Ahmedabad (PTI): A Buddhist monastery dating back to 2nd century has been discovered by the State Archaeological Department (ASD) in Gujarat's Mehsana district.

The structure was found during excavation near the Ghaskol Darwaja in the southern part of Vadnagar town, officials of ASD said.

"The monastery was probably made between 2nd to 4th century A.D. and would have existed for the next 300 odd years," Director of ASD, Yadubirsingh Rawat, who is heading the excavation, told PTI today.

"We have been excavating this site since last two years and have found remains of articles, vessels, buddhist footprints, plaques and other things which prove that there were buddhist monks living here," he said.

"The present structure is made out of baked bricks and spread across 16 sq mt area. It is on a high plinth, about six feet high," Rawat added.

It has an open courtyard in centre and cells in the surroundings which the monks might have used for prayers, he added.

"What makes this discovery unique is that the monastery is situated within the walled city. In most of the cases such monasteries are built away from civilization in isolation," Rawat added.

According to Rawat, there have been documented evidences that there were buddhist monks in Gujarat during this period and this is the proof of their existence.