Bhuddhist Pilgrimage

‘Shakya’ is the name of the royal family into which he was born, and ‘Muni’ means ‘Able One’. His parents gave him the name Siddhartha and there were many wonderful predictions about his future. In his early years he lived as a prince in his royal palace but when he was 29 years old he retired to the forest where he followed a spiritual life of meditation. After six years he attained enlightenment under the Bodhi Tree in Bodh Gaya, India.

He was subsequently requested to teach. As a result of this request, Buddha rose from meditation and taught the first Wheel of Dharma. These teachings, which include the Sutra of the Four Noble Truths and other discourse, are the principal source of the Hinayana or Lesser Vehicle, of Buddhism Later, Buddha taught the second and third Wheels of Dharma, which include the Perfection of Wisdom Sutras ad the Sutra Discriminating the Intention respectively. These teachings are the source of the Mahayana, or Great Vehicle, of Buddhism.

In the Hinayan teachings Buddha explains how to attain liberation from suffering for oneself alone, and in the Mahayana teachings, he explains how to attain full enlightenment, or Buddhahood, for the sake of others.

Both traditions flourished in Asia, at first in India and then gradually in other surrounding countries, including Tibet. Now they are beginning to flourish in many countries throughout the World. In all, Buddha Shakyamuni gave eighty-four thousand teachings.

His intention in founding Buddhism was to lead living beings to permanent liberation from suffering because he realized temporary liberation from suffering and difficulties is not enough.

Motivated by love and compassion his aim was to help living beings find lasting peace or Nirvana.

Buddha was born in Lumbini during the full moon day in the month of Baisakh in 623 B.C. He was born under a Sal tree(Shorea Robusta) when Maya Devi was going to her Maternal town on the occasion of delivery. After birth Buddha took seven steps towards north and looking in all directions, he declared that ” I am the foremost of all creatures to cross the riddle of the ocean of the existence, this is my last birth and here after, I will not be born again “.

This newly born Prince named Siddhartha had supernatural birth & signs, which indicated that the new born child will bring deliverance to the world. Ascetic ( Rishis) warned the king that the boy might renounce the world anytime if he happen to come across. 1) The diseased, 2) The old man, 3) The dead body & 4) The ascetic The King alarmed to hear this and married Prince Siddhartha at an early age and almost imprisoned him in pleasure palace providing there in all kinds of enjoyments.

LOCATION :

Lumbini is situated in Nepal about 22kms from Bhairahawa of Nepal in the foot hills of Himalayas. 122kms from Gorakhpur city in Uttar Pradesh (India) , 181 kms from Kushinagar of Uttar Pradesh and 240 kms from Sravasti of Uttar Pradesh of North India.

ATTRACTIONS :

The place itself is interesting as a whole, the landscapes and the green forestry. However Maya Devi temple and the Stupas and the Pillar built by Ashoka are really worth a visit. Recently, several beautiful shrines have been constructed by devotees from all over the world. A visit to Lumbini is not only for spiritual enlightenments but also for solace and satisfaction that one gets in such a calm and peaceful place.

MAYA DEVI TEMPLE :

Lumbini remained neglected for centuries. In 1895, feubrer, a famous German archaeologist, discovered the great pillar further exploration and excavation of the surrounding area revealed the existence of a brick temple and a sandstone sculpture within the temple itself which represents the scenes of Buddha’s birth. On the south of the Maya Devi Temple took a bath in this pool before the delivery. 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 ASHOKAN PILLAR :

The Ashokan Pillar, essentially erected by Ashoka (249 BC) visited Lumbini and erected an inscribed Ashokan Pillar on the spot a Buddha’s birth. The inscription of the pillar (the oldest in Nepa) declares that Ashoka granted Lumbini tax-free status in honor of Buddha’s birth. It is 6M high and half of it is beneath the ground. It is behind the Maya Devi Temple, to the west of the temple. Emperor Ashoka erected many other pillars throughout India. The carved top of the pillar has never been found.

THE BUDDHIST MONASTERY :

It’s 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.

EXURSIONS :

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, Kpailvastu still carries with it the mystic charm. It houses many sculptures of Buddhism, which present a landscape before that visitors that make 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 GET THERE

Air –Bhairahwa is the nearest airport, 22 kms, well connected to Kathmandu airport. At present, about 22 international airlines connect Nepal to various other destinations in Asia and the Middle East.

RAIL – Gorakhpur, In India, is the nearest railhead, 122 kms from Lumbini.

ROAD –Good motor able roads connect Bhairahwa to Lumbini and also other important cities of Nepal. India border is 22 kms.

remains in the subconscious soul of any visitor who takes the village as a pilgrimage that the Lord himself had chosen for meditation.

There is a magnificent Mahabodhi Temple and the Tree from the original sapling still stands in the temple premises. The temple is an architectural amalgamation of many centuries, cultures and heritages. While its architecture has a distinct stamp of the Gupta era, it has later ages inscriptions describing visits of pilgrims from Sri Lanka, Myanmar and China between 7th and 10th century AD. It is perhaps still the same temple Hieuen Tsang visited in 7th century.

LOCATION :

At a distance of 17 kms 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. The total height of the temple is 170 ft. Its basement is 48 square feet and it rises in the form of a slender Pyramid till it reaches its neck, which is cylindrical in shape. 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, it is probably the fifth succession of the original tree. 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 does not fail to excite the spirituality of the watcher.

EXCURSIONS

RAJGIR :

Rajgir (80kms) was the capital of the mighty Magadhas, described in Mahabharata, during the 6th century BC. It is one of the most important tourist places in India. Being located in a valley, Rajgir is a very scenic place. The attractions include the Ajatshatru fort, Shanti Stupa, Venu van, Karanda Tank, Sonbhandar caves, Bhimisara Jail, Gridhkuta and hot water springs and the forestry. There is an aerial ropeway for adding charm to the tour.

NALANDA :

Is 96 kms from Bodhgaya, The place where an ancient university, famous all over the world existed, which is 62 km from Bodhgaya and 90 kms south of Patna. In this first residential international university of the world, 2000 teachers and 10,000 monks students from all over the Buddhist world lived and studied here. 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 artefacts obtained are naturally a must for every visitor.

GAYA

Is a Hindu pilgrimage place. Gaya is 102 kms from Patna and 17 kms from Bodhgaya Bihar. Gaya is one of the most sacred Hindu destinations. The Vishu temple is the central pilgrimage centre and people believe it has been constructed on the footprints of Lord Vishnu. Hindus believe that if a person’s last rites are performed in Gaya, the soul attains Moksha, so thousands come here to offer the last rites and funerary offerings for their ancestors, every year. Main attraction is Vishnupad temple.

HOW TO REACH

AIR –the nearest International Airport is located 7 kms from Bodhgaya, having daily flights to and from Sri Lanka, Japan, china, Nepal, Myanmar, Thailand and most of the SAARC countries.

Patna Airport – is also nearby (110 kms) but International flights seldom arrive at Patna airport. However,Patna is more frequently connected via Domestic flights. You may take a flight to the Patna Airport and take a train or a taxi to Bodh Gaya.

RAIL –Gaya station (16km) is the nearest railhead.

ROAD – Well connected by roads to Gaya (17 kms), Nalanda (96kms), Rajgir (80kms), Patna (105 kms), Varanasi (243 kms), Calcutta (493kms).

Here in the Deer Park, he delivered his first sermon, set in motion the Wheel of Law ( Maha-Dharamachakra Pravartan).The Emperor Ashoka ( c 304- 232 BC), who spread the Buddha’s message of love and compassion throughout his vast empire, visited Sarnath around 234 BC, and erected a stupa here. Several Buddhist structures were raised at Sarnath between the 3rd century BC and the 11th century AD, and today it presents the most expansive ruins amongst place on the Buddhist trail. The ruins, the museum and temple are all within walking distance.

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 Dharmachakraparvatana to five ascetics.

CHAUKHANDI :

The first impression of the ancient Buddhism monuments while one enters Sarnath from Varanasi, this Cahukhandi was built to mark the meet of Lord Buddha with his five companions. Today Mal added an octagonal tower to the structure to commemorate the arrival of Emperor Akhar to the city in 1588.

ASHOKAN PILLAR :

This pillar is the national emblem of India, presents a splendid representation of art during Ashoka’s period, and the Ashoka Wheel down the base adorns the Tricolor national flag.

The pillar also records the visit of Ashoka to Sarnath. The year of his visit is said to be around mid 3rd century BC. It is interesting to note that at one time, The Ashoka Pillar of Sarnath stood over 17 meters in height. Its capital with the four lions back to back that has been adopted as the official emblem of modern India can be seen in the museum at Sarnath. 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 visualizing some interesting paintings and sculptures depicting the life of Lord Mahavira.

EXCURSIONS

VARANASI :

At a distance of 10 km from Sarnath, Varanasi, called “Kashi” in the scriptures and popularly known as “Benaras” is said to be the oldest living city in the world with a glorious history that goes back to thousands of years. 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.

RAMNAGAR :

If you belong to history, do visit this place, 14 km from Varanasi. This fort and its museum are the repository of the history of the kings of Benaras. Built in the 18th century Ramnagar fort has carved balconies, open courtyards and picturesque pavilions.The Vidya Mandi museum, inside the Darbar Hall has a wide range of old armours, antique clocks, medieval costumes, gold and silver palanquins, silver Howdahs & Jewellery on display.

CHUNAR FORT – Associated 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

For Sarnath Varanasi is very convenient centre regarding Air, Rail and Road facilities.

AIR – The nearest airport is 22kms from Varanasi and 29 kms from Sarnath.

RAIL – Varanasi is a major station in Broad guage network, Varanasi Cantt. And Mughal Sarai (16 km, one of the main railway stations of Varanasi) are the important rail junctions that link Varanasi with all major cities of India.

ROAD – Well-laid motorable roads connect Sarnath with Varanasi and other important cities.

The excavations led by General Cunningham has revealed some antique artefacts 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.

