Buddhist Pilgrim Sites
Dharamsala
The town of Dharamsala is situated in Himachal Pradesh, on the high slopes in the upper reaches of Kangra Valley. With the Dhauladhar Mountains serving as its backdrop, the town presents a picturesque sightMcLeodganj
The town of McLeodganj is situated in Himachal Pradesh, India. The town dates back to the mid 19th century when it was established as a British garrison. Mcleodganj was initially the home of the semi-nomadic Gaddi tribe.Pilak
Pilak is situated in the state of Tripura, surrounded by flourishing green valley speckled with paddy fields. It lies at a distance of approximately 100 km from the capital city of Agartala.Lumbini
Monks at Buddha's Birthplace - Lumbini Before the Lord would come to the earthly world, his mother had dreamt a six-tusked elephant, which later was interpreted by the astrologers as a sign of giving birth to a world-renowned personality. Lord Buddha was born at Lumbini while his mother was on her way to parental home from Kapilvastu.Maya Devi, queen of King Shuddhodhan of Kapilavastu gave birth to prince of Kapilvastu, Gautam, under a tree. King Shuddhodhan (Gautam's father, the king of Kapilvastu) had been warned in advance by the astrologers that eventually the prince might chose spirituality to Kingdom. So the King tried every way to stop this outcome but in vain. The greatest preacher of humanity, Lord Buddha had been destined to be enlightened and show the world a better way of living.
The place is a blessed one for its serenity and the natural beauty, purely coinciding to the perception of a place where the legend was born. One of the Parinirvana places for Buddha, this place houses some of the best reminders of Lord Buddha. Prominent among the structures is the Maya Devi temple and the structures built by Ashoka later on.
Location
Lumbini, in Nepal, is 122 km on road, from Gorakhpur city in Uttar Pradesh of Northern India.Attractions
The place itself is interesting as a whole, the landscapes and the green forestry complementing its quiet ambience. However, Maya Devi temple and the Stupas and the Pillar built by Ashoka are really worth a visit.Maya Devi Temple - the temple is famous for the Maya Devi's statue, an exotic representation of the Buddha's days of puberty. Excavated after the discovery of a stupa by a German archaeologist, in 1895, the temple is built gradually and is composed of many temples, one after the other. It is also found that there is possibility that a Ashoka Stupa existed in the place of temple. The Maya Devi statue is splendid for its architectural beauty and the way it represents the childhood of Buddha.
The Ashokan pillar - The Ashokan Pillar, essentially erected by Ashoka is also a piece of great art, with the horse at the top of pillar, it makes a great view and represents an ancient story related to the Buddhist tales.
The puskarni - The literal meaning of Puskarni is pond, and this pond in the southern direction of the Ashokan Pillar is a scared one. It is said that Mayadevi took a holy dip in the pond, just before the birth of Lord Buddha.
The Buddhist monastery - Its built in the way of the modern Buddhist temples of Nepal but is quite important in the purview of architecture of the walls. The middle hall contains some exquisite murals resembling the medieval periods'.
Excursions
Kapilvastu - A holy destination related deeply with the life of a legend, Lord Buddha, eventually Kapilvastu is the place where Lord Buddha had lived the childhood and the days of teenage, in complete luxury. The capital of King Shuddhodhan, Kapilvastu still carries with it the mystic charm. It houses many sculptures of Buddhism, which present a landscape before that visitors that makes them feel calm, content. Kapilvastu carries the visitors away to the ancient days when Buddha was a small child, a prince. The place is situated 27 km south of Lumbini.How to Reach
Air - Bhairahwa is the nearest airport, well connected to Kathmandu airport.Rail - Gorakhpur, In India, is the nearest railhead, 122 km from Lumbini.
Road - Good motorable roads connect Bhairahwa to Lumbini, and also other important cities of Nepal.
