Which ancient Indian city was the capital of the Vatsa kingdom?

Which ancient Indian city was the capital of the Vatsa kingdom? Kaushambi. Also known as Kosambi in Pali, Kaushambi was the capital of Vatsa, one of the sixteen Mahajanapadas of ancient India.

The city stood on the Yamuna River in the lower Ganges plain, about 56 kilometres southwest of its confluence with the Ganges at Prayaga. That position made Kaushambi an important trading centre, linking river routes and overland networks across northern India. Its prosperity is reflected in archaeological remains and ancient references to merchants and urban life.

Kaushambi is closely associated with King Udayana, a celebrated ruler of Vatsa and a contemporary of the Buddha. Buddhist sources say Gautama Buddha visited the city several times, while Jain and Brahmanical traditions also preserve stories about its rulers and origins. The city’s name is spelled Kaushambi in Sanskrit and Kosambi in Pali.

Vatsa was eventually drawn into the power struggles of larger states. It was first connected with Avanti and later absorbed into Magadha’s expanding sphere. The site, near modern Kosam in Uttar Pradesh, remains important for understanding the urban and political world of the Mahajanapada period.