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 :

This stupa made of bricks, excavated by Carlleyl in 1867, stands at a height of 2.74 meter. The excavations leading to the finding of the copper vessel ad the Brahmin inscription on it proving the matter that Buddhas ashes were buried in the place,made this place a suddenly important destination for all Buddhist devotees. Besides, the huge relining statue of Buddha in the temple is also very attractive.

MAHAPARNIRVANA TEMPLE :

This is more than 6 meters long statue of reclining Buddha. The image was unearthed during the excavation of 1876.Carved from Chunar sandstone, the statue represents the dying Buddha reclining on his right side.

WAT THIA 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.

RAMBHAR STUPA :

About 1.5km away from Mahaparinirvana temple, this large stupa rises to a height of 49 ft. It marks the site where the Lord Buddha was cremated. In ancient Buddhist texts, this stupa has been referred to as “Mukut-Bandhan Vihar”.

JANPANESE TEMPLE :

A beautiful eight metals statue of the Buddha, which was brought from Japan, can be visited here.

EXCURSONS

GORAKHPUR :

Gorakhpur is an important Hindu destination, due to the numerous temple, including the Gorakhnath temple, the Vishnu temple,Gita Vatike, 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 artefacts of literature and related to the life of Lord Buddha.

HOW TO GET THERE

AIR – Gorakhpur is the nearest airport, at a distance of 44 kms from the place. Kasia airstrip – 5kms,Amausi airport Lucknow – 252 kms, Bahatpur Airport in Varansi – 282 kms.

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 destination of the state.

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 (1.5km) 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 huma life That led to the birth of one of the World’s greatest rligions known as Buddhism.

The place is important to visualise the 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 villages 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 quiet 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, chaoukhandi 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 Kapilvastu by air is through Bhairahwa and / or Kathmandu airport. Regular buses play 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 20km, 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 motor able 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.

Visiting these caves is like travelling back to the past. At Ajanta, the paintings on the walls, illustrate the events in the life of Gautama Buddha.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.

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 UN the fact that these caves were inhabited by Buddhist monks and religious devotes 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.

LOCATION :

The caves are in the state of Marahtas, Maharashtra, 100 km from the city of Aurangabad. The caves are by the river Waghora,in the midst of the Sahyadri hills buried by thick forest all around. The Ajanta Caves were discovered by a British Captain, John Smith in 1819, and while on a hunting expedition.

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 the Hinayana 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 caves are numbered 1,2,16,17,19 and 26 where, 19 and 26 are Chaityas.

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 :

Elllora has 34 caves with 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. The 12 Buddhist caves depict Lord Buddha in various poses. The 17 Hindu Caves embody carvings of the Hindu Gods-shiva, Vishnu, Durga, Parvati and animals. The 5 Jain caves include figures of the Jain saints.

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 watefalls, BHandardara, Jawahar etc.

HOW TO REACH

BY AIR – Aurangabad, 100 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 swnaky trains.

BY ROAD – Well-maintained roads link Ajanta to Mumbai, good buses are also available. Ajanta – 100 km, Bombay – 390 km , Ellora – 32 km, Nanded – 275km , Nasik – 224 km, Pune – 232 km.

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.

THE LOCATON :

The Ellora caves are in Charanandari hills, in the village Verul, at a distance of 32 km in the north of Aurangabad and 400 km from Mumbai, between Latitude 20°1 North and Longitude 75°10 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.

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 Boddhisattava adorned with Jewellery and headdress. Cave 6 contains some interesting Buddhism figures, among them the Analokitesware 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. Amaxingly, 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, Bodhhisattvas, 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 Festivl organized by MTDC.

EXCURSIONS

AURANGABAD :

Named after Moghul ruler Aurangazeb, this city is famous for Humroo shawls, Kimkhwab and mushroom handicrafts. Biwi ka Maqbara is a fine Moghul architecture while the Grishneshwara temple is one of the 12 Jyotiralingas in India.

DAULTABAD :

Formerly a Hindu bastion, Mohammed Bin Tughlaq renamed. After conquering, it is as Daulatabad. This emperor is called the Wise and 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 to 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 (30km) is nearest, direct flights fly in from Mumbai, Delhi and 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.

The massive stupa at Sanchi with its intricately carved Toranas (gateways) is noted to be a complete example of the early Buddhist stupa 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.

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 serence 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.

LOCATON :

Sanchi falls in the state of 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.

EXCURSION

VIDISHA :

Just 10 km from Sanchi this place showcases one of the most attractive landscapes around Sanchi. The Heliodoro’s Pillar is a must visit, build in 5 AD, it commemorated with the conversion of Taxsila into Hinduism. A museum is also in the city that houses some important artefacts.

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.

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 UN the fact that these caves were inhabited by Buddhist monks and religious devotes 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.

LOCATION

The caves are in the state of Marahtas, Maharashtra, 100 km from the city of Aurangabad. The caves are by the river Waghora,in the midst of the Sahyadri hills buried by thick forest all around. The Ajanta Caves were discovered by a British Captain, John Smith in 1819, and while on a hunting expedition.

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 the Hinayana 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 caves are numbered 1,2,16,17,19 and 26 where, 19 and 26 are Chaityas.

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 :

Elllora has 34 caves with 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. The 12 Buddhist caves depict Lord Buddha in various poses. The 17 Hindu Caves embody carvings of the Hindu Gods-shiva, Vishnu, Durga, Parvati and animals. The 5 Jain caves include figures of the Jain saints.

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 watefalls, BHandardara, Jawahar etc.

HOW TO REACH

BY AIR – Aurangabad, 100 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 swnaky trains.

BY ROAD – Well-maintained roads link Ajanta to Mumbai, good buses are also available. Ajanta – 100 km, Bombay – 390 km , Ellora – 32 km, Nanded – 275km , Nasik – 224 km, Pune – 232 km.

The landscape is more beautiful than can be expressed in words and literally makes everyone spell bound, especially if the person has a soft corner for the hills. It makes an elegant appeal through the Chos-Khor Monastery, an inseparable part of Tibetan Buddhist culture. The clay art and the exotic paintings describing the life of Buddha is really worth a human notice, more so if one wants to experience the exuberance of the cold, high mountains.

LOCATION :

Alchi is located 70 km from Leh district of Ladakh, situated in the northern part of India, in Jammu and Kashmir.

ATTRACTION

The monastic complex, also called Dekhang is special for the huge main hall inside it, the Dukhand walls are painted with many paintings, different mandalas of the Vajraadhatu, Buddhas four headed sculpture and goddesses and the donors sculptures.

At the back of the temple Buddhas four-headed sculpture flanked by four goddesses is a very interesting sculpture to investigate the Buddhist art and religious beliefs.

The three storeyed sumsteg, is also a definite destination for art lovers, due to the clay Bodhsattva, one of Maitreya, flanked by Avlokiteswara and Manjushree in the back wall of the temple. These Bodhisattvas are beautifully decorated and adorned with exotic dresses which makes them more attractive.

The gallery of the life of Buddha, referring to the Maitreya’s Dhoti is also beautiful presentation of art and evokes religious devotion.

The Manjushree temple is attached to the translator’s temple and the four Mnjushree images seated on a common platform, surrounded by images of gods and other animals.

HOW TO REACH

AIR – Nearest airport is in Leh at a distance of 70km, and connected to all the major cities of India.

RAIL – Depending on the railways is not the best options for Ladakh visit. The Jammu station is far from the main city, Leh, from where to commute is easier than from Alchi.

ROAD – There are good, exciting roads. Alchi is nearly 540 km from Manali, of Himachal Pradesh and 364 km from Srinagar, the capital of Jammu and Kashmir.

LOCATION

Bhaja Caves are one of the popular Buddhist caves in India located at a distance of 12 km from Lonavala, in Pune district of Maharashtra.

ATTRACTIONS

These caves represent Lord Buddha in a symbolic form, whereas others have been representing the events that took place in His life.The caves, 18 in number, are beautifully sculptured with many images of different postures of Buddha, some animals and situations of some stories of the tales of Buddhism.

Cave 12th is a prayer hall, worth a watch, and represents a fantastic example of ancient Buddhist architecture. It’s the biggest of all the caves, and the tilted vault is worth a interesting notice. The last cave is also a must see, due to the “Dancing couple” structure.

As usual with cave culture, there are many Viharas in Bhaja also, which , most probably, served as hostels for the learning Buddhist Monks. The caves are also interesting for the fact that they are one of the oldest among all caves in India. There are stupas, a common feature to all the caves, also adds to the fact that these caves, at different places, were motivated by the same motifs.

HOW TO REACH

AIR – Pune is the nearest airport at a distance of around 60 km from the Bhaja caves, while one can also opt for the Mumbai international / domestic airports.

RAIL – Malavil is the nearest railway station, at a distance of 3 km from the Bhaja village. Malavil is also the first stoppage in the Lonavla, Pune railway route.

ROAD – The caves could be reached easily from Lonavla which is 11 km from the caves.

The town is divided into two parts, the Uppar Dharamsala and the Lower Dharasmala (main town). The upper Dharamsala or Mcleod Ganj from Dharamsala by road, is 10 kms.

Dharamsala is also renowned for its beauty, elegance and charm that it expresses through the natural scenarios and the mystic ambience of religious associations. It is the centre of preaching of the Tibetan religious Guru and Nobel peace prize winner, The Dalai Lama.

LOCATION

Dharasmala, the small beautiful town of Himachal Pradesh falls in the Kangra Valley, at a distance of 185 km from Shimla,the capital of Himachal Pradesh.

ATTRACTIONS

Himachal Pradesh is one of the most beautiful states in Northern India, Dharamsala is like a small piece of diamond, which multiplies its beauty manifold. The landscape is splendid, with green surroundings, swift rivers, and the mighty hill ranges,the small city is a perfect resting destination after some rush hours of journey. If one goes to Dharamasla the main attractions would be as follows.

THE KANGRA ART MUSEUM

This museum houses some rare artifacts , miniature paintings and other cultural objects representing the richness of the past of this small town. Some of these belong to the 5th century, and the artifacts are quite well preserved.