Bodhgaya
Bodhgaya Stupa A place where Lord Buddha left his foot steps nearly 2500 years ago while travelling in the quest of enlightenment, Bodh Gaya resonates the silent vibes of those sacred steps. Lord Buddha arrived here at the end of his search of the most tranquil and serene place to start his meditation that eventually led him to enlightenment. Situated by the river Phalgu, the village is a complete isolation from the world, dotted with lush green forests, paddy fields and the silent scintillating atmosphere. The serenity of the atmosphere remains in the subconscious soul of any visitor who takes the village as a pilgrimage that the Lord himself had chosen for meditation. Ask For Bodhgaya Travel DetailLocation
At a distance of 7 miles from Gaya, this highly revered pilgrimage is in Bihar. From the capital, Patna, it is 105 km away.Attractions
Mahabodhi temple - The temple is an immense attraction to the Buddhists, and stands near the Maha Bodhi tree under which Tathagat, or Gautama attained enlightenment. It is a must visit not only due to its importance but also for the architecture and the art objects. The Shiva Lingam inside the temple was installed on 9th century beginning, is a splendid piece of sculpture.Mahabodhi Tree - The tree is considered holy since Lord Buddha attained enlightenment under it. Anyone, who likes an ambience of serenity, would understand this place's surroundings to be perfectly weathered for meditation.
Vajrasana - The stone platform, where Lord Buddha sat in meditation while he attained enlightenment is known as Vajrasana. The place is restricted for any tourist activity on it; however, even the sight doesn't fail to excite the spirituality of the watcher.
Excursions
Buddha Statue - Bodhgaya Rajgir - Rajgir was the capital of the mighty Magadhas, described in Mahabharata, during the 6th century BC. The attractions include the hot water springs and the forestry. There is an aerial ropeway for adding charm to the tour.Nalanda - The place where an ancient university, famous all over the world existed, Nalanda is a place to understand the cultural richness of India during 5th century AD. The excavations have revealed some very interesting facts regarding the ancient university, and the artifacts obtained are naturally a must for every visitor.
Gaya - Gaya is a Hindu pilgrimage and is especially important for the post death rituals, as it's believed that the rituals lead to a peaceful "moksha" of the dead soul.<
How to Reach
Air - Patna Airport is the nearest at a distance of 112 km.Rail - Gaya (16 km) is the nearest railhead.
Road - Well connected by concrete roads to Gaya and Patna.
Where to stay
ITDC Hotel Bodh Gaya Ashok, BSTDC Siddhartha Vihar and BSTDC Buddha Vihar are good places to stay.Sarnath
Sarnath Stupa Grounds Sarnath is, perhaps, the naturally most beautiful Buddhist pilgrimage, with a calm and cool atmosphere that silently preaches tranquility and peace. At a distance of only 10-km from the famous Hindu pilgrimage Varanasi; this place has seen many great teachers give their valuable sermons. Lord Buddha had visited Sarnath looking for his five companions who abandoned him in Rajgir while they deviated from the viewpoint of Lord Buddha on self-mortification.Attractions
Dhamekha Stupa The stupa is the most impressive structure in Sarnath. Built around 500AD the excavations have revealed that some earlier construction was present at the site. The stupa is a place where one can see the devoted Buddhists circumambulating the structure, ashoka might have built the stupa to earmark the Dharmachakrapravartana to five ascetics.Chaukhandi - The first impression of the ancient Buddhism monuments while one enters Sarnath from Varanasi, this Chaukhandi was built to mark the meet of Lord Buddha with his five companions. Todar Mal added an octagonal tower to the structure to commemorate the arrival of Emperor Akbar to the city in 1588.
Asokan Pillar - This Pillar is the national emblem of India, presents a splendid represntation of Art during Ashoka's period, and the Asoka Wheel down the base adorns the Tricolour national flag. If you are in Sarnath, don't miss this pillar.
The Monasteries - The Buddhist temple built only in 1931, claims to have Buddha's original relics. Moreover, the temple houses some of the most interesting mural paintings depicting the story of Buddha's life.
The Digambar Jain temple - Associated to Shreyanshnath, a Jain Tirthankar, this temple famous among the Jain community and good for visualisisng some interesting paintings and sculptures depicting the life of Lord Mahavira.
