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Kaundinyapur: Ancient Capital of Vidarbha’s Epic Past

Kaundinyapur: Ancient Capital of Vidarbha’s Epic Past
Kaundinyapur: Ancient Capital of Vidarbha’s Epic Past

Each year, under the full moon of Kartik, thousands of devotees from across Vidarbha travel to a small village on the banks of the Wardha River.


They converge on Kaundinyapur, a sleepy hamlet about 45 km from Amravati, which bursts to life with hymns and celebration during this annual pilgrimage. For these pilgrims, this unassuming settlement was once the thriving capital of an ancient kingdom, a place revered in epics and now drawing renewed attention from historians and devotees alike.


Long overshadowed by bigger cities, Kaundinyapur holds keys to Vidarbha’s distant past. Its story spans mythological romance, archaeological discovery, and centuries-old traditions that still persist today.


Epic Legends of an Ancient Capital


Kaundinyapur’s fame begins in ancient Indian epics. Long before Nagpur rose to prominence, this place (also known as Kundinapuri) served as the capital of the Vidarbha kingdom mentioned in the Mahabharata.


It is celebrated as the home of Princess Rukmini, daughter of King Bhishmaka, whose dramatic elopement with Lord Krishna is said to have unfolded here.

According to legend, on the eve of Rukmini’s arranged marriage to another prince, Krishna arrived at a local goddess’s temple in Kaundinyapur and swept the willing princess into his chariot, fending off her enraged brother’s army before marrying her.


This tale of Rukmini-haran (Rukmini’s abduction) has immortalised Kaundinyapur as the site of a divine romance. Hindu scriptures like the Bhagavata Purana even describe this city as the prosperous metropolis of Vidarbha in that era.


Kaundinyapur’s epic connections do not end with Rukmini. Another famed Vidarbha princess, Damayanti, daughter of King Bhima and wife of Nala, is also said to have lived in this city.

Together, these tales underscore the town’s importance in ancient lore as a seat of kings and a backdrop for legendary love stories.


The very name Kaundinyapur is derived from the sage Kaundinya, who, according to tradition, performed penance (tapasya) at this site long ago.

In essence, by the time of the Mahabharata, Kaundinyapur was already viewed as a notable capital and holy ground, a status that would echo through the ages in local memory.


Unearthing the Ancient City


Legend alone, however, does not tell the whole story of Kaundinyapur. Beneath the village fields, archaeologists have found tangible proof of an early urban settlement.


Excavations in the 20th century uncovered brick foundations of fortifications and buildings, confirming that a sizeable city once stood here.

Notably, a 1962 dig by the state archaeological department revealed traces of an ancient rampart and the remains of a large structure believed to be a palace from the 14th or 15th century CE.


These findings suggest that Kaundinyapur continued to be occupied into the late medieval period, long after its initial fame in antiquity. Even more astonishing, an information plaque at the site claims that implements from the Stone Age and Copper Age were found here, indicating human activity in prehistoric times as well.


Digging deeper, researchers have uncovered artefacts dating back to much earlier eras of civilisation. According to reports, soil layers at the site contained shards of Northern Black Polished Ware, a fine ceramic typically dated to the pre-Mauryan and Mauryan periods (c. 6th–3rd century BCE).


This discovery firmly links Kaundinyapur to India’s second wave of urbanisation over two millennia ago.


Subsequent excavations in the 1980s and 1990s yielded a wealth of cultural material such as coins of the Satavahana dynasty (1st century BCE – 2nd century CE), remains of what appear to be temples from the Vakataka period, and even traces of settlement in the time of the Rashtrakutas. The presence of these relics indicates that major dynasties either ruled here or maintained trade links with this locale. Researchers even found copper coins and sealings from ancient trade guilds, suggesting Kaundinyapur was a thriving commercial centre in its heyday.


Intriguingly, evidence of multiple faiths and cultures has surfaced in these digs.

