Deor Kothar (Deur Kothar) is a Buddhist site said to have been built under the patronage of Mauryan king, Ashoka, and dates back to 3rd century BC. Stretching for almost 3 km, the complex, which is believed to have once been a bustling commercial town on the trade route called Dakshinapatha, was discovered in 1982. Several structures were excavated here, including monasteries, a water channel system, an ancient pathway, and 30 stone stupas, four brick stupas, potsherds of black polished ware, which was the pottery of everyday use between 700 and 300 BC. One of the pillars excavated here has an inscription that says it was erected in the memory of Lord Buddha. 

The architecture of Deor Kothar is quite interesting and the complex boasts four stupas, the most ever found at a site of this period. The bricks used are of various shapes such as a twirling lotus, a simple flower pot on a three-tiered pedestal (the carving of which shows traces of early Buddhist art) and a conical lotus bud. These can be seen on the railing posts of the largest brick stupa rising to a height of 30 ft.

The site, around 200 km from Khajuraho, was discovered by PK Mishra and Ajit Singh in 1982 and it was declared a place of national importance by the Government of India in 1988. Today, it is being preserved and conserved by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).