Lord Buddha’s life has always been a subject of fascination for the followers of Buddhism. To dive into how his life was and learn all about Buddhism, devotees visit many Buddhist sites with great enthusiasm. From Lumbini to Gaya, there are many sites all over the country that are important for Buddhists and form an important part of Buddhism. While some have famous Buddhist temples and stupas, some are home to the most iconic monasteries. Let’s learn about 10 of these.
One of the most popular Buddhist sites, this is the place where Lord Buddha meditated under the Bodhi tree for 49 days to attain enlightenment. It is also home to the Mahabodhi Temple with the Bodhi tree and an 80-foot-tall statue of Lord Buddha. UNESCO has declared this Buddhist temple a World Heritage Site.
This serene town is located near Varanasi. Lord Buddha gave his first sermon here and taught about the path of Dhamma. This is also where he formed the Sangha or the monastic order. Some popular sites in Sarnath include the Dhamek Stupa, which marks the spot where he preached, the Ashoka Pillar, the Mahabodhi Society Temple, and the Sarnath Museum, among many others.
This is where Lord Buddha attained mahaparinirvana, i.e., nirvana after death. On the orders of emperor Ashoka, a stupa was constructed to mark this spot. It is called the Mahaparinirvana Temple, which has a 6 feet tall reclining statue of Lord Buddha. The town of Kushinagar also has a 49-foot-tall stupa called the Ramabhar Stupa at the spot where he was cremated.
It is said that after attaining enlightenment, this is where Lord Buddha spent most of his life. It has the Ananda Bodhi tree, which was planted by one of the main disciples of Lord Buddha and the Anathapindika Stupa as well. Shravasti is also home to the Jetavana Monastery, which is believed to be Lord Buddha’s residence while he was here.
Many important sermons were delivered in Rajgir by Lord Buddha. It has the beautiful white colored Vishwa Shanti Stupa and the Griddhakuta Hill, which marks the spot where Lord Buddha delivered sermons, many of them being on the much revered Lotus Sutra. The Vulture Peak is also a point of interest. The peaceful vibes of the city make it perfect for those seeking nirvana.
Lord Buddha gave his last sermon here in Vaishali, located near Patna in Bihar. A stupa was made by emperor Ashoka, where it was delivered, and an Ashoka pillar was constructed next to the stupa. He also began spiritual training in this city and inducted his first female disciple, Gautami. That is why the district of Vaishali is very sacred for Buddhists.
Buddhists often visit the city of Sanchi. It is home to the famous Sanchi Stupa, which has a height of 50 feet and a 37-meter-wide dome. Emperor Ashoka commissioned the construction of this stupa, which houses the ashes of Lord Buddha and many Buddhist relics. It is a World Heritage Site declared by UNESCO and is situated atop a hill.
It was home to the much-famed and ancient Nalanda University, which was a popular Buddhist learning center and the origin place of many Buddhist schools of thought. Nalanda holds importance for Buddhists because Lord Buddha himself visited it. The ruins of this university, equipped with temples, meditation halls, dormitories, and a library, are still visited by many tourists throughout the year.
Holding a lot of significance for the followers of Buddhism, the city has the Tawang Monastery, the largest monastery in the world. It has been here for 400 years, and more than 300 monks live in this monastery. The Tawang Monastery is situated at 10,000 feet and offers a breathtaking view of the Tawang Valley. Its picturesque location fills the mind with peace.
This place holds immense significance for the followers of Buddhism since this is where Lord Buddha spent 29 years of his life as Prince Siddhartha before he renounced the material world. The ruins of the palace where he lived can still be visited. The city of Kapilvastu also has many stupas and is located near the border of India and Nepal.
Founded by Lord Buddha, Buddhism has influenced people from the east to the far west. Standing on the foundation of peace, the religion has many important pilgrimage sites across the country, like stupas, monasteries, and Buddhist temples, that deserve to be visited. The peaceful aura of these sites makes the experience extremely divine.
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