Rāptī (Rapti), a river that flowed through Ayodhyā (Ayodhya), mentioned in Purāṇas (Puranas), was also known as Acīravatī (Achiravati) or Airāvātī (Airavati). Scholars believe that the ancient city of Śrāvastī (Shravasti) was situated on the banks of river Acīravatī. It may be presumed that the quay or the wharf on the banks of Rāptī, the river of Ayodhyā, or the area through which the river flowed was called Acīravātī. Rāptī or the ancient Acirāvatī, the tributary of river Sarayū (Sarayu), after flowing through the districts of Bahraich, Gonda, and Basti in modern day Uttar Pradesh joins Sarayu near the Bahraj area of Gorakhpur. This ancient city of Śrāvastī was one of the centres of the Buddhist culture. Around this area, it is a common saying that in the ancient times female ascetics took off their cīra (chira) or bark-skin clothings to take a dip in Rāptī or Acīravatī river that is why the river is called Acīravatī. It may also be presumed about this city containing numerous Buddhist monasteries and convents that the area surrounding the river Acīravatī is Śrāvastī.