THE LIBRARY OF TIBETAN ARTS WORKS AND ARCHIVES

This is also a good place to visit, especially for the Scholars and the enthusiasts of ancient art and literature.

ST.JOHN’S CHURCH

The most exciting memorial building of the British Raj in this town is the St. John’s Church, which also houses a memorial of Lord Elgin, the viceroy who died in 1963.

EXCURSIONS

MCLEODGANJ

In the suburbs of the upper Dharamsala, houses the residence of Dalai Lama, who heads the prayers while at residence and is considered one of the key leaders of Tibet. He has been operating the Government in Exile since his disappearance from Tibet.He has also won the Nobel Peace prize, and is a noteworthy Buddhist spiritual leader.

PALAMPUR

Green is great, as well as the place, coloured green with the tea estates scattered around in the town, making the place a great green picture of life. The place is famous for many interesting places such as Bundelmata temple, Bir, Billing and Al Hilal, the last one being a famous hideout place for Maharaja Ranjit Singh.

HOW TO REACH

AIR – Kangra Gaggal Dharamsala airport is the nearest, at a distance of 12 km.

RAIL – Pathankot is the nearest railhead in board guage route, however Kangra station is in the narrow guage map, only 18 km from Dharasmala.

ROAD – The national highways numbered 1 and 1A connect Dharasmala to Pathankot and Jalandhar, thus obviously the roads are quite good.

Ashoka, one of the foremost followers and patrons of Buddhism, was converted to Buddhism at this place, the signs of which are available abundantly. The place has beautiful landscapes and a charm that can affect the mind in a splendid way, to change it spiritual, and hence soothe from many cares of life.

LOCATION :

Situated at a distance of 8 km from Bhubaneswar, the hills rise high near river Daya, in the Khurda district of Orissa.

ATTRACTIONS

The peace pagoda remains at the top of the tourist choices for the delicate structure of the stupa and the monastery near it. The Saddharma Vihar monastery and the Shanti Stupa make the Buddhist pilgrim a special attraction, and a place to feel eternal peace of mind. Built by Buddha Sangha, in the early seventies, with the influence of Guruji Fuji, this stupa adds to the charm of an important Buddhist location.

Besides, there are many other sculptures to be seen in Dhauli. The main of the artifacts, ancient and archaeologically invaluable is the Ashokan edicts. These are specific due to the inscriptions, written on rock, some of them by Ashoka himself,and are rare pieces of art.

However, not only in Buddhism but also for Hinduism, Dhauili is a pilgrimage. The rock cut caves, small Hindu temples known to belong to the medieval age, A Shiva temple on top of hill are other attractions of this place.

EXCURSIONS

BHUBANESWAR :

The state capital Bhubaneswar is a famous Hindu pilgrimage, well known for its many temples. The famous of these temples is being the Linagaraja temple, the Mukteswar and the Parasurameswar. However, there are many other attractions in Bhubaneswar including the state museum, the Bindusagar tank, the Ekamra Garden and Haat, the BDA Nicco Park, Science Park and info city etc.

PIPLI :

This place is famous for the applique work, the rare artistry, and has successfully continue by many generations and represents the richness of the culture that existed in the state in the medieval periods. The lifestyle and social structure of these applique workers are also very interesting to notice, since they show a close resemblance to the craftsman of medieval Europe.

THE NANDAN KANAN NATIONAL PARK :

Situated at a distance of 20 km from Bhubaneswar, this wildlife park is well known for white tiger breeding. Beautifully laid out landscapes, green surroundings and many rate animals and birds make the park an ideal place to pass some leisurely hours, sleeping under a tree or making friendship with the beasts.

HOW TO REACH

AIR – Bhubaneswar is the nearest airport, well connected to major cities of India.

RAIL – Bhubaneswar is the major station near Dhauli and well connected on the railway network of India.

ROAD – Dhauli can be reached by bus, or rented taxi, Auto rickshaws run too, but as usual, fix the amount before riding.

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.

THE LOCATON :

The Ellora caves are in Charanandari hills, in the village Verul, at a distance of 32 km in the north of Aurangabad and 400 km from Mumbai, between Latitude 20°1 North and Longitude 75°10 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.

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 Boddhisattava adorned with Jewellery and headdress. Cave 6 contains some interesting Buddhism figures, among them the Analokitesware 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. Amaxingly, 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, Bodhhisattvas, 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 Festivl organized by MTDC.

EXCURSIONS

AURANGABAD :

Named after Moghul ruler Aurangazeb, this city is famous for Humroo shawls, Kimkhwab and mushroom handicrafts. Biwi ka Maqbara is a fine Moghul architecture while the Grishneshwara temple is one of the 12 Jyotiralingas in India.

DAULTABAD :

Formerly a Hindu bastion, Mohammed Bin Tughlaq renamed. After conquering, it is as Daulatabad. This emperor is called the Wise and 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 to 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 (30km) is nearest, direct flights fly in from Mumbai, Delhi and 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.

The hilly region of Hemis holds a distinct charm, and aura that is particular to Tibetan Buddhism in a natural and charismatic manner. The yearly festival or the birth anniversary of Guru Padmasambhava, is the union meet for the Ladakhis, who buy and sell artifacts in the market held in the occasion. The mark dance, unique and showcasing the Tibetan routes, is a spectacular occasion to enjoy a colourful break of life.

LOCATION :

Hemis is nearly 35 km, while the Gompa is nearly 45 km to the south of Leh, the capital of Ladakh, and on the southern bank of Indus river.

ATTRACTIONSM

The Hemis Gompa is situated inside the Hemis National Park, that is, itself a fantastic way to experience the wildlife and natural beauty. The Monastery is beautifully coloured and decorated in Tibetan style, with a huge courtyard, it serves as the dance floor during the annual birth anniversary festival of Guru Padmasambhava. The festival is a must see for every visitor who wants to explore a new dimension of life.

The Gompa is 350 years old and is considered one of the wealthiest monasteries in Ladakh. The monastery is specially decorated on the occasion of the Tse Shoe festival in the Tibetan lunar month. The festival brings together people from all over Ladakh and Tibet, due to its serenity and speciality. The colourful and hand woven dresses, the filled up markets with different objects makes it a shopping worthy festival.

n the monastery, among many other antique objects, there is a structure of Buddha Shakyamuni, really exquisite and noteworthy. It is adorned with valuable gems and Jewellery, making it an antique princely object.

HEMIS NATIONAL PARK

The Park, covering an area of 600 sq.km, is full of vivid wildlife and caters to many rare birds, some of them migratory and from faraway lands of the earth. Some and scrublands. The rare species of animals that are found in the park include snow leopard, Tibetan Antelope, Serow, Ibex etc.

HOW TO REACH

AIR- Srinagar is the nearest airport, connected to all major national cities. Leh airport can also be of used as it has some direct flights from Delhi, however, it depends on clouds whether the aircraft will land on time.

RAIL – The nearest train stoppage is Jammu, but train is not a very good option when the final destination is Hemis.

ROAD – Road journey in Ladakh is itself an exciting opportunity. One can enter from the Himachal side, from Manali via Keylong, or otherwise, from the Kashmir side, from Srinagar via Kargil.

There are three groups of caves in the hills, the Tulija Lena, and the Ganesh Lena being prominent. The place is surrounded by lush greens, which makes the place more attractive and a dear one among all Buddhist destinations. All of the Junnar caves were founded somewhere between 2nd century BC and 3rd Century AD.

LOCATION :

The caves are located in Aurangabad district of Maharashtra, at a distance of 177 km from Mumbai.

ATTRACTIONS

The Chaitya hall is very attractive and special. It has a circular dome ceiling, and lies within the Tulija Lena Group of caves. The Chatya hall is spacious and different from most of the other Chaitya found in caves of India. The second groups of caves lie towards the Manmodi hills and are also quite important archaeologically. The caves are well preserved and special for the archaeologist, who visit to testify the sculptures and images in the caves.

The Ganesh Lena caves are also quite beautiful and attract a lot of tourist population. It also has a Vihara, known as Ganesh Lena, many small cells and Chaityas. The cave no 6 which, also houses a chaitya is special and a must for any visitor.

EXCURSIONS

ELLORA CAVES :

Most famous caves, among the entire Buddhist cave in India, these have elaborated sculptures, finely finished images of Buddha among many other antique artistic pieces. These caves were built in between 350Ad and 750 Ad and are more important due to the amalgamation of Hindu, Buddhist and Jain faiths. All three types of cave are found in the place, which is a rare happening anywhere else.

DAULATABAD :

This city has a fort built by the Bhilam Raja of the Yadav Dynasty and is above a hill. The place has mystic effect, and attracts many tourists due to its charm and vitality.

AJANTA CAVES :

Unlike Ellora, these are predominantly Buddhist caves and represent a fine picture of the flourishing era of Buddhism in India. In a series of 29 caves, one can easily see the effects of both sects of Buddhism, the Hinyana and the Mahayana, through the architecture and sculpture of these caves.

The place is splendid, considering the integration of lush greens and rare artistic examples, but is surprising to learn that once it was a thriving trade route, and home to a Buddhist university, well known to the world. Majority of the caves are monasteries, intended for living, study and meditation. All of them have elaborately carved sculptures, reliefs and pillars and encompass rock-cut stupas for worship.

The Buddhist pilgrim’s progress ends not far from the Borivali railway station, but more interestingly, for most, it is just a beginning of another journey, spiritual and deeply religious.

LOCATION :

The Kanheri caves are located 40 km from Mumbai and 10 km away from Boriwali, and in the midst of the Sanjay Gandhi National Park, Maharashtra.

ATTRACTIONS

The caves are always beautiful, but the most exquisite piece of artistic example lies at the top, where fantastic sculptures of goddess Tara and Goddess Bhrukti with the central structure of Avalokiteswara, with five symbols each in the right and the left is housed.

The caves are considered to be in use during the period of 1st century BC to 9th century AD, primarily Buddhist monks, and some of the tranders who travelled from the nearby places for religious favors. However, the most appealing is the Chaitya cave, built sometime during the 4th to 5th century AD, with signs of decorative woodwork on the roof still present, is definitely a big draw for the tourist.

