[1] The site's exploration began in the 19th century, from its discovery by Colin Mackenzie in 1814 to Alexander Cunningham’s proper excavation in 1861–62.

Despite being a popular tourist attraction, Kesariya has yet to be developed and a large part of the stupa remains under vegetation.

[4] It has been noted that the Kesariya stupa shares many architectural similarities with the Buddhist temple located in Indonesia, Borobodur which hints at the travel of ritualistic texts and ideas between the Pala and Srivijaya domains.

[5] Both monuments share a circular mandala form with terraces containing figures of Buddha in the niches.

Both sites do not have their tops visible from the ground level, follow numerological patterns, and have roughly the same dimensions as well.