INDIA

India is the country of all religions. Wherein Hinduism is the dominating belief of the country but people from all different faiths and believes living in harmony from long time that really make it different from other countries. Spiritual people from all over the world come in India in the search of truth and salvation. Except Hinduism, Buddhism is also a popular religion of the country and several admired pilgrimages dotted in the country especially in northern region. These pilgrimage destinations are also emerging as major tourist attractions across the world.

Bihar a populous state of East India is known as the birth place of Buddhist faiths and believes. Later this religion spreads in several other countries like Nepal, Sri Lanka, Japan, Tibet, Thailand, etc. So a complete trip includes several destination form India and its adjoining counties like Nepal, Tibet and Bhutan, etc where Buddhism is consider as a dominating belief also. With its spiritual places a well planned trip also offers the remarkable exposure of magnificent architectural beauty of old temples and monasteries. In India we can find several places with numerous sites of Buddhism like Bodhgaya, Patna, Varanasi, Ajanta and Ellora caves, Lumbini, Dharamshala, Tawang, Sikkim, etc.

There are several popular destinations of Buddhism dotted in different regions. Bodhgaya, Nalanda, Patna, Varanasi, Ajanta and Ellora caves, Lumbini, Dharamshala, Tawang and Sikkim are some most popular destinations in India of Buddhism. All these cities are preserving the rich culture and heritage and several teaching centers also running there for the growth of this unique belief. .

Since Bihar is the birth place of religion so it must have more significance. Bodhgaya in Bihar is one of the most admired Buddhist pilgrimage sites in India. Biodhgaya is known as the place where Lord Buddha attained enlightenment under the banyan tree after long deliberation. After that the tree become famous as the Bodhi Tree and has much importance and one of the popular attractions of the place. Lumbini is another very popular destination of this faith; it is regarded as the birth place of Lord Buddha so that considered as one of the most important sites in Buddhism faith. You also find numerous other important place in Bihar like as Nalanda, Patna, etc that also considered as important destinations.

Apart form Bihar there are several other deserving destinations dotted for Buddhist tour in India. Dharamshala in Himachal Pradesh is very popular and important one. After all about more than 25 destinations are dotted across the country offer lots of options for understanding the significant of spirituality of Buddhism. So plan a spiritual tour according to interested destinations and embark on a perfect divine trip.

Lalit is an eminent analyst and writer in India Travel & Tourism related topics. He has authored many books on tour guide for more information please visit the Buddhist Tour India and Bhutan Ciltural Tour.

India is located in Southern Asia and shares land boundaries with Bangladesh, Bhutan, Burma, China, Nepal and Pakistan. The country is also bordered by the Arabian Sea in the west, the Bay of Bengal in the east and the Indian Ocean in the south. The country covers a total area of 3,166,4141 sqkm and has New Delhi as its capital city.

India has always been a delight for tourists, specially those interested in history, culture and religion. For Buddhist tourists, India is the land of Buddha, for it was here, in a small town of Bodh Gaya, that the great prince Siddharta attained enlightenment and became Buddha. Years later, it was again in India that an ambitious king Asoka renounced everything and took refuge in the preachings of Buddha. He sent his emissaries to different parts of the world so as to spread the message of peace and harmony and the religion of Buddhism.

In brief, it was from India that Buddhism flourished and found its way to the other countries of the world. Hence, a trip to India to know and understand Buddhism comprehensively is extremely important.

This section provides you details of the places that are significant for any tourist interested in Buddhist tourism in India. You can read about states, cities, monasteries, temples, monuments, caves and other sites that are major Buddhist attractions along with those that are not so famous but are nonetheless important. Also, there are details regarding hotels in Buddhist destinations, Buddhist circuits and Buddhist festivals.

Buddhist Heritage Places

Indian Theme (Travel) Map | Maps on India

Maps-India provides high quality maps on all the major aspects of travel and tourism in India, including India Buddhist Heritage Places Map All the major Buddhist heritage places in India such asMathura, Agra, Varanasi, Patna, Ajanta, Ellora, Sanchi and Sarnath have been pointed out on the map on Buddhist Heritage Places. The world heritage sites of Ajanta and Ellora in Aurangabadcan be easily located on the Buddhist heritage places map of India. The first of the beautiful Ajanta caves was made in the 2nd century B.C. and are a living example of the glorious and rich Indian culture. These 30 caves, spanning a period of 800 years, contain many images of Buddha.

