Buddhist Sites

Sanchi

Sanchi is a small town on the outskirts of Bhopal, situated around 48 km from the capital city. The town comes under the district of Vidisha. Sanchi is the living example of visions and beliefs of Emperor Ashoka. The town is scattered with numerous Buddhist structures like pillars and stupas. Although the city is world known for these Buddhist sites, but Sanchi does not have great significance or consequences in Buddhist history. Though it is now considered as a pilgrimage town due to the monasteries that are present here.

History

Sanchi’s importance as a major pilgrimage center began to increase from the time when Ashoka the Mauryan Emperor tied the knot with a woman from Besnagar, a place situated close by. Ashoka then went on to construct a glazed stone pillar and a stupa built of brick and mortar. These constructions were a significant landmark in the history of Sanchi. They can be traced back to the 3rd century BC. The complex was refurbished and additions and alterations were made by the successive dynasties, but the waning of Buddhism brought in its wake the decline of Sanchi that lay abandoned for a considerable time, till it was brought to life in the year 1818 by General Taylor of the Bengali cavalry.

On flipping through the pages of the history of Sanchi, you would stumble upon a lot of interesting information on the historical background of Sanchi that would have otherwise remained under covers. Restoration activity in Sanchi gained a fillip during the 20th century which saw the reconstruction of the chief stupas. However the major restoration work was undertaken by archaeologist John Marshall and the Buddhist scholar Albert Foucher in 1912. Beautiful parks and museums also came up. Due to its strong association with Buddhism and the life of Lord Buddha, Sanchi was ascribed the status of a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

Accessibility

Air: 'Raja Bhoj' Airport in Bhopal is the nearest airport. It is nearly 46 km away from Sanchi. Taxi fare is about Rs 1000 from Bhopal airport to Sanchi. Bhopal airport is connected to many cities in India by air, including Delhi, Indore, Mumbai, Gwalior and Jabalpur. Air India offers flights to Sharjah and Dubai from Bhopal.

Rail: Bhopal is the nearest railhead to Sanchi, which is nearly 50 km away from Sanchi. Tourist taxi services are available from Bhopal to Sanchi with a fare of about Rs 1000. Bhopal is a major railway junction, which is placed in the Mumabi – Delhi broad gauge line. It is connected to all cities in India.

Road: Many buses are available from different parts of Madhya Pradesh to Sanchi. Governmemt owned public buses and Private luxury buses are providing services from Sanchi to many cities, including places like Bhopal (46 km), Indore(232 km) and Vidisha (10 km).

Shopping

Renowned to be a Buddhist heritage site dotted with monuments this city is not mush of a shopping ground. But you would surely love to carry some token back to your country, so pass trough the local shops that will give you a varied options for souvenirs. Some of the items that you can look forward to buy in Sanchi includes brass ware, terracotta, shell work, crochet, carved furniture, bamboo work As it is a very small town then there are not many bazaars and markets. The local people sell their concentrated items that were probably made at home and for an ardent traveller, this is more than a blessing.

District
Vidisha District
STD Code
07482
Termperature
Summer 24-48°C, Winter 9-36°C
Best time to visit
October to March
Famous For
The Great Stupa

Sravasti

Sravasti, the capital of Kosala Mahajanapada , was the biggest town in the Gangetic plains during the Buddha's lifetime.

Image Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/tetsuro/4321076733/

History

The history of Shravasti Uttar Pradeshhas a new face according to various legends and myths. According to the epic Ramayana, Shravasti was a city created for Lav (one of the sons of King Rama). Rama divided his Kingdom- the kingdom of Kosala into two parts and made Lav the king of Shravasti and another son Kusha the king of Kushavati- another town in Kosala.

According to the other Indian epic Mahabharata, the History of Shravasti in India can be traced to the legendary king Shravasta. Whereas according to the Buddhist tradition, the city was called Savatthi because the sage Savattha lived there. According to another legend the name Shravasti originated from "Sabbam atthi" (meaning "we have all things") denoting the peace and prosperity of the people of the region.

Gautama Buddha passed the greater part of his monastic life in Shravasti, then known as Savatthi. His first visit to Shravasti was at the invitation of Anathapindika, whom he met in Rajagaha. The chief patrons of the Buddha in Savatthi were Anathapindika, Visakha, Suppavasa and Pasenadi. When Bandhula left Vesali he came to live in Savatthi.

This ancient city is hailed as the birthplace of the founder of Jainism- Tirthanakar. The History of Shravasti in Uttar Pradeshin India according to modern historians however, begins with the formation of Janpad's by Yugadidev Shri Adishwar Prabhu. This place was the capital city of North Kaushal Janpad. Many Jain Kings such as King Jitari, Shri Sambhavnath Bhagwan and others ruled this place after Bhagwan Adinath.

King Prasanjeet ruled Shravasti at the time of Bhagwan Mahaveer and was a loyal follower of Prabhu Veer. However, the most important phase in the history of Shravasti Uttar Pradeshcomes with the time of Samrat Ashok. Ashok and his grand son King Samprati also constructed quite a few Buddhist temples and Stoopas at Shravasti.

