Sarnath
Sarnath near Varanasi served as the Karma Bhoomi of Lord Buddha. A
prominent site of Buddhist pilgrimage, Sarnath was the place where Lord
Buddha after enlightenment delivered his first sermon of Middle Path.
Ashoka Pillar
One of the most celebrated pillars is the pillar with the lion capital at
Sarnath by Emperor Ashoka circa 250 BC, also called as ‘Ashoka Column’.
Here, four lions are seated back to back. At present the Column remains in
the same place where are 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 center of the National Flag of India.
Chaukhandi Stupa
Chaukhandi in Sarnath is a site of an important stupa enshrining the relic
of Buddha.
Dhamek Stupa
Dhamek in Sarnath hosts a massive stupa marking the exact spot of deer
park, Rishipattana where Buddha gave the first sermon to his five disciples
after enlightenment. According to recovered inscriptions, the site name was
Dharma Chakra Stupa.
Mulagandhakuti Vihara
The ruins of the Mulagandhakuti vihara mark the place where the Buddha
spent his first rainy season. The present day Mulagandhakuti consists of a
monastery built by Sri Lankan Mahabodhi Society in 1930.
Sravasti
Sravasti was one of the prominent cities in India during Buddha’s time.
Jetavana in Sravasti was the famous monastery where Buddha gave majority of
his discourses and spent 20 rainy seasons.
Kushinagar
Kushinagar in Eastern UP is one of the four sacred pilgrimage destinations
for Buddhists. Here only, Great Lord Buddha, founder of Buddhism, delivered
his last sermon. The famous Mahaparinirvana Temple houses a statue of Buddha
reclining on his right side, representing his Mahaparinirvana.
Nirvana Stupa
Nirvana Stupa in Kushinagar is a huge brickwork stupa enshrining the Lord
Buddha remains, right next to Mahaparinirvana Temple. This bell-shaped stupa
symbolizes the Buddha's complete absorption into the highest state of mind.
Ramabhar
Stupa
Ramabhar Stupa in Kushinagar was the cremation site of Lord Buddha.
Ruins and Brick structures in Kushinagar
Located around the Mahaparinirvana Temple, Ruins & Brick Structures
feature remains of various monasteries of different sizes constructed from
time to time during the ancient period.
Mathura
Located in northern Uttar Pradesh, Mathura, the birth land of Lord Krishna
was also associated with Buddha. Lord Buddha himself visited this pious
hamlet on the banks of River Yamuna. A visit to this sacred land is a must
for Buddhist tourist as here only Buddhist art flourished under the Mathura
art style since a thousand year ago, making the village a great center for
Buddhist art.
Kaushambi
The sacred land of Kaushambi is connected with Buddhism in a deep way. Lord
Buddha after enlightenment spent his sixth and ninth year and delivered some
important sermons in Kaushambi.
Prabhosa
Prabhosa near Kaushambi dwells around a hill where Buddha spent his sixth
rains retreat in contemplative state. It is the reason why no discourses or
sermons are associated with Prabhosa. Currently, the site is a home to many
caves and rocks blessed with peace.
Sankassa
Sankassa is the site where Lord Buddha descended back to earth from Tautisa
Heaven after preaching Abhidhamma to his mother Maya. Present day Sankassa
hosts ruins of old monasteries and Buddhist monuments which were built
during the time of Emperor Ashoka.
Pipravaha – Kapilvastu
Kapilvastu was the kingdom of Sakyas, the clan of Prince Siddhartha or
Gautama Buddha. Lord Buddha spent nearly 29 years of his life in this
district.
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