Excursions
Varanasi - At a distance of 10 km from Sarnath, Varanasi is a revered Hindu pilgrimage, well known for the pristine Ghats, bathe rituals and the numerous temples. The golden temple, with stunning golden towers does attract majority of the pilgrims and is definitely an attraction.Dhamekh Stupa - Sarnath Ramnagar - If you belong to history, do visit this place which houses some of the most antique items of the days of the Raj. The Vintage cars, Palkies, weapons, and clocks do steal some amount of interest.
Chunar Fort - Associaited with one of the greatest leaders Sher Shah Suri, the fort is also famous for the fact that Saint Bhatrihari had taken "samadhi" inside the Fort.
How to Reach
Air - Varanasi is the nearest airport, at a distance of 10 km from Sarnath.Rail - Varanasi is a major station in Broad gauge network and is well connected to most of the stations of India.
Road - Well-laid motorable roads connect Sarnath with varanasi and other important cities.
Kushinagar
Kushinagar is another Buddhist destination, worth a sincere admiration, due to the serenity, rich history, and the splendid structures of Buddhist root. The excavations led by general Cunningham has revealed some antique artifacts and structures related to all sects of Buddhism. Kushinagar also expresses the common thread of all sects of Buddhism through its magnificent Viharas, Chaityas, temples and Tibetan monasteries. In ancient times, the town was also known as Kushinara and Kasia. In this place Lord Buddha had left the world behind him after offering an invaluable contribution to humanity, the great religion known as Buddhism that preaches peace and brotherhood. In 543 BC, on a full moon night of Magh the legend delivered lecture to his Sangha and declared that he is going to leave the mortal world soon enough.Location
Kushinagar is situated at a distance of 53 km west of Gorakhpur, in Uttar Pradesh, in the northern part of India.Attractions
Nirvana Stupa and temple - The excavations leading to the finding of the copper vessel and the Brahmi inscription on it proving the matter that Buddhas ashes were buried in the pace, made this place a suddenly important destination for all Buddhists devotees. Besides, the huge reclining statue of Buddha in the temple is also very attractive.Buddha - Kushinagar Wat Thai temple - The unique temple, built to celebrate the victory of King Bhumibol's great accession of the throne, and the subsequent Golden Jubilee, is worth a watch, especially because of the innumerable trees that were planted here. Besides, there's the Chinese temple, the Meditation Park and an International Buddha trust, and the Birla temple to add charm to roaming around in the city.
Excursions
Gorakhpur - Gorakhpur is an important Hindu destination, due to the numerous temples, including the Gorakhnath temple, the Vishnu temple, gita Vatika, Gita press, and the Arogya Mandir. Besides, there are important institutions of other religions such as the Imambara. The planetarium and the circuit house are also worth a visit.Lumbini - This immensely important Buddhist pilgrimage, the birthplace of Lord Buddha, is in Nepal, at a distance of 122 km from Gorakhpur, houses some of the most important artifacts of literature and art related to the life of Lord Buddha.
How to Reach
Air - Gorakhpur is the nearest airport, at a distance of 44 km from the place.Rail - The nearest railway station, a convenient one, is Gorakhpur, which is linked to important railway stations.
Road - The national highway numbered 28 connects the place with other important destinations of the state.
Where to stay
There are accommodation facilities available, in the Dharmashalas and other charitable trusts. In Kushinagar, there's Hotel Nikko, International Guesthouse, Hindu brila Buddha Dharmashala, Nepalese Dharmashala etc are good places to stay. The UP Tourism accommodation, the Pathik Niwas is also quite good.Kapilvastu
KapilvastuThe little village of Piprahwa is a very important Buddhist pilgrimage since Lord Buddha had spent his first twenty-nine years of life in this region. Excavations by archaeological survey of India have revealed the relation of this place to the Kushan period. An excavated stupa bears text that proves the existence of an ancient monastery named Devaputra in this place. Two mounds have also been excavated at only a little distance (1.5 km) from this village which, is considered to be the ruins of King Suddhodhana's palace.Kapilavastu was the capital of the Shakya kingdom, and Buddha was born to king Shuddhodhana of this clan. He grew up amidst luxury and shunned away from miseries of life. But one day he broke out the luxurious entrapment of his father and set out for a journey to his father's kingdom. The miseries and the care of the people affected spiritual minded Buddha and he decided to find a way out to end these miserable conditions of human life. That led to the birth of one of the world's greatest religions known as Buddhism.