There are many sculptured status of Buddha, on the outer sides of the wall, mainly in the Avalokiteswara incarnation. There are, nevertheless, difference in the artistic representation, when contrasted with one another, may be due to the difference of time when they were built.

Sanjay Gandhi National Park, with vivid treasury of wildlife, beautifully green landscape, well laid zigzag roads and kind-hearted monkey band is another plus point for making the place such a hotspot for the tourist folk. The caves represent a golden beginning and the end of Buddhism in Northern India.

Most interestingly, with the rock cut sculptures, the individual travellers carved some useless graffiti out, and one will be amazed to know from these graffiti that these caves have been in the tourist map from the 16th century.

EXCURSIONS

MUMBAI :

Visit the commercial capital of India, 42 km away, the heart of Indian film industry, Mumbai, is a splendid city for travellers. The Gateway of India, Chwpatty beach, the Haji Ali Mosque, Juhu Beach, Crawford Market, The Bombay high court, and a vibrant nightlife are all part of this city. Most of the wells known financial institutions are housed in this city that is considered to be the richest in India. Actually one would feel comfortable by not making Mumbai an excursion, rather making the process vice versa.

MATHERAN :

A well-known hill station, Matheran is often visited by people for its pollution free environment, and the beautiful landscape. It is also reachable by a toy train from its foothills.

THANE :

Thane is also a nice place to visit, known for its lively atmosphere and boasts of the modern lifestyle. As many as 30 lakes are there in this city, the prominent one being the Masunda. Other important places to visit are Yeoor hills and Mama-Bhanja Hills, Essel world and the water kindgdom.

HOW TO REACH

AIR – Mumbai airport is both a major airport and the most convenient one to reach these caves.

RAIL – Borivali is the nearest station but for major trains Mumbai CST is preferable.

ROAD – It’s a 10-minute Journey from the Borivali railway station, however buses are available from Mumbai also.

Known as Sankasya in Ramayana, this village has been an important centre in the geography of India from earlier times. Huen Tsang name this city as Kapittha in his travelogue and described it as a nice place to visit. The place is renowned for the stone statues found here during the excavations.

LOCATION :

Sankisa is located in Farukhabad district of Utter Pradesh, at a distance of 40 km from Kannauj.

ATTRACTIONS

The village is mainly famous for the archaeological and historical importance. There is a small temple of Bisari Devi where, she is worshipped as a goddess of fertility. Buddhist sculptures dating back to Mahayana age is also found on some walls at the site.

The remains of Ashokan Pillar is also worth a visit, while the pillar with an elephant in lieu of the usual lion is also matter of attraction for many a tourists. This elephant is said to be the representation of the white elephant which Maya devi had dreamt at the time of conception of Siddhartha (Lord Buddha).

The excavations by ASI (Archaological Society of India) has lead to the finding of many items of ancient age contemporary to Buddha, Ashoka and some other well-known preacher of Buddhism. Some of these items are exquisite and represents high grade of art. The scriptures , terra cotta figures, bronze coins and stone dishes remain the centre of attraction for the visiting folk to have a glimpse back into the fare left times.

The Shiva linga is also quite exotic and attracts Hindu religious devotees. The Shravan Mela held every year draws a lot of tourists.

EXCURSIONS

KANNAUJ :

An ancient town in India, having its place in many important books such as the Mahabharata, this place is well known for the Brahminical relations. Ruled over by Hindu king Harsha Vardhana, this city had seen the golden period of Hindu architecture. Many of the sculptures have been excavated recently and the various statues, among them the ekmukhi (one faceted) with the head of Lord Shiva’s wife, are special. The place is also a well-known Perfume production place right from the days of Harsha.

KANPUR :

Kanpur is a well-known and admired city in India. It is also a destination for the scholars from early Hindu civilization days of India. There are a whole agmut of places to visit in Kanpur, the prominent among them being Shri Radhakrishna temple, Phool Bagh, Jajmau, The glass temple, the all soul’s Cathedral, Nawabganj Bird sanctuary and the Allen forest Zoo.

HOW TO REACH

AIR – The Kanpur airport is nearest to Sankisa, from which , trains and buses run regularly.

RAIL – The nearest railhead is Pakhn, at a distance of 12 km.

ROAD – Sankisa is connected to the major cities of the state by good motor able roads.

The nearest airport is in Lucknow (151 km) and the railhead is in Balrampur (19 kms).

The capital of Kosala Mahajanapada in the ancient times, Sravasti is also known as Sahet-Mahet. During the annual Vassavasa, the city hosted the Lord for 25 years ( during the rainy seasons). Sravasti is also renowned for the magical feats showed by Lord Buddha, sitting on a lotus, and for the other many stories that are lined with Buddha. The most popular is the story of the woman who came to resurrect her dead son. There are many other stories, related to Sravasti, basically confirming the supremacy of Lord Buddha and proving him as a legend. Its not known whether these really happened or not but looking at the faith of the local people its hard to believe that these are mere stories and not the truth that happened here. The place also has a magical charm that enlivens tired tourists instantly.

ATTRACTIONS

THE ANANDA BODHI TREE :

This tree, under which Lord Buddha Meditated for a night, is said to bless the devotees who meditate under it as it was specialized by Lord Buddha himself.

JETAVAN :

The Jetavana is said to once host Lord Buddha and his pilgrims, where One of this followers, a rich merchant, covered the whole ground of the park ( Vana) with gold coins. Lord Buddha used tehse coins to build a Vihara here. While there are stories that Jet Vana once housed a giant seven-storied-building, some others believe that the first statue of Lord Buddha was built here. Whatever the story, in reality, the place is a cool and peaceful alternative to forget any other care of life and this, makes once believe the facts that are running as folklore among the local community. There are, however, some sculptures built by The Ashoka which are nonetheless less attractive than other monuments built by him.

The ancient temple built by an old Chinese monk is also part of tourist attraction, due to the story attached to it.

SHOBHANATH TEMPLE :

The Jain pilgrims revere this temple, believed to be the birthplace of a Jain saint, Sambhavnath.

EXCURSIONS

DEVI PATAN TEMPLE :

This temple, believed to be a one of the foremost Shaktipeeths, for the Hindu pilgrims is also one of the most pristine places on earth. It is situated at a distance of 28 km from Sravasti.

VARANASI :

Varanasi, or Banaras, actually is the base for all tourists coming to visit Sravasti. The holy Hindu place is well known for the religious and mythological attachments in Hindu fraternity all over the world. It houses the Banaras Hindu University, a centre for studies of Hindu art and culture. The Ghats by the river Ganga, and temples are emotionally linked to every Hindu devotee and are considered supreme for earning eternity.

KUSHINAGAR :

Kushinagar is, again, a Buddhist pilgrimage. There are many objects desire for the spiritual minded Buddhist in this place and a lots of Buddhist history takes place, especially that links Lord Buddha, in this place of Kushinagar.

HOW TO REACH

AIR – Lucknow, the nearest airport, will serve the air tourist.

RAIL – Balrampur is the nearest railhead, well connected to Lucknow and thereby to other major cities of Inida.

ROAD – A good network joins this city to major cities of Uttar Pradesh.

The stupa competes with that of Borobodur (103ft) in Java, a world heritage site, of 103-m height. It is believed that the stupa has further immersed into earth after the famouos 1934-earthquake before which, the height of this stupa was 123 ft. Huen Tsang has mentioned, in his travelogue, about this giant stupa. Some important aspects of Buddha’s life are associated with Kesaria. It is known that he spent a night at the place before his Nirvana, and gave his begging- bowl to the people of Vaishali. Buddha also asked Lichhivis to return to Vaishali after his death and its believed that Lichhivis built this stupa.

LOCATION :

Kesaria is located at a distance of 110km from Patna, in the champaran (east) district of Bihar.It is spread between Latitude 22ₒ54 AND longitude: 71ₒ48’E.

ATTRACTION

The stupa is believed to be of a height of 150ft while the Borobodu is of 138. The striking similarity in the two is that both have six floors, and the diameter of the Kesaria stupa is equal to that that of the width of the Bordodur. The stupa was built to commemorate the end-life of Lord Buddha, by Licchvis, as for the matter of fact Buddha held the Lichhvis high and also preached others to do so.

The place is reminiscent to the Buddha’s last phase of life, his humanitarian approach towards all, independent of caste and creed. His simple and ethical principles also come into mind while one travels this huge stupa, nearly twice as large as that of Sanchi.

Excavated in 1998, this place has become a global tourist attraction within a short span of time. The place exerts a spiritual effect on everybody and relieves the aesthetics. According to some archaeologist, this monument dates back to 200 AD to 750 AD, and is associated to some Raja Chakravasrti. The circumference of this brick monument is nearly 1400 ft which, is a certificate of its bulky structure.

The excavation led to many significant findings such as Islamic coins, arrow heads, copper and terracotta items etc.The landscape is also quite attractive and has a heart-warming effect on the tourists travelling to the city.

EXCURSIONS

VAISHALI :

The village is ancient and is related to Ramayana, and hence has a rich history associated with it. The village houses many important tourist attractions such as the double storeyed Buddhist monastery, Kolhua Pillar and ruins of the monastery, a mound refered to as Raja Vaihal Ka Garh. The stupas of Buddha, the Bhawan pokhar temple and the Vaishali museum. Besides, mango groves and rice fields beautifully surround the place to make it an ideal religious destination.

KUSHINAGAR :

This place is very important to Buddhists due to the fact that Lord Buddha gave his last sermon here and passed away in this village. It is also associated to Mahavira, the Jain saint. The places to see include the Mahaparinirvana temple, Nirvana stupa, Mathakuar shrine, Ramabhar stupa, the peace Pagoda and Kushinagar museum.

Besides the Buddha Purnima festival is a fabulous festival and thousands of devotees flock to kushinagar on this occasion.

HOW TO REACH

AIR – Patna airport at a distance of 150 km is the nearest airport.

RAIL – The nearest major railway station is Hajipur.

