- Bodh Gaya,
Bihar
This is where Prince Gautama attained enlightenment under the
sacred Asvatta tree (Bodhi tree) and became known as Lord Budha.
This is one of the four most sacred pilgrimage places for the
Buddhists. The other three important places are his place of birth
at Lumbini, Nepal; the site of his first lecture at Sarnath, near
Varanasi; and the place where he left his body at Kushinagar, near
Gorakhpur. Buddhists from all over the world have built temples here
in Bodh Gaya. The Dalai Lama often spends time here. Tibetan
pilgrims come here for the winter from Dharamshala. Bodh Gaya is
located about 13 km from Gaya, 450 km west of Calcutta, and 90 km
south of Patna.
- Kaushambi,
Uttar Pradesh
Kaushambi, in Uttar Pradesh, was visited by Buddha in the 6th and
9th years after his enlightenment. He delivered several sermons
here, elevating it to a center of learning for Buddhists. Today one
can see the ruins of an Ashokan Pillar, an old fort and the
Ghositaram Monastery. The archaeological excavations here have
yielded a large number of sculptures and figurines, coins,
punch-marked and cast coins and terra-cotta sculptures which show
the reverence the city was held in by the devout, in times gone by.
All these religious finds of historical and archaeological
importance can be viewed at the Allahabad Museum.
- Kushinagar,
Uttar Pradesh
Situated in the North Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, 51 km off
Gorakhpur. Is one of the principal centers of Buddhist pilgrimage is
the place of Mahaparinrvana. The monument of Kushinagar are situated
in three distinct comprising in the main site of the Nirvana Temple
houses over 6meter long statue of the reclining Buddha The image was
unearthed during the excavations in 1876.
- Lumbini,
Nepal - India Border
Located in the flat plains of South-Western Nepal and the foothills
of Churia range is kind of holy sentiment to the millions of
Buddhists all over the world-as do the Jerusalem to Christians and
Mecca to Muslims. Lumbini is the place Lord Buddha -the apostle of
peace and the light of Asia was born in 623 B. C.
- Nalanda,
Bihar
This contains the ruins of the world's oldest university. This was
also a place where the Buddha and Mahavira stayed and preached. The
remains of 11 monasteries and several Chaityas, built over a period
of time, in red brick stone have been excavated, as well as a large
stairway, a library, lecture halls, dormitories, cells, ovens and
wells. Buildings were multi-storied and multi-tiered, built on
massive terraces of solid brick, decorated with Buddhist and Hindu
divinities and warriors, dancers, musicians, animals and birds.
- Rajgir, Bihar
A sacred place for both the Buddhists and Jains. There is
Gridhakuta, where the Buddha, converted a Magadhan King. Also worth
visiting is Saptaparni Cave, where the first Buddhist council was
held. The Pippala Stone House or Machan is a huge structure, with
cells around it. At Maniyar Math is an old Jain Shrine. Then there
is Venuvara, the bamboo grove, where the Buddha meditated. The
Jivakamanana Monastery is of interest, since it was one of the
Buddha's favourite retreat.
- Sarnath,
Uttar Pradesh
Situated 10 km from Varanasi is the site where Buddha delivered his
first sermon to his five disciples, preaching the middle path for
attaining 'Nirvana'. Realising the sanctity of the site, emperor
Ashoka, in the 3rd century B.C. built some of the finest monuments
and legacies.
- Shravasti,
Uttar Pradesh
Another of the most commonly visited places of Buddhist pilgrimage
is Shravasti. It is here that the Buddha is said to have performed
great miracles. One story tells of how on throwing down the seed of
a mango, a great mango tree instantly arose. Another story tells of
how the Buddha stood in the air, the lower part of his body engulfed
in flames, with five hundred jets of water streaming from the top of
his body.
- Vaishali,
Bihar
Vaishali was one of the Buddha's favourite resorts and he visited
it on several occasions It was here that he had his famous encounter
with the prostitute Ambapali, the incident is recounted in the
Mahaparinibbana Sutta in The Long Discourses. Another discourse he
delivered here is the long but interesting Mahasihanada Sutta from
The Middle Length Discourses. According to the Mahayana tradition
the famous Vimalakirtinedesa Sutra was preached here too.
Main Buddhist Temples & Monasteries
- Dhankar
Monastery, Himachal Pradesh
The 'DHANKAR GOMPA' casts its subtle spell upon a person. Anyone,
who visits it, finds himself unable to forget this place. It is
about 25-km east of Kaza and serving eastern part of central Spiti.
Dhankar is a big village and erstwhile capital of Spiti King.
Dhankar means " a place in the mountains unreachable for
strangers" and which is home to another monastery associated
with the Great Translator, Rinchen Zanggpo.
- Tabo
Monastery, Himachal Pradesh
 The
rugged hills around Tabo house a tiny hamlet that is home to some
350 people. The Tabo monastery, also referred to as Tabo Chos-Khor-
'doctrinal circle' or 'doctrinal enclave' is a complex that holds
nine temples, 23 chortens, a monks' chamber and an extension that
houses the nuns' chamber
- Rumtek
Monastery, Sikkim
A 24-km drive from Gangtok, through the beautiful, bewitching
countryside leads one to Rumtek. Rumtek, is the seat of the Karmapa
Lama who heads the Kagyupa Sect of Buddhism. Tankhas (also spelt as
Thangkas) and frescoes decorate the walls of this ancient monastery,
now renovated. His holiness Gyalwa Karmapa was the 16th reincarnate.
The style of the monastery, strictly traditional has been patterned
on the lines of the Lamas series of Tibet.
- Sanchi
Stupa, Madhya Pradesh
Located on the foot of a hill-- Sanchi is just 46 kms Bhopal. It is
more of a village than a town. Sanchi is a religious place with
historical and Archaeological significance. Sanchi is a site for the
numerous stupas which were built on a hill top. The place is related
to Buddhism but not directly to the life of Buddha. It is more
related to Ashoka than to Buddha. Ashoka built the first stupa and
put up many pillars here. The crown of famous Ashoka pillars, with
four lions standing back to back, has been adopted as the national
emblem of India.
- Ajanta
& Ellora Caves, Maharashtra
These are the caves that the followers of Lord Buddha, embellished
with architectural details with a skilful command of the hammer over
the chisel, with sculpture of highest craftsmanship and above all,
with the paintings of infinite charm. The entire course of the
evolution of Buddhist architecture can be traced in Ajanta &
Ellora Caves.
Other Buddhist Temples & Monasteries |
