Buddhism is based on the philosophy around the preaching of Gautama Buddha about 2600+ years ago. Buddha was born as a prince and later became a monk in search of enlightenment. His entire life revolved around his abandoning his prince hood, meditating in forests, attaining enlightenment and preaching to his disciples. The areas where Buddha spent most of his life are now renowned Buddhist pilgrim sites visited by Buddhist travellers from all over the world. These Buddhist Holy Places are visited as part of a circuit known as “The Buddhist Circuit”.
Buddhist Holy Places: Lumbinī – Where Buddha Was Born
Lumbinī (100 kms from Gorakhpur in India) is a Buddhist pilgrimage site in Nepal where Queen Mayadevi gave birth to Prince Siddhartha in 6th century BCE. Lumbinī is now a UNESCO world heritage site, comprising the main temple and gardens where Buddha is believed to have been born. There are also many other Buddhist temples here built by Buddhist countries from South East Asia.
Lumbini Temple
Bodhgaya – Where Buddha Attained Enlightenment
Bodhgaya (110 kms from Patna) is one of the most revered Buddhist Holy Places since Buddha attained enlightenment under a Mahabodhi tree here. Mahabodhi Temple complex (UNESCO world heritage site) and the original Mahabodhi tree today are major attractions for pilgrim travellers. Bodhgaya comprises many other Buddhist temples that are visited along with the Mahabodhi Temple complex.
Inside Mahabodhi Temple – Bodhgaya
Sarnath – Where Buddha First Preached
Sarnath (12 kms from Varanasi) is where Buddha first preached Dhamma after attaining enlightenment. The Sarnath excavation site comprises stupas that contain original relics of Buddha. The Archaeology Museum next to the excavation site has the original scriptures, sculptures, artefacts and edifices and other ancient remains and is popularly visited alongwith the main excavation site.
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Sarnath Main Stupa
Sravasti – Where Buddha Spent His Rainy Retreats
Sravasti (174 kms from Lucknow) is where Buddha spent 25 of his rainy retreats (annual 3-month monastic retreat). The main attraction of Buddhist Holy Places, Sravasti is the Mahamongkolchai Dhamma Temple complex that comprises a large meditation hall (3000 persons), a 100 ft Golden Buddha statue and 100 meter tall Stupa. The main excavation site is also home to a Bodhi tree, where prayers are offered. The tree is believed to have been grown from a sapling from the original Mahabodhi Tree at Bodhgaya.
Mahamongkolchai – Sravasti
Kushinagar – Where Buddha Breathed His Last
Kushinagar (40 kms from Gorakhpur) is where Buddha breathed last and attained Parinirvana. The main excavation site of this Buddhist Holy Places comprises a Buddhist temple (known as Parinirvana Temple) where a Buddha statue is placed in a reclining pose. Devotees also visit the cremation site of Buddha, which is now a large excavation site. There are a number of other Buddhist temples within 1 km radius of the Parinirvana Temple that are visited by pilgrims.
Parinirvana Temple – Kushinagar
The Buddhist Circuit
The Buddhist Holy Places destinations above can all be visited as part of a circuit popularly known as the Buddhist Circuit. Please visit Land of Gautama Buddha for a detailed itinerary.