Accessibility

Air: Nearest Airport is Lucknow - 176 km, from where Sravasti can be reached by rail upto Balrampur via Gonda.

Rail: Sravasti is 18 km from the nearest railhead, Balrampur. From Lucknow there are train services to Balrampur.

Road: Bus services are available from all major neighboring centres. Sravasti is - 119 km from Basti and - 17 km. from Balrampur.

Shopping

Sravasti is a renowned Buddhist pilgrimage located in Uttar Pradesh. But the little village of Sravasti does not offer much for shopping. Lucknow, the capital of Uttar Pradesh, is the nearest city from Sravasti. Lucknow offers excellent shopping opportunity.

Accommodation

There are not many hotels in the little village of Sravasti. The State Government runs a few Tourist Lodges, Bungalows and hotels in Sravasti. Along with those there are some private run good hotels also.

The Uttar Pradesh Government Tourist Bungalow at Balrampur and other prominent Hotels are available at the pilgrimage place. Hotel Lotus Nikko is one of the best hotels to count for the visitors who wants a comfortable stay in and around Sravasti.

Urban sophistication and luxury is not available in the hotels in Sravasti. But of course at a moderate price they offer decent arrangements. Some modern amenities are also available to make sure that you enjoy a comfortable and hygienic stay in the hotels in Sravasti.

Hotels in Sravasti
¤ Hotel Lotus Nikko (3 Star)
¤ Mahamaya Hotel (3 Star)
¤ Pathik Balaram Hotel (Budget)

District
Gonda
STD Code
05263
Best time to visit
October to March
Famous For
One of the Buddhist pilgrimages in the world

Sarnath

Sarnath has an important place in Buddhist way of life, as it is the place where Lord Buddha gave his first sermon after he got enlighten in Bodh Gaya. The place along with Lumbini, Gaya and Kushinagar forms the Buddhist Quadrilateral in the Indian Sub-Continent. Lumbini is the place where Lord Buddha got birth and Gaya marks the place where he got enlightened. While Sarnath and Kushinagar are the places where Lord Buddha gave his first sermon and attained Nirvana respectively.

Image Credit:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/felixdance/4985917599/in/photostream
http://www.flickr.com/photos/gashwin/1071098507/in/set-7215760134248080…
http://www.flickr.com/photos/gashwin/1071086161/in/set-72157601342480802

History

The History of Sarnath India began with the arrival of Gautam Buddha at this place in 528 B.C. after he attained enlightenment at Bodh Gaya. Here he preached his first discourse to his five former companions. This event is described in Buddhist texts as dharmachakra – pravartana, meaning the turning of the Wheel of Law. The Buddha taught them al that he had learned and thus they also became enlightened. This marked the foundation of the first Buddhist Sangha or the community of monks.

According to the History of Sarnath Uttar Pradesh, the Chinese traveler Hiouen Thsang had mentioned that the Deer Park at Sarnath was the forest gifted by the king of Benares of the Jataka, as a place where the deer might roan around unmolested. Thus Sarnath came to be named as ‘Migadaya’, so called because the deer could wander unharmed.

History of Sarnath India also mentions that the first preaching delivered by the Buddha at Sarnath is known in Pali as the Dhammacakkhapavathana Sutta. Other Suttas delivered here include Anattalakhana Sutta and the Saccavibhanga Sutta. The Buddha’s main teachings after his enlightenment centered around the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path.

After preaching his first discourse at Sarnath, the Buddha spent the next rainy season at the Mulagandhakuti vihara in Sarnath. By then, the Buddhist Sangha had grown to 60 in number. The Buddha then sent the members of the Sangha to preach his teachings all around.

The flourish of Buddhism in Sarnath can be attributed to a large extent to the support of kings and wealthy merchants inhabiting the region. By the 3rd century B.C., Sarnath had flourished as a major center for arts, and the town reached its zenith during the Gupta reign (4th -6th century A.D.). According to the History of Sarnath Uttar Pradesh, when the Chinese traveler Hsuan Tsang visited Sarnath in the 7th century, there were 30 monasteries and 3000 monks living in Sarnath.

Sarnath came to be a major center of the Sammatiya school of Buddhism, one of the Nikaya or Hinayana schools. The occurrence of images of Heruka and Tara at Sarntah monasteries indicate that Vajrayana Buddhism also flourished here.

The end of the 12th centyru saw Sarnath being ransacked by Turkish Muslims. The site was extensively plundered for building materials and has been lying in ruins since then. Thereafter, Sarnath remained completely deserted until 1836, when the British began excavations and restoration of this historic city.

Accessibility

Air: Varanasi Airport at Babatpur is the nearest airport from Sarnath. It is about 30 km away from Sarnath. Taxi fare from Varanasi to Sarnath is about Rs 500. The airport is well linked by air to other cities in India including New Delhi, Chennai, Mumbai and Agra.