The place is important to visualise the pre meditation, princely days of the Lord who had contributed much to humanity by giving up his own luxury and princely status.
Location
The city is located 27 km south of Lumbini, in Siddharthnagar district of Uttar Pradesh between Lumbini and Saraswati. The place is now known as Piprahwa. Nepal is not far from the place.Attractions
The village has a mystic charm, the magic of which can be felt through devoted mind and dedication. However, even for mere archaeological reasons, there are many stupas scattered around the place, built by Ashoka and the Gupta Kings. The symbols left behind by the Sakya dynasty is clearly visible here; moreover, there are relics of Lord Buddha himself.The city also looks very pristine and could soothe the mind of the traveller due to its mesmerising effects.
Excursions
Lumbini - Lumbini, Lord Buddha's birthplace, adequately depicts many artistic arrangements of his birth, like the Maya Devi's statue in the temple with same name. Lumbini is also picturesque and very quite place making it the heaven for the tourists.Sarnath - The four-lion statue, a splendid contribution by Ashoka that lies in this place has been adopted as the national emblem. There are many stupas built by Ashoka and temples, the prominent among them are Mulagandha Kuti Vihar, Choukhandi stupa, Ashok Pillar and Dhameka Stupa.
Kushinagar - One of the four must visits for the Buddhist pilgrims, according to Lord Buddha himself, Kushinagar is the place where Lord Buddha passed away. It was the centre of the Mallas dynasty who ruled over the place, however, only a little has remained in the ruins related to that period. The structures more prominently represent Ashoka's dynasty that had built many structures in this place of Buddha's death.
How to Reach
Air - The best way to reach Kushinagar by air is through Bhairahwa and/or Kathmandu airport. Regular buses ply to Kapilvastu from Kathmandu. However Kapilvastu can also be reached through Varanasi (India), connected through many flights with all major cities of India.Rail - Siddhartha Nagar, at a distance of 20 km, is the nearest railhead, connected to major destinations in India. However, Gorakhpur could be the choice of most, being a well-known railway junction.
Road - Good motorable road exists which connects Kapilvastu to major destinations in Nepal. Private buses and Taxis are available from all major cities like Varanasi and Lucknow in Uttar Pradesh.
Where to stay
The best way to stay is in Buddhist charity foundations, like the Bharatiya Buddha Mahavihar, or the Sri Lankan temple Dharmashala. One can also stay at The Royal Retreat Heritage Hotel .Ajanta Caves
Ajanta CavesWhy would one go to caves, inhibit there, and leave it abandoned? That is a historical question but the present, nevertheless, is far more interesting to experience, visiting the caves of Nalanda, thought to be the masterpieces of Buddhist art and architecture and inhibited by the Buddhist monks for many centuries.These caves are believed to see the rise and spread of both the two sects of Buddhism, the Hinyana and the Mahayana, and enough examples of architecture are available still in the caves. The 30 caves, including the unfinished ones, seem to carry a distinct charm and represent the true faces of the flourishing Buddhist architecture, art, and obviously the religious influence at that period of time. Ask For Ajanta Caves Travel Detail The fact that these caves were inhibited by Buddhist monks and religious devotees for more than 800 years is, in itself, enough to support it become a UNESCO world heritage site. Even then, there are lots of other specimens to support its uniqueness and importance in archaeology as well as history.
Visiting these caves is like travelling back to the past.
