The most celebrated capital (the four-lion one at Sarnath (Uttar Pradesh)) erected by Emperor Ashoka circa 250 BC.
also called the "Ashoka Column" .
Four lions are seated back to back.
At present the Column remains in the same place whereas the Lion Capital is at the Sarnath Museum.
This Lion Capital of Ashoka from Sarnath has been adopted as the National Emblem of India and the wheel "Ashoka Chakra" from its base was placed onto the centre of the flag of India.

The lions probably originally supported a Dharma Chakra wheel with 24 spokes, such as is preserved in the 13th century replica erected at Wat Umong near Chiang Mai, Thailand by Thai king Mangrai.

The pillar at Sanchi also has a similar but damaged four-lion capital.
There are two pillars at Rampurva, one with a bull and the other with a lion as crowning animals.
Sankissa has only a damaged elephant capital, which is mainly unpolished, though the abacus is at least partly so.
 No pillar shaft has been found, and perhaps this was never erected at the site.

The Vaishali pillar has a single lion capital.
 The location of this pillar is contiguous to the site where a Buddhist monastery and a sacred coronation tank stood.
Excavations are still underway and several stupas suggesting a far flung campus for the monastery have been discovered.
 The lion faces north, the direction Buddha took on his last voyage.
Identification of the site for excavation in 1969 was aided by the fact that this pillar still jutted out of the soil.
More such pillars exist in this greater area but they are all devoid of the capital.
The most celebrated capital (the four-lion one at Sarnath (Uttar Pradesh)) erected by Emperor Ashoka circa 250 BC. also called the "Ashoka Column" . Four lions are seated back to back. At present the Column remains in the same place whereas the Lion Capital is at the Sarnath Museum. This Lion Capital of Ashoka from Sarnath has been adopted as the National Emblem of India and the wheel "Ashoka Chakra" from its base was placed onto the centre of the flag of India.
The lions probably originally supported a Dharma Chakra wheel with 24 spokes, such as is preserved in the 13th century replica erected at Wat Umong near Chiang Mai, Thailand by Thai king Mangrai.
The pillar at Sanchi also has a similar but damaged four-lion capital. There are two pillars at Rampurva, one with a bull and the other with a lion as crowning animals. Sankissa has only a damaged elephant capital, which is mainly unpolished, though the abacus is at least partly so.  No pillar shaft has been found, and perhaps this was never erected at the site.
The Vaishali pillar has a single lion capital.  The location of this pillar is contiguous to the site where a Buddhist monastery and a sacred coronation tank stood. Excavations are still underway and several stupas suggesting a far flung campus for the monastery have been discovered.  The lion faces north, the direction Buddha took on his last voyage. Identification of the site for excavation in 1969 was aided by the fact that this pillar still jutted out of the soil. More such pillars exist in this greater area but they are all devoid of the capital.
Pillars of Ashoka