RAOD – The road network is well connected with Muzzaffarpur, Motihari etc.

The inhabitants are simple and always wear a charming smile on their faces despite the trying climatic conditions. As far as tourist facilities are concerned, Ladakh is as advanced as any other destination in the world.

LOCATION :

The valley of Ladakh is situated at quite a high altitude, which varies from one place to the other. Infact, the geographical location of Ladakh ranges from 9,000 ft( 2,750 m) high at Kargil to 25,170 ft (7,672m) high at Saser Kangri, in the Karakoram Range. Due to its high altitude, Ladakh experiences a very cold climate, where even the summer temperatures rarely exceed 27 degree. Due to the high altitude of Ladakh the air is very thin and makes the heat of the sun very severe.

SPECIAL ABOUT LADAKH :

The century old culture of Ladakh can be viewed in its ancient monuments, monasteries, oral literature, art forms, fairs and festivals. It is a place where all occasions-marriage, birth, harvesting or even the flowering of plants are marked by feasting, dancing and the singing of folk songs.

ATTRACTIOINS

1) Shey palace and Monastery – It crowns a knoll and reflected in a mirror-still lake located at its base. A two-storey high, gilded Maitreya Buddha image resides in the monastery.

2) Thiksey Monastery – Exbibiting a fine example of the Ladakhi architecture, this Gompa is situated on the top of the hill and part of Gelukpa order. The 12 sline-height 21px, padding-left:10px;ey monastery complex contains numerous stupas, statues, Thakas, wall paintings, swards and a large pillar engraved with the Buddhist teachings.

3) Hemis Monastery – Hemis takes its name from the world famous Buddhist Gompa situated here. The combination of exotic wildlife, culture, art and natural splendour makes Hemis a perfect travel destination.

4) Stok Palace and Monastery – Stok Palace 10 km from Leh has the only museum of Ladakh, which houses one of the most precious belongings of the earlier royal families. In its many halls, displays include rare precious stones, old Thankas , Queens jeweller, arm & armory and the Royal Crown of the King.

MOST COLORFUL FESTIVAL OF LADKAH

The monasteries are also the centres of Ladakh’s cultural. Each monastery celebrates its annual festivals. One of the festivals which is famous and celebrated with zest is the Hemis festival.

People from all over Ladakh come to attend this two day long festival. The festival is preceded by seven days of prayers by the monks in the monastery. The most impressive part of the festival is the famous mask dance which lamas of the monastery perform continuously for two days. The masks represent various gods and demons.

The whole festival signifies the triumph of good over evil. The day marks the birthday of Guru Padmasamhava, the founder of the red sect.

HOW TO REACH

AIR- Srinagar is the nearest airport, connected to all major national cities. Leh airport can also be of used as it has some direct flights from Delhi, however, it depends on clouds whether the aircraft will land on time.

RAIL – The nearest train stoppage is Jammu.

ROAD – Road journey in Ladakh is itself an exciting opportunity. One can enter from the Himachal side, from Manali via Keylong, or otherwise, from the Kashmir side, from Srinagar via Kargil.

The place itself is like an ancient village, with greenery and free spaces, mild forests and breezes blowing all the time. The ancient stupas, sculptures on them and the caves give it a look that fairly resembles to that ancient age.

LOCATION :

Lalitagiri is situated at a distance of 90 km from Bhubaneswar, in the state of Orissa. Geographically, it is period between 20 Degree North latitude and 86 Degree east longitude.

ATTRACTIONS

The 1st century complex is definitely a big pull for the pilgrims as well as archaeologists. The sculptures are also quite interesting, especially when its known that these belong to the 1st century. There are several stupas in the hill range, and the Chaitya hills are also a major attraction for the tourists.

There is also a giant stupa on the top of Pushpagiri Hill, of Mahavira, that is considered a brilliant piece of Buddhist architecture. There are relics of Buddha sculptured on the cascades, which are interesting to learn the culture of that age, is another draw.

The recent excavations have made the place more popular due to the findings of many ancient sculptures and other items, which are important in archaeological sense. The structures are linked, by the arc geologist, to the Gandhrava School of art.

EXCURSIONS

Bhubaneswar :

Bhubaneswar, the capital of Orissa is mere a 90 km away from Lalitagiri but a reasonably good place to visit as the road communication is quite good. It’s renowned Hindu pilgrimage with as many as 500 temples, architecturally brilliant and excellent for studying the architectural styles of 3rd century. The Lingaraja temple, Kalinga Buddha Vihara, the Jaggannatha temple and the Mukteshwar temple is also a big attraction for the tourists. The place is also a shopping destination in Orissa.

The Ratnagiri and Udayagiri hills are nearby and offer an excellent addition for the Buddhist pilgrims to go through some other important ancient Buddhist remains and taste the ancient art sculptures.

Languid :

The recent excavations, revealing some interesting facts, in the Langudi hills that are worth a watch with utmost interest. There are many stupas cut out from rock grabbing attention, the Buddha in Samadhi-mudra, Sculpture of Goddess Tara, the harmonic umbrella, the Cylin dome etc have revealed a new chapter in the Buddhist tourist destinations.

HOW TO REACH

AIR – Bhubaneswar is the nearest airport. Well connected to Lalitagiri by bus.

TRAIN – Bhubaneswar is the nearest railhead well connected to major cities through broad gauge network.

ROAD – Lalitagiri is well connected with Bhubaneswar, and other cities through a good road-network.

where Lord Krishna was born to Devaki and Vsaudeo in a prison from where his father took the infant to his friend at Gokul. But when He grew young, Lord Krishna came back to Mathura. This time to end his uncle Kasa’s reign of terror, whom he killed and set up a new era of peace and harmony. Situated on the western bank of the river Yamuna, today Mathura is not only a home to Hindu temples, but also is a favourite destination among the Buddhists for once being a major Buddhist site.

Buddhism is Mathura :

The birthplace of Hindu God Krishna, Mathura is highly venerated by the people of other sects as well, the most important being the Buddhists. Although the place was visited by the Lord Gautam Buddha only once in his lifetime, but even after his CE.the thoughts and principles of Buddhism were preached to the people of Mathura by an eminent scholar and a disciple of Buddha, Mahakachhayana. The base of Buddhism grew stronger at the site when Upagupta, the religious teacher of the emperor Ashoka built a huge monastic complex in Mathura. It was then, the Mathura school of art also flourished to become an eminent feature of Buddha’s sculptures. The Chinese traveller, Fa-Hein, who have visited Mathura, mentioned in his account about twenty Buddhist monasteries, three stupas and five Deva temple in Mathura. However, soon due to the revival of Hinduism and subsequently the Islamic invasion of India let to the decline of Buddhism in the area by the 11th century, which has now been confined to the archaeological useum of Mathura.

FACTS ABOUT THE CITY

STATE – Uttar Pradesh.

SIGNIFICANE – Birthplace of the Hindu God Lord Krishna. A Hindu and Buddhist pilgrimage.

BEST TIME TO VISIT – October to March.

TOURIST ATTRACTIONS IN MATHURA

Archaeological museum :

A place worth visiting, the archaeological museum of Mathura is an important Buddhist centre of attraction. The archaeological museum, which comprise a huge collection of Buddhist sculptures including that of the Buddha and the Bodhisattvas, throws a light on the excellent work of art belonging to the Mathura school of art, which had flourished during the Kushanas period.

Dwarkhadish Temple :

Constructed in the year 1814, the Dwarkadhish temple has been dedicated to the God Krishna. The temple, which is being managed by the followers of Vallabhacharya, is one of the most prominent temples in Mathura. An excellent work of art, the interiors of the temple include images of the Lord Krishna, His beloved Radha and other Hindu Gods and Goddesses.

Ranghbhumi :

Perform your obligatory duty, because action is indeed better than inaction. “ Shrimat Bhagavad Gita. Ranghbhumi is the site in Mathura, which explains why to save the purpose of human beings, Lord Krishna had to kill his maternal uncle Kansa. It was at this wrestling area, where He killed kansa in duel, and set His parents free from his uncle’s prison. Located nearby is the Vishrama Ghat, where Lord Krishna took rest after killing His maternal uncle, Kansa.

HOW TO REACH MATHURA

AIR – The nearest airport is at Delhi, 145 km away.

RAIL – The Mathura railway station is well connected to Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Lucknow and other major cities of India by a good railway network.

ROAD – Mathura , which lies on the National Highway number2, is well linked with regular state bus services form Madhgya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Rajasthan and Haryana.

EXCURSIONS

VRINDAVAN :

A home to around 4000 temples dedicated to the Hindu deities especially Lord Krishna, Vrindavan is one of the most important pilgrimage centres for the Hindus. The history of Vrindavan dates back to around more than 5000 years ago, when Lord Krishna had chosen this place to play flute and perform “Raasleela” with the Gopis. Located 12 km away from Mathura. Vrindavan enshrines Govind Dev temple, Radha Ballabh temple, Rangaji temple, Bankey Bihari temple, Pagal Baba temple and Madan Mohan temple to nam a few.

Gokul :

Located 10 km away from Mathura, the holy land of Gokul had witnessed the childhood of Lord Krishna. It is Gokul, which saw him stealing butter, and whenever caught making an innocent face so that nobody could punish him. It was also at Gokul, where his mother Yashoda saw the entire universe in His mouth. Today, though a small destination, Gokul is highly venerated by the Hindus, who come here and offer prayer in Gokul Agaman, Ukhal Bandhan, Putna Moksha, Brahman Ghat, Balramam temple and the Makhan chor Ashth Sakha Leela.

Govardhan :

25 km away from Mathura, Govardhan is believed to be the place where Lord Krishna had protected the entire village from the anger of God of rain, Indra by holding up the Govardhan hill on one small finger.

Agra :

The city of Taj Mahal – a symbol of eternal love, Agra lies just 52 km southeast of Mathura. This medieval city, which is a home to several historical monuments such as Jama Masjid, Agra fort and others, is one of the favourite destinations among the tourists from all across the globe.