Location
The caves are in the state of Marathas, Maharashtra, in the Aurangabad district. Located between Latitude 20º32' North and Longitude: 75º45'East. The caves are by the river Waghora, in the midst of the Sahyadri hills burried by thick forest all around.Attractions
The Ajanta caves are important mainly to see the fine line of transfer of the Hinyana and the Mahayana sect, as for the fact he Hianyana did not worship any god or goddess but they used stupas, and other rock forms to represent Buddha. Mahayana on the other hand, used idols of people they worship. Interestingly, the caves include both Chaitya(Prayer Halls) and monasteries and have both types of architecture and art besides paintings and scriptures, of the two sects Hinyana and Mahayana. Caves numbered 8,9, 10, 12, 13 and 15 are of the older sect, Hinayana. Mahayana related vcaves are numbered 1, 2, 16, 17, 19 and 26 where, 19 and 26 are Chaityas.Ask For Ajanta Caves Travel Detail
Ajanta Caves
There are some unsurpassable paintings in the caves 1 and 2, mainly depicting the Jataka Tales. Buddha preaching in sitting position is the other common example of sculptures. Cave 10 is also quite attractive for its Buddha images and the depiction of Jataka tales. Cave 16 and 17 are monasteries full with images of Jataka tales, child and youth of Buddha, the Sravasti tales etc and are good examples of architecture. Caves 1,2,3,5,6,8, 14, 15,16 and 17 are Viharas or monasteries, 19 and 26 are prayer halls while caves 20 to 25 were used for residential purposes.Though all the caves are interesting to watch and noteworthy, if one has only a little time in hand caves, remember 1,2,16,17, 19 and 26 are must see.
Excursions
Ellora caves - Ellora caves too have some fantastic rock cut sculptures and is in the same district with that of Ajanta namely, Aurangabad. The caves are always rhymed with the Ajanta Caves for the architectural similarity and location. The cave is a symbol of representation of high tolerance of India from the ancient days, as well as pointing towards the common thread running through Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism.Ellora Caves Nasik - The green belt city of Maharashtra is well known for the 12-Year Mahakumbh and the varieties of fruits produced here. The city is related with Ramayana and is a very fast growing industrial destination in India. Shirdi, Trmbakeshwar, Dudhsagar waterfalls, Bhandardara, Jawahar, etc.
How to Reach
By Air - Aurangabad, 99 km away is the nearest airport. Direct flights available from Delhi, Mumbai, Jaipur etc.By Rail - Aurangabad is nearest railhead, Jalgaon, 59 km away, is good for catching swanky trains.
By Road - Well-maintained roads link Ajanta to Mumbai, good buses are also available.
Where to stay
The Ambassador Ajanta is a good option to have a stay. Quality Inn the meadows can also be tried out.Ellora Caves
Ellora caves are more important to see the common threads of the three different faiths namely, the Hinduism, the Buddhism, and the Jainism, and more interestingly, to note the integration and tolerance which prevailed at that time. Strangely, even though many invaders tried to destroy and damaged them, they stand with the same charm and antiquity with which they first were built.There are 34 caves, in total, 1st to 12th belongs to the Buddhist faith, 13th to 29th are Hindu caves while the rest are Jain. Though a little difference is seen, which is obvious, the caves are breathtakingly attractive and present a splendid picture of an age where harmony and tolerance were the priorities rather than competition for the highest number of followers.
Believed to be built in the period of 350 AD to 750AD, Ellora caves came later than Ajanta but hold the same mystical charm that is typical of these caves. The Andakasuramardana incarnation of lord Shiva is special and is a must see for any art lover, as are the other important structures, depicting various dance forms of Shiva.
The location
The Ellora caves are in Charanadari hills, in the village Verul, at a distance of 26 km in the north of Aurangabad and 400 km from Mumbai, between Latitude: 20º1'North and Longitude: 75º10'East.<Attractions
The landscape is cool and soothing, besides the hill caves could serve as the perfect destination for the city dwellers as well as tourists obsessed with crowded localities and polluted environments.Ellora Cave
The most attractive caves are numbered 2,5,6,10, and 11, however, all the caves are to be visited if one wants to explore the site fully. Cave 2 is interesting for the Verandah and the Sravasti tales depicted on the walls. Cave No 5 consists of a large hall, with porches, aisles, and decorated columns. The central shrine houses a seated Buddha and its entrance is exotically decorated with Bodhisattva adorned with jewelry and headdress. Cave 6 contains some interesting Buddhism figures, among them the Analokiteshwara with lotus, Mahamayuri and other small figures are good pieces of artistic expression in rock sculptures.Vishvakarma, or cave 10 is a Hindu cave and as the name suggests, is dedicated to Vishvakarma, a Hindu God of architecture, engineering and constructions. Amazingly, this Hindu temple consists of figures of Buddha in several poses and positions. There are some female figures too depicted on the walls, with some Bodhisattvas. The cave 11 housed images of Durga, Ganesha, Boddhisattvas, and Buddha in many forms. The addition of images from two religions could be due to the process of promotion of Buddhism within the local Hindu community, or due to the fact that the portion was later dedicated to Hindu gods and goddesses. Cave 11 is somewhat surprisingly called Do Tal (Double Storey). Mural paintings of Ellora are preserved in the Kailasa temple.