Out of these 34 cave temples of Ellora 13 caves are of Buddhist faith. Sarnath in District Varanasi of Uttar Pradesh, famous for the Deer Park where Buddha preached his first sermon, is visible on the map on Buddhist heritage places in India. Various stupas like Dharmarajika, Chaukhani andDharnek, the beautiful Ashoka Pillar, remains of a monastery and a museum that showcases some of the finest specimen of Buddhist sculpture are the major attractions of Sarnath. Sankisa, the birthplace of Gautam Buddha, and Kushinagar, where Lord Buddha took his last breath, can be located at just a glance at the map on the Buddhist heritage destinations of India. Rajgir and Vaishaliin Bihar are the other major Buddhist places that have been marked on the map for your convenience. BUDDHIST PILGRIMAGE…..MAHABODHI TEMPLE April 11th, 2011 Rachana Mishra Mahabodhi Temple is a Buddhist temple which is located at Bodh Gaya which is 96 Km from Patna, Bihar state of India. It is a major Buddhist site and the temple finds mention in the ancient literature. It is visited regularly by both Buddhist and Hindu pilgrims (many Hindus honor the Buddha as an incarnation of Vishnu). Among the four holy sites that are related to the life of Lord Buddha and his enlightenment, Mahabodhi temple is one of those holy sites. Literally the meaning of Mahabodhi Temple is “Great Awakening temple” and it is the place where Lord Buddha attained enlightenment. The Mahabodhi temple was once known as Bodhimanda-vihara (Pali) and the Bodhi tree is the old sacred tree which is located adjacent to the Mahabodhi temple of Bodh Gaya. Bodhgaya is the second most sacred place of pilgrimage. In June 2002, the Mahabodhi Temple became a UNESCO World Heritage Site specifically nominated for the international World Heritage program. Mahabodhi Temple is acclaimed to be the property of Bihar State Government. The nearest airport is located at Patna that lies at a distance of 96 kms from Gaya. The holy town Bodh Gaya or Gaya has its own railway station. The town is also connected with major cities by network of roads. According to Jatakas, Bodhgaya is the navel of the earth. This is only place that could abide the power of the Buddha’s attainment. Traditions say that around 530 BC, there was a young Indian Prince named Siddhartha Gautam. When he saw the suffering of the people around him and of the world in the whole he became very disturbed and wanted to end the suffering of everyone. In search of his quest one night he left his kingdom and family and reached the sylvan banks of Falgu River which is near the city of Gaya. There he sat under a peepul tree and started his meditation. Under that peepul tree he meditated for three days and there nights and after that the prince Sidhharth attained the enlightenment and the answers for his queries that he had sought. The tree under which he meditated later became to be known as Bodhi Tree and the Mahabodhi Temple is built to mark that location. Bodhi Tree is a significant part of Bodh Gaya, which is believed to grow on the day, Gautama Buddha was born. Under Bodhi tree, there is a platform embracing the footprints of Lord Buddha carved in stone. In its vicinity, a slab of red sandstone adorns the site. This slab marks the spot where the Lord sat in meditation. This site where Buddha attained his enlightenment is sacred for the Buddhists since time immemorial Mahabodhi Buddha The Mahabodhi Temple is constructed of brick. It is one of the few early monumental brick structures to have survived in eastern India. It is considered to be a fine example of Indian brickwork, and was highly influential in the development of later architectural traditions. According UNESCO, “the present temple is one of the earliest and most imposing structures built entirely in brick from the Gupta Period”. The architecture of this temple is unparalleled in North India. The canopy structure of this temple is very different and attractive from temples usually found in North India. The entire temple is surrounded on all the four sides by stone railings, about two metres high. The railings reveal two distinct types – both in style as well as the materials used. Most of the older ones are made of sandstone and the newer ones are made of granite and are said to be built during the Gupta period. The older railings have scenes such as Lakshmi, the Hindu goddess of wealth and Surya, the Hindu sun god. The newer railings have figures of stupas and eagles. Images of lotus flower can also be seen. Mahabodhi Temple’s central towers rises 55 metres (180 ft), and were heavily renovated in the 19th century. The central tower is surrounded by four smaller towers, constructed in the same style. The other four towers constructed also exhibit the same style. The temple’s architecture gave birth to new architectural traditions. Bodhi Tree Inside the temple is a colossal image of a seated Buddha touching the earth with his right hand (a gesture known as the earth-witness mudra). In this posture the Buddha accomplished the supreme enlightenment. The statue is of black stone but it has been covered in gold and dressed in bright orange robes. It is said that the image is 1700 years old and positioned in a manner that Lord Buddha faces the east.The courtyard of the temple is studded with many smaller stupas and Buddha statues, some of which are several hundred years old. Parts of the railing that surrounds the area are among the oldest elements of Mahabodhi Temple that survive today. Immediately next to the Mahabodhi Temple is the Bodhi Tree, a descendent of the very tree under which the Buddha was enlightened, and the Jewel Walk, marking the place where the Buddha is said to have practiced walking meditation for seven days after his enlightenment. The temple is festooned with friezes that depict the life scenes of Buddha. Along the northern wall of temple, Chankramana Chaitya (Jewel Path) is a raised walkway, where Lord Buddha used to meditate while walking. Adjoining the temple, there is lotus pond that is said to have been the place, where Lord Buddha executed his ablutions. The original temple is assumed to have been constructed in the 3rd century, however the present structure dates back to 5th or 6th century Emperor Ashoka can be called as the true founder of Mahabodhi Temple. Emperor Ashoka visited Bodh Gaya after almost 250 years of Lord Budhha’s enlightenment. He had a plan to establish a monastery and a shrine at the place. In order to mark the exact spot of Buddha’s enlightenment Emperor Ashoka also built the diamond throne called the Vajrasana. In the 2nd century, the shrine was replaced by the present Mahabodhi Temple. Around 400, the Chinese pilgrim Fa-hien recorded that the site contained several statues and monuments.The pilgrimage season starts from the September month but the best time to visit the temple is between the months of November to February when the climate is moderate. The temples are open from 5 am to 9 pm