The evocative ruins of it’s monasteries and temples still convey a vivid impression of the serene and ordered life contemplation and learning that prevailed here. Nalanda is located 14 kms from Rajgir.

Nalanda is located in the eastern Indian state of Bihar. It is well known as the ancient centre of learning which has the remains of the great Nalanda University and several monasteries and temples. But Lord Buddha and Mahavira visited this place and it remained a renowned learning centre till 12th century. Kings of Gupta, Kushan and Palva dynasties were the chief patrons of the centre, who built several monasteries and temples. The famous Chinese traveller Hieun Tsang studied here and his documents provide details about the University.

FACTS AOUT THE CITY

STATE – Bihar, in east of India.

Significance – A Buddhist Site.

Famous for – Being the largest and oldest university of ancient time.

BEST TIME TO VISIT – October to March.

ATTRACTIONS

Nalanda University

The University was established in the 5th century BC and was one of the oldest Universities of the World. The ruins of the university is spread over an area of 14 hectares land with a number of temples and monasteries built by the contemporary kings.

Nalanda Museum

It was established in 1971 and houses many ancient manuscripts and Buddhist statues. The museum also contains several objects like coins, pottery, inscriptions of Maurya and Gupta period.

Surya Mandi

This famous temple is dedicated to the Sun God and has a number of statues of Hindu and Buddhist deities.

Hieun Tsang Memorial Hall

The famous Chinese traveller who came to India in the 5th century AD and stayed in Nalanda for 12 years as a student and a teacher and studied the social and political conditions. The memorial hall was built in his memory.

EXCURSIONS

Rajgir

It is one of the most important Buddhist pilgrim site in India and is just 15 km from Nalanda. Its temples and monasteries attract tourists from all over India.

HOW TO REACH

AIR – Patna is the nearest airport which is around 90 km away from the village. Regular flights connect Patna city with the major Indian cities like Delhi, Kolkata, and Chennai etc.

RAIL – The nearest railway station is Bakhtiyarpur which is 38 km from Nalanda. Gaya 65 km is the major railway point which is connected to all the major cities of India.

ROAD – Nalanda is connected to Patna, Gaya, Delhi, Kolkata, etc. with excellent road network.

Tabo is seasonally accessible by road via Manali and Shimla.

Tabo is another important tourist place in the Buddhist pilgrimage list, situated in Himachal Pradesh. The place is more famous for the ancient monastery, believed to be built before the Alchi monastery, which has considerable similarity in terms of Kashmiri Art paintings, which might be due to their originality, and being routed to Tibetan Buddhism principles. The monastery is also important for being an interesting place to study the growth and flourish of Tibetan art during the 11th to 20th century.

Himachal Pradesh, in itself, is a very attractive and soothing experience, adding to the goodwill of this monastery. The monastery preserves some of the most ancient murals that are worth a close examination for any archaeologist.

LOCATION :

Tabo , situated at an altitude of 3050 M, proudly spreads its charms in the Spiti valley, in the Lahauyl and Spiti valleys of Himachal Pradesh.

ATTRACTIONS :

The monastery has preserved some of the most antique paintings, especially the murals, which date back to 11th century, food for thought for both archaeologists and the religious monks. The iconoclastic attacks and the roughness of rough time overshadowed, these paintings are preserved in such a beautiful manner that they hardly seem to belong to the starting of the 10th century.

The monastery has nine structures, the most famous of these being the Duwang Lakhang. Besides these, there is the four-faced magnificent Buddha idol, the amitay Buddha in seated position, a stucco idol of Bodhistya Maitreya, and the huge Chaitya hall is really one of the finest examples of Buddhist sculpture and architecture.

EXCURSION

Dhankar :

Erstwhile the Capital of spiti Kingdom, this village has an ancient fort on the hilltop. There is a famous monastery, inhabited by more than 100 lamas. The statue of Buddha, in Dhyana mudra, four figures sitting back to back, is really interesting to note for the sculpture and architecture.

Kungri Gompa :

This Gompa, though unexplored, serves to provide good examples of being and ancient Buddhist centre of learning, with some highly motivating natural scenarios that is particular about the Spiti valley, turns even the most rude into a religious devotee.

HOW TO REACH

AIR – Kullu Manali is the nearest airport, connected to major cities of India, at a distance of 250 km from Tabo.

RAIL – Shimla and Pathankot are the nearest rail stoppages for Tabo.

ROAD – Tabo could be reached by road through three gateways.

1) From Shimla via spiti valley.

2) From Manali via Rohtang pass.

3) From Ladakh via Sing-O-La passes.

which depict Buddha and the tutelary deities in different poses. Foreign visitors require a Restricted Area Permit (RAP) to enter Arunachal Pradesh to visit Tawang. Further details regarding RAP may be obtained from the nearest Indian Embassy or India tourism offices.

One more interesting monastery in India’s basket, the Tawang monastery is a well-known monastery in North-eastern part of India, and the effect of nearby Tibetan Buddhism is clearly visible here. The geographical region was a matter of major political dispute between India and China, after Indian independence in 1947.

The place is a beautifully landscaped hill station in the Arunachal Pradesh State in the north-eastern part of India. The Gelukpa sect is predominantly found in the region, which closely resembles other Tibetan sects.

LOCATION :

In the map you will find Tawang inserted in the extended Arunachal Pradesh into an area in between Bhutan and Tibet. Geographically Tawang city is in the district with the same name, 180 km from Bomdila, in Arunachal Pradesh.

ATTRACTIONS :

The Galden Namgyal Lhatse, or Tawang monastery was founded by Merak Lama Lodre Gyamtso in the 1860-61. At an altitude of 10,000 feet over an hilltop, the Tawang monastery is one of the best examples of religious architecture, especially those of Buddhism.

The entrance, itself is exotic, and houses the “Dung Gyur Mani”, a pond, from where the water for the monastery is fetched. The ‘Kakaling’ or the entry gate is beautifully decorated with various paintings and the ceiling is painted with exotic paints related to the Buddhism folklore. Besides, the assembly hall is also very attractive, with a huge hall to serve the religious purposes of the monastery. The hall is beautifully decorated with silver caskets with Thankas, particularly of goddess Sri Devi.

There is also a Buddhist cultural centre for Buddhist cultural studies, which particularly caters to the young monks in their studies and learning the Buddhist values apart from other cultures and their values.

HOW TO REACH

AIR – Nearest airport is in Tezpur, which is connected to major destinations of India. Tawang also has a heli-pad that caters to the helicopter services from various airports.

RAIL – The nearest railway station is Bhalukpong, in Assam, at a distance of 298 km from Tawang.

ROAD – There are some good motorable roads from Itanager via Bomdila.

Not very far from Bhubaneswar, the place was flourishing learning centre of Buddhism, and still represents its rich history through the ruins of the ancient monasteries, stupas and other Buddhist items found in the place. Besides, this place is also considered holy by the Jains.

ATTRACTIONS :

Archaeological excavations – The archaeological excavations have been successful in discovering some important Buddhist items such as the huge brick monastery, housing many ancient Buddhist sculptures. The recently found huge monastery has been a matter of discussion for the Buddhist pilgrims around the world.

The main sculptures of Udaigiri that has been excavated include some Buddha sculptures in the meditating position while some Bodhisattva has also been found.

The hill behind the excavated places serves as perfect background and makes the site more interesting. The hill is full of inscriptions and rock cut sculptures which, also attracts lots of tourist.

LOCATION :

The city is in the 20 km to the Northeast of Cuttack and is 100 km from Bhubaneswar.

ATTRACTIONS :

The ancient city is full of ruins of the Buddhist origin, some of them sculptured out of hilly rocks, is still to be revealed fully to the tourists since excavations are not completed. However, the presence of the biggest Buddhist complex, which is unusually made of brick, makes the place an interesting place both for archaeologists and pilgrims.

Cave 1 is known as Rani Gumpha and houses some beautiful sculptures of elephants, monkeys , a word fights and abduction of women, all of which are linked with King Kharvela. Though not very important, the sculptures represent rich artistic expressions and good dose to the history lovers.

Though some of the caves are completely in ruins, cave 3 and 4 serve well to the tourists for its majestic sculptures and architectural simplicity. These are, interestingly, double storeyed and house some beautiful sculptures such as that of a lion and its prey, elephants with snakes around them, and some unusual winged animals on top of some pillars.

EXCURSION

Ratnagiri :

Ratnagiri is another tourist destination near Udaigiri, especially for the Buddhsit pilgrims as the place has been found to have connections with Lord Buddha and some of his famous disciples. Famous for its two monasteries, which belong to 6th and 12th century. The large carvings of Buddha big stupas and other ancient sculpture are also worth a visit.

Cuttack :

Formerly the capital of Orissa, presently the commercial capital, Cuttack is the birthplace of Netaji and a recently popularized city in the international map of tourism. The city has many good temples and some really good shopping destinations for the shopping-freaks. The places to visit include the stone revetment in the bank of Mahandi, Barabti fort, Qadam-e-rasol, Dhaveleshwar, etc.

Kendra Para :

The famous Baldev Jeu temple, the city is also known as Tulsi Khsetra. The ‘Rath-Yatra’ passes through this city, and is a great occasion to be there, to see the fanfare and the charm of India, in Orissa.

HOW TO REACH

AIR – Bhubaneswar, the capital of Orissa, is the nearest Airport.

TRAIN – Ratnagiri station.

ROAD – Well connected to the cities such as Bhubaneswar etc. through the road network. However, private taxis are more favourable than the buses.

the reservoir to be created by a massive hydroelectric project in 1960. A major six year excavation was undertaken to unearth the areas many Buddhist ruins, stupas, Viharas (Monastery complex), Chaityas temples and Mandapams ( pillared pavilions0, as well as some outstanding examples of white marble depictions of the Buddhas life. The find were reassembled on Nagarjuna Konda, and island in the middle of the dam.

Nagarjuna konda was one the largest and most important Buddhist centres in South India from the second century BC until the third century AD. It was named after Acharya Nagarjung a renowned Buddhist scholar and philosopher, who had migrated here from Amravti to propagate and spread the Buddha’s message of universal peach and brotherhood.