Ellora is also a World Heritage Site. Third week of March sees the extravagant Ellora Festival organized by MTDC.
Excursions
Aurangabad- Named after Moghul ruler Aurangzeb, this city is famous for Humroo shawls, Kimkhwab and Mushroo handicrafts. Biwi Ka Maqbara is a fine Moghul architecture while the Grishneshwara temple is one of the 12 Jyotiralingas in India.Aurangabad Daultabad - Formerly a Hindu bastion, Mohammed Bin Tughlaq renamed. After conquering, it as Daulatabad. This emperor is called the Wise n Fool emperor due to his extraordinary character. Though his warfare techniques, architectural choices etc were superb, he lacked in Management skills. Wooed by the beauty of this hill, he ordered all the citizens of Delhi to be moved to Daulatabad, a foolish decision, causing immense damage to property and huge casualty.
Ajanta Caves - The 29 Caves of Ajanta without a visit of which Ellora visit is incomplete, however Ajanta caves are predominantly Buddhist in nature.
How to Reach
By Air - Chikalthana airport at Aurangabad (30 kms) is nearest, direct flights fly in from Mumbai, Delhi, Jaipur etc.By Rail - Either, Aurangabad if you have enough leisure time, or Jalgaon, if you need faster trains.
By Road - Good road condition, and a superb connectivity from Mumbai.
Where to stay
The ambassador Ajanta, Taj Residency, Welcomgroup Rama International, The President Park, Quality Inn the Meadows, are good options in the deluxe category. In standard terms, the Quality Inn Vedant, Aurangabad Ashok, and Hotel Amanpreet are nice. One can also try the MTDC accommodations Holiday Resort and the Fardapur.Sanchi
Sanchi Stupa III at Sanchi The massive stupa at Sanchi with its intricately carved toranas (gateways) is noted to be a complete example of the early Buddhist stupa architecture in its extant form. Buddhist site in Sanchi is one of the world heritage sites at Unesco. Bhopal is the nearest airport to Sanchi (46 kms) and is well connected by rail and road with rest of the country. Sanchi is quite famous for its Stupas, had many a name in the historical times, such as Kakanaya, Kakanava, Kakanadabota etc. The stupas in the place are simple irresistible and showcases the history of Buddhism in India, in a simple yet convincing manner. There is some Stupa built by Ashoka, which are special attractions of this place. The serene landscapes and the beautifully erected Buddhist temples add to the beauty of the place. In the large hemispherical domes one can find Buddha's relics.Location
Sanchi fall sin the State Madhya Pradesh at a distance of 52 km from the state capital Bhopal and 10 km from Vidisha.Attraction
The Stupas - The huge gateways and the stories encrypted inside the large domes are definitely the most attractive lessons in the Sanchi Chapter of Buddhism. The sculptures and the murals in the Stupa teach the basic values of Buddhism. The presence of Lotus in large number showcases purity amidst sins. There are many other shapes that are exhibited brilliantly in stones, among them human, elephants, jataka tales' characters etc are prominent. There is a way around the Stupa to circumambulate it, which is another attraction of the structure.The ASI museum - Archaeological Survey of India has a museum in Sanchi housing many antiquities related to Buddhism, especially the Ashokan Pillar, the lion Capital is quite beautiful and attracts every archaeology lover.
How to Reach
Air - Bhopal is the nearest airport at a distance of 46 km.Rail - Nearest railhead is at Vidisha, 10 km from Sanchi.
Road - Sanchi is well connected to Bhopal, Vidisha and Indore through well laid road network.
Stay at Jehan Numa Palace Hotel in Bhopal.