Among the finds were small Buddhist stupas, fragments of the dharmachakra (Wheel of Dharma) symbol, and other Buddhist icons, pointing to a significant Buddhist presence in Kaundinyapur alongside its Hindu heritage.


Terracotta figurines (often depicting women in ornate attire) and everyday pottery were also recovered, offering a glimpse into the domestic life and artistic sensibilities of the ancient inhabitants.


The large quantity of household wares, tools, and ornaments unearthed conveys that this was once a flourishing settlement with a rich material culture. Layer by layer, from Stone Age implements to medieval walls, the ground at Kaundinyapur has confirmed continuous human habitation at the site for thousands of years.


Medieval Temple Town and Cultural Continuity

Medieval Temple Town and Cultural Continuity at Kaundinyapur in Vidarbha
Medieval Temple Town and Cultural Continuity

As political power centres shifted over time, Kaundinyapur gradually transitioned from royal capital to a quiet village, yet its legacy did not vanish.


In the medieval era, the town survived as a sacred site anchored by a temple to Vitthal (Krishna) and Rukmini, perched on a hillock overlooking the Wardha River.

The temple standing today was constructed in the 19th century, but local lore holds that an older shrine existed there previously, perhaps the very palace or mandir where Rukmini’s wedding drama played out. In fact, for generations, the village was sometimes referred to as “Dewarwadi” or Dewalwada (meaning “abode of the god” or temple) in reference to the ruins of that bygone sacred structure. This continuity of worship suggests that even as Vidarbha’s political clout shifted elsewhere, Kaundinyapur remained a spiritual anchor for the local populace.


Through the centuries, people of the region kept alive the memory of Rukmini and Krishna with annual festivities. One long-running tradition here is the Dahi Handi celebration (the human-pyramid ritual of Janmashtami, commemorating Krishna’s childhood), which locals say has been held in Kaundinyapur every year for roughly 500 years.


Another major event is the yearly fair on Kartik Purnima (the full moon around November), when devotees flock to Rukmini’s purported birthplace in a pilgrimage that predates even the Pandharpur fair of western Maharashtra.


British-era records from 1911 noted that some 50,000 persons attended the Kartik fair at Kaundinyapur over a century ago.

Today, the tradition endures at an even greater scale. Recent estimates suggest around 200,000 pilgrims visit during the two-day Kartik yatra (pilgrimage) in Kaundinyapur. These enduring religious practices transformed the once-forgotten capital into a vibrant temple town. By carrying forward the maaher (maternal home) sentiment for Rukmini, villagers and Varkari devotees alike ensured that Kaundinyapur remained on the cultural map of Vidarbha even when it had little else to boast of.


In recent decades, this historic site has begun to receive the attention it long lacked. Scholars and local authorities alike have pushed to develop Kaundinyapur as a heritage destination, recognising its unique legacy.


Yashomati Thakur, an MLA from the region, has been one vocal champion. She notes that Kaundinyapur’s history “goes back 5,000 years, and predates even Pandharpur,” arguing that it “certainly deserves to be developed.”

In 2013, her efforts helped spur a government-backed project of ₹21 crore (approximately USD 3 million) to upgrade the village’s infrastructure.


The plan included paving roads, improving electricity and water supply, building a tourist rest house, and constructing riverfront steps (ghats) along the Wardha, all aimed at accommodating the growing influx of pilgrims and history enthusiasts.


Such measures are slowly pulling Kaundinyapur out of obscurity. The village is now easily accessible by road from Amravati and Nagpur, and each festival sees larger crowds than before.


Historians point out that much of the site’s archaeological wealth still lies underground, awaiting systematic exploration with modern technology. But with renewed local enthusiasm and state support, this once-neglected cradle of Vidarbha’s history is gradually regaining prominence.


As one observer aptly noted, the “Pandharpur of Vidarbha” may finally be getting its due.



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