The founder of Mahayana Buddhism, this revered monk governed the Sangha for almost 60 years and the Madhyamika School he established attracted students from far and wide including Sri Lanka and China.

We could get the following information from different sources and books on Nagarjuna Konda & Buddhist sites in India. Hope following information will help and if you need more detail please feel free to contact us.

Nagarjuna Konda may be named after Nagarjuna, the revered Buddhist monk who governed, the Sanha(community of Buddhist priests for nearly 60 years in the 2nd century AD. He found the Madhyamika School which studied and developed the teaching of Mahayana Buddhism.

NAGARJUNSAGAR DAM :

A feeling of awe and insignificance overcomes you when you lay eyes upon the Nagarjunasagar Dam for the first time. Its sheer size and magnitude leaves you breathless and astounded. As the tallest and largest masonry dam in the world, it truly stands as one of the wonders of engineering excellence.

Stretching across the mighty river Krishna, the barrage also has another distinction to its credit-it has created one of the world’s largest man-make lake.

Significantly, the creation of this lake has submerged the excavations that were carried out here in 1926 which unearthed three historical sites Dhanyakataka, capital of the Satayahanas, Sriparvata Vijayapuri, capital of the Satavahanas, Sriparvata Vijayapuri, capital of the Ikshvakus and a Buddhist civilization that thrived here in the third and fourth centuries BC. What is of special interest to historians is the fact that the excavations also revealed the existence of Brahmanical temples here which indicate that Hinduism and Buddhism flourished together in peaceful co-existence.

All the archeological findings and relics have been removed from here and carefully preserved on an island in the middle of the Lake Nagarjuna konda.

The seven hoods serpant is called NAGA MACHILINDA. He protects the Lord Buddha when he is in Meditation. This Serpant carved in 4 Century AD by Ishwaku Kings.

LOCATION :

The site is located in Guntur District, at a distance of 150 km from Hyderabd, the state capital. The Guntur District is located between Latitude 16º18’North and Longitude; 80 º27’East.

ATTRACTIONS

Ethipothala Water falls :

The waterfalls are natural and the scenic beauty of the place is mesmerizing, the Chandravanka river flows down straight from a height of 70 feet, with hammering sounds and swift speed, and thrashes on to a lagoon which, serves as a crocodile breeding centre. So, you get another attraction for the time and price of one. The flow rushes into a deep green forest.

Ethipothala is a popular picnic spot, not only for the reptiles, but also for the tourist folk.

Nagarjuna Konda museum :

The museum houses all the important excavated items including relics by Buddha himself, stone images, Jataka tales encrypted panesl and many other inscriptions.

Nagarjuna Sagar waterfall :

The dam, which caters to irrigation 10 lakh acres of land, is one of the largest man-made dams in the world. In the middle it contains the Nagarjuna Sagar Island which houses a museum.

Rajiv Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary :

Situated between Nagarjuna sagar and Srisailam, Rajiv Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary is a home ground to many types of playful animals, the dreadful tigers and some of the rarest birds.

EXCURSONS

Anupu :

Mere a 4 km away from Nagarjuna Sagar, Anupu became the virtual place to house the excavated pieces of artistic and architectural items, as transfer of the items was necessary to save them from immersion. Now, Anupu houses the university, the sacred stupas, Viharas, Monasteries and an altar.

Srisailam :

Located at an altitude of 1500 M, famous for the wildlife sanctuary, which houses the tiger reserve, there’s also famous for Mallikarjuna Swamy, Brahmaramba, Uma Maheshwara and Saraswati temples. This temple is one of the Jyotiralingas and looks splendid as the ambience is quite perfect and the lush greens add to the beauty of the surroundings. The place has a “soothing the soul” effect and could serve as a perfect break for the always on the go types.

HOW TO REACH

AIR – Nearest is the Hyderabad airport.

RAIL – Macherla is the nearest railhead, 20 km from Nagarjuna Sagar.

ROAD – Nagarjuna-sagar is located at 150 km from Hyderabad, well connected by Road.

Patna is the major entry point for pilgrims wishing to travel in the footsteps of the Buddha. It is well connected by air, rail and road to Kolkata, Delhi, Mumbai and Varanasi.

Patna is a cherished destination for the Buddhist Pilgrims, for it’s location amidst the surrounding places of Buddhist interest. Bihar, the name of the state has itself derived from the word Vihara meaning monasteries. Moreover, the place has seen a magnificently rich past, both in terms of culture and civilization. It was, in times of Mahabharat, the city of Pataliputra and in the times of rise of Buddhism, the empire of Ashoka. Pataliputra has witnessed its golden days during the reign of Mauryan and Gupta dynasties. Later on, with the preaching during the reign of Magadha dynasty. The region has been very important as a Buddhist centre of learning right from the beginning of Buddhism.

The city has been highly ranked in the travelogues of Megasthenes and Fa-Hien. The descriptions in these ancient travellers travelogues reveal Patna’s architectural grandeur and prosperity. The city was more flourished architecturally by king Ashoka, a great patronage of Shab Suri, who ruled over the region during the 16th century and contributed considerably to city-architecture for the city to regain its lost grandeur.

LOCATIOIN :

Located in the eastern India, Patna is in the northern side of the holy river Ganga and falls in the state of Bihar.

ATTRACTIONS :

Patna offers lots of things for the enthusiasts of ancient art, culture and the religious minded. The Gol-Ghar for a fantastic view of the river Ganga, The museum for Maurya and Gupta period artifacts. The Harmandirji shrine for the Sikh devotees, The Khuda Baksh oriental library for Arabic literature experts, the Jalan museum for Chinese paintings are some of the places not to miss.

EXCUSIONS

Nalanda :

Distance 90 km from Patna. This place is famous for the ancient University of the World, especially the teaching methodologies and the learning system is highly appreciated. The Buddhist monastery found here presents the most exceptionally advanced examples of Buddhist artistry and religious progress.

Vaishali :

Distance 55 km from Patna. Lord Buddha gave last sermon here. This place is renowned for the ancient stupas, the Bawan Pokhar temple, the coronation tank and the chaturmukhi Mahadeva.

Rajgir :

Distance 102 km from Patna. Rajgir was the ancient capital of the Magadha Kingdom. And now, probably the vultures rein, at least, in the Griddhkuta Vultures peak. The Jain temples, the hot springs, the pippla cave and the venuvana are other places to visit.

HOW TO REACH

AIR – Patna has an airport, well connected to the major cities of India.

RAIL – Patna is a major station in the broad gauge route, with all necessary connections with the metros through the broad gauge rail network.

ROAD – The national highway No.30 runs through Patna, and good motorable roads exist to all major destinations.

In Pemayangtse one can realize that India is a much more diversified country than what is perceived. The landscapes are, in a way, quite vibrant. Adding to that are the colourful flags, the green surroundings and simple cultured people that make Pemayangtse a virtual heaven on earth. Everything that is attached with this place automatically creates a magical effect on the eyes, be it the paintings, or the sprawling green landscapes, or the pure oxygen that you take in, in every breath.

There are signs of the ancient capital of Sikkim, some of which have been restored with government funding, are really attractive and worth a definite visit while in Sikkim. And even if you stay at a hotel room, do open the window to see the splendid orchids, butterflies and the cherry trees spread around.

LOCATION :

The monastery is one of the oldest monasteries in Sikkim, it was built by Lhatsun Chenpo, a revered Lama, and falls in the south-western region of Sikkim. The place is 140 km, on road, from Gangtok. The monastery stands tall, at 6840 ft and describes a story of religion and faith that runs through the blood of pure monks. The matter of fact is that it was built mainly for the purest of monks, but later on it started serving the whole community. The Kanchenjunga is at the background, think, it is the best place to be, especially during the sunrise and sunset hours.

ATTRACTION

The monastery houses some of the ancient antique idols, scriptures and sculptures that should attract every spiritually motivated pilgrim to this sacred land. The top floor of the monastery is splendidly built, with magnificent sculptures and delicately decorated painting works. More than that, that monastery has its own style of expressing the religious values, with a charming look and fantastic artistic vibrations.

The most noticeable aspect one sees, in these monasteries is the similarity of these with the Tibetan monasteries, due to the fact that these are basically built and nurtured by Tibetans (after they relocated from Tibet).

At an altitude of more than 6000 feet life becomes more interesting, and for the mind, it becomes more spiritual than on the sea levels.

Besides, these are the ruins of Rabdentse palace, the former capital of Sikkim (during 1814 AD), still in the excavation phase, successfully representing the charm and richness of culture that once existed in this land.

HOW TO REACH

AIR – Bagdogra (in west Bengal) is the nearest airport. Regular fights and helicopter services are available to Gangtok from Bagdogra.

RAIL – Siliguri (114km0 is the nearest station, but New Jalpairguri -125km could be better option.

ROAD – The gateway of Pemayangtse is through Pelling. Good motorable roads connect pelling to Pemayangtse, and also to Gangtok, the state capital. The distance of Pemayangtse from Gangtok, through Rabongla is nearly 120km.

Rajgir is 14 km from Nalanda Rajgir is one of the most important tourist places in India. Rajgir has its own very scenic beauty surrounded by five holy hills, the picturesque little town of Rajgir is important for Buddhist as well as Jains. Here the two rock-cut caves were the favourite retreats of the Buddha and it was on this hill that he preached two of his most famous sermons. The nearest airport is in Patna -115 kms and the railhead is in Bhaktiyapur -54km. Rajgir is well connected by good roads to Patna, Gaya, Delhi and Kolkatta.

Buddha spent many years in Rajgir and also delivered sermons here. Rajgir is equally important for the Jain as well as Hindu Pilgrims for Lord Mahavira ( the founder of Janism) resided here for some time and the place finds its reference in Hindu epic – Mahabharata. The historic sites of Rajgir associated with Buddhism, Jainism and Hinduism attract pilgrims from all over world.

FACTS ABOUT THE CITY

STATE – Bihar, in east of India.

SIGNIFICANCE – A Buddhist, Jain and Hindu pilgrimage site.

