been found.