BEST TIME TO VISIT – October to March.

ATTRACTION OF RAJGIR

Shanti stupa :

This is an immence white structure situated on the top of the hill Ratnagiri and is the main Buddhist attraction at Rajgir.This houses four gold statues representing Buddha’s birth, enlightenment, teaching and death.

Gridhakuta Hill :

Gridhakuta Hill was the favourite place of Lord Buddha, where he delivered many discourses after he attained enlightenment.It was here that he gave two important sutra the Lotus Sutra and the Prajanparamitra.

Ancient Ruins :

There are many sites including ruins of the ancient city, caves, and places associated with Ajatasatru and King Bimbisara can be seen here. Here one can see the Ajatastru’s fort built in 5th century BC where the emperor had imprisoned his father. The 1.5km long outer wall was built by stone blocks.

Saptparni Cave

It was here, where the first Buddhist council was held after Buddha attained Nirvana. Also a Burmese temple, and a modern Japanese temple can be seen here.

EXCUSIONS

Nalanda :

It is 15 km away and houses the ruins of the famous ancient Nalanda University founded in 5th century AD. Several monasteries and temples can be seen here.

Swarajpur :

Swarajpur Lake with its temple is a famous Hindu Pilgrim destination which is popular for its Sun Worship festival and is 18 km from Rajgir.

Pawapuri :

It is a great Jain pilgrimage centre, 35 km from Rajgir where Mahavira the greatest profounder of Jainism attained Mahaparinirvana.

HOW TO REACH RAJGIR

AIR – The nearest airport is at Gaya but Patna Airport, in the state capital, is better than Gaya in terms of infrastructure and connections.

RAIL – Though Rajgir has a railway station, Gaya is a more convenient railway station, which is 78 km from Rajgir and connects all the major cities of Inida.

ROAD – Excellent motorable road network connects the town to some of the major cities of Bihar and India. Some of the major road distances are Patna – 102 km, Nalanda – 22km and Gaya 34 km.

and this dates back to 6th century AD. The huge monastery that has been excavated is thought to be of Mahayana sect, showing that Buddhism spread through these areas in the later part, especially due to that influence of the great Kings such as Asoka and those of the Gupta dynasty. There are also some other pieces of Buddhist origin in this place including the monastery, stupas, Chaityas etc.

Not only was a religious peace, Ratnagiri also a great place of learning for the Buddhism of Tantic cult, known as Vijrayana. The Kalachakrayana also had flourished considerably in this place, as evident from the Tibetan Buddhist texts.

LOCATON :

Located in Jaipur district of Orissa, Ratnagiri lies at a distance of 100 km from Bhubaneswar, encompassed by rivers in all the directions. The rivers namely, Mahanadi, Brahmani, Kimiria and Birupa cover Ratnagiri from all directions.

ATTRACTIONS

The Stupas :

The stupas are unsurpassable scenery as there are many small stupas around the big one, which makes the circumambulation nearly an impossible task. Various donors who, accordingly differentiated in materials, structure and constructions had donated these stupas.

These stupas, numerous and in varieties, portray a vivid picture of Buddhism in ancient India, in its fully bloomed phase. Moreover, they represent the only site with monolithic stupas in such dense manner, also due to the helping hand of the villagers who added stupas form the nearby places into the site.

The Monasteries :

The monastery holds in front of the visitor the splendid past of Ratnagiri, affluent and culturally rich, the proofs could be easily obtained from these delicately built monasteries. The monastery has 24 cells, a spacious courtyard, a shrine in the front and a lobby etc. The monastery is a proof of the superlative degree, of the richness, and flourishing of Buddhism in India is still hold high in the sentiments of the devoted Buddhist.

The exquisite artistry in the doorframe of the monastery makes everybody spell bound, with its chlorite stones offering it a lovelier finish than the most of the shrines in India. The doorway, with its delicately cut out figures of males and a border of a row of flowers invites everybody to explore in. Or, do they make one stand out of the shrine for more times.

The Motifs :

The motifs, called Kunjalta and Patralata in Oriya, are representation of the process of cultural transfer and adoption of items from Buddhism as the similar art and style is in Vogue in Orissa, in some parts ever in other communities than the Buddhist.

The Buddha sculptures, especially the one in Varada Mudra is worth a close look for its smooth finish and the artistic language it speaks in. Besides this, there are many other sculptures of significant Buddha followers.

EXCURSIONS

Landudi Hills :

At a distance of 93 km from Bhubaneswar, and with stupas cut out from rock, the Buddha statue in Samadhi-Mudra, Sculpture of Tara, the harmonic umbrella, the Cylindrical dome, the Langudi hills have become a hotspot for the Buddhist pilgrims. More so, after fast journey and heavy schedules, Langudi is ideal for a languid leisure day.

Udaigiri and Khandigiri Hills :

Famous for the caves, these hills provides some solid examples of Jain and Buddhist art of the 2nd century BC. There are monasteries, Chaityas and stupas that represent a vibrant culture that flourished in these hills. The archaeologically invaluable ancient brick monastery is also a tourist attraction. Besides, the Buddha sculptures and the rock sculptures cut out of the hill also attract lots of people.

Jaipur :

Situated at a distance of 92 km from Cuttack, Jaipur is a renowned Hindu pilgrimage situated by the river Baitarini. The tourist attractions include a temple of goddess Durga, Sveta Boraha (the Boraha incarnation of Lord Vishnu), and Sapta Matruka.

HOW TO REACH

AIR – Bhubaneswar is the nearest airport, connected to most major cities in India.

RAIL – Cuttack is the best railway station within easy reach, at a distance of 70 km from Ratnagiri and well connected with major stations across India.

ROAD – There are good roads from Cuttack, and direct buses run between the two places.

Gangtok, the capital of Sikkim. Originally called the Dhrma Chakra Centre, it includes a beautiful shrine temple and a monastery for the monks. The 16th Karmapa built the monastery. The place got an existence in the Buddhist Pilgrimage map, especially after Chinese habitation in Tibet and subsequent relocations of some Tibetan religious gurus to Sikkim.

The new monastery was completed in 1966, in four years’ time, the foundation stone of which was laid by the King of Sikkim. Thus, it is obvious that the Buddhist consider the place as highly pristine.

LOCATION :

Situated at a distance of 24 km from Gangtok, the capital of Sikkim, and at an altitude of 5800 ft, the Rumtek monastery is one of the best locations for quiet and peaceful atmosphere. The whole set is composed of the main shrine-temple, the monastery, a retreat centre, a monastic college (shedra), a nun’s hostel, some stupas, a protectors shrine, other establishments for the community and other religious institutions.

(Sikkim is a north-eastern state, with the second highest literacy rate in the country).

ATTRACTIONS

Besides the luxuriously sprawling green landscape, and a mild weather , smiling people, traditions that touch the conscience and the beautiful monastery, there is a some important Buddhist institutions in the place.

HOW TO REACH

AIR – Bagdogra airport in west Bengal is the nearest airport, at a distance of 124 km. Helicopter service. To cover the civil flights, there is daily helicopter service available which fly between Bagdogra and Gangtok.

RAIL – Siliguri – 114km or New Jalpaiguri – 125 km could serve well for Rumtek.

ROAD – Sikkim is well connected through good concrete roads with Guwahait, Besides, regular bus service is available from Bagdogra,Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Calcutta.

Vaishali is 60 km from Patna, connected by the 5.5km. Long Mahatma Gandhi Bridge.This city hosted Lord Buddha five years after he had attained enlightenment. The mass induction of people into Buddhism after the Lord had shown some extraordinary and divine presentations of his spiritual superiority is the major reason for the popularity of this place.

On arrival of the Lord, the then rulers, the Lichhvis offered a grand welcome to the Lord who denied all luxury offered to him. The magnificence of his personality and the pristine values immediately started showing effect on the citizens and it is believed that at that period of time eighty four thousand people had adopted Buddhism.

Vaishali is alos important for the matter that here, for the first time, women were inducted into the Sangha. Gautam’s (Buddha’s childhood name) foster mother Mahaprajapati Gautami had also joined the order at Vaishlai with other 500 Sakya-women.

FACTS ABOUT THE CITY

STATE – Bihar, in east of India.

SIGNIFICANCE – A Buddhist, Jain and Hindu pilgrimage stie.

BEST TIME TO VISIT – October to March.

ATTRACTIONS

Ashokan Pillar :

The magnificent Ashokan Pillar with a lion adorning its top is a definite crowd-puller. This 18.3M high pillar is made of a single piece of red sandstone and is a major attraction to the tourists.

Fort Vishal :

Fort Vishali is a 1km long fort and is known to be the part of the oldest democracy of the world which had housed the parliament of those times.

Museum :

The museum houses a rich collection of antiquities discovered from various sites in Vaishali.

Bawan Pokhar Temple :

This is an old temple built in the Pala period. It is situated in the bank of a tank known as Bawan Pokhar and houses beautiful images of several Hindu gods.

HOW TO REACH

AIR – The nearest airport is Patna which is 56 km from the city.

RAIL – Hazipur is the nearest railway station.

ROAD – Regular bus services connect the city with Patna and other cities of Bihar.

EXCURSION

Rajgir :

Situated on the district of Nalanda is Rajgir, an important Buddhist Pilgrimage site where the first Buddhist Council was hosted after the Nirvana of Buddha.

Patna :

Patna was earlier known as Pataliputra, the capital of Magadh empire and is 55 km from Vaishali. This is the place where the third Buddhist council was held.

Kesaria :

Kesaputta during the time of Buddha where, he preached that his sermons should be taken not as granted, the place is known for the 104-ft stupa that is the largest in the world, even beating the Borododur of Java. Originally a 123 ft high stupa, a major earthquake resulted the stupa to get immersed down in to the earth. According to General Cunningham the present stupa is built upon an earlier and much larger stupa that dates back to earlier than 200 AD. It is also known that the Lord had spent a night before his Nirvana in Kesaria. The Lichhivis are associated to the construction of most of the monuments in the region and this stupa is no different.