Rail: Sarnath is having a small railway station that is connected to Gorakhpur and Varanasi, mostly by passenger trains. Varanasi Cantonment railway station, at a distance of about 10 km from Sarnath, is the major railhead nearby. This station is connected to all cities in India by rail.

Road: Sarnath is well connected to all neighboring cities by Government owned buses. Private A/C and non A/C deluxe buses are also available from Sarnath to many cities in the State including Lucknow, Kanpur, Mathura, Agra and Allahabad. Deluxe bus fare is about Rs 3 to Rs 4 per head

Shopping

Sarnath is famous throughout India for its Buddhism Paraphernalia. The place has a deep relation with Buddhism as a religion, philosophy and a way of life. Therefore it is only natural that Sarnath offers some of the exclusive and splendid paraphernalia to the tourists.

The primary shopping items include metal and Asta-Dhatu busts of Lord Buddha and other deities. These busts and statues are available in range of metal, color, size and built. Do buy a few as souvenir for your near and dear ones. Beware of counterfeit items that are sold by thugs. Avoid buying stolen artifacts as they may land you up in the prison.

Apart from busts, another must buy items are saffron robes. These robes are made out of best of silks and muslins available in India and can cost you a fortune back in Europe and America. Other items such as Buddhist prayer wheels, beads, rosary, rugs and flags are also available in Sarnath. These can be bought from various kiosks

STD Code
0542
Best time to visit
October to March

Rajgir

State

Rajgir, just 15 kms from Nalanda, was the first capital of the kingdom of Magadha, a state that would eventually evolve into the Mauryan Empire. Its date of origin is unknown, although ceramics dating to about 1000 BC have been found in the city.

Rajgir, a small hill town, is covered with lush green forest which adds to the beauty of the place. It is located in a verdant valley and is surrounded by seven rocky hills: Vaibhara, Ratna, Saila, Sona, Udaya, Chhatha, and Vipula.

History

Rajgir, "House of the King", is an important religious place for Hindus, Buddhists and Jains. This ancient town has reference in Mahabharata, Buddhist and Jain texts.

Rajgir was the ancient capital city of the Magadha kings until the 5th century BC. Jarasanadh who hailed from this place had defeated Krishna 18 times. Mahabharata reco unts a wrestling match between Bhima and Jarasandh, the then king of Rajgir. Jarasandh was invincible as his body could rejoin any dismembered limbs. According to the legend, Bhim split Jarasandh into two and threw the two halves facing opposite to each other so that they could not join.

It was at this place the Gautam Buddha spent several months meditating, and preaching at Griddhkuta,(Hill of the Vultures'). He also delivered some of his famous sermons and converted King Bimbisara of Magadha and countless others to his religion. Rajgir is also famous for its association with Maurya Kings Bimbsara and Ajatashatru. Ajatshatru kept his father Bimbsara in captivity here. On one of the hills is the cave of Saptparni where the first Buddhist Council was held under the leadership of Bhikshu Kashyap. The Saptparni cave is also the source of the Rajgir Hot Water Springs that have curative properties and are sacred to the Hindus, Buddhists and Jains. Today an aerial ropeway provides the link with a hilltop stupa "Peace Pagoda" built by the Japanese.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Rajgir was the capital of the Magadh Mahajanpad before Patliputra was formed. In those days it was called Rajgrih. Rajgir, or Rajgrih, which means "Tthe Home of Royalty" has been associated with Lord Buddha and Buddhism.

Buddha, apart from spending several years in Rajgir, also delivered sermons here. The Jivekarmavan monastery was the favorite residence for Buddha. The teachings of Buddha were penned down at Rajgir and it was also the venue for the first Buddhist Council.

Accessibility

Air

The nearest airport is Patna (107km).

Rail

Rajgir has its own railway station but for taking trains to various parts of the country one should take the trains from Gaya which is 78 km. The nearest railway station on Delhi-Howrah (Calcutta) main line is Bakhtiyarpur 54Kms. Though the loop line connects nalanda

Road

Rajgir is connected by Road to Patna, Gaya, Delhi and Calcutta

Shopping

Rajgir is not the perfect place to shop for it is more of a pilgrimage destination. Visitors can buy the local handicrafts of the place (sculptors and bowls) and also some religious items like beads, incense sticks, metal statues etc near the many tourists places.

Although lots of people visit the land, very few go for shopping in Rajgir. In fact, there is not much for shopping in Rajgir.

If you were still keen on shopping in Rajgir to take back some souvenirs, Travel.mapsofindia suggests you to go for shopping in Patna. Patna is the nearest important city from Rajgir. You would find here the wide variety of handicrafts that are the specialty of the region.

Madhubani paintings of course are the most popular items for shopping in Patna. You may also pick up several items ranging from hand-painted wall hangings to miniatures in paper and leaves and appliqué work on fabric while shopping in Patna.

Accommodation

Here are a few hotels in Rajgir:

Indo Hokke Hotel
The Rajgir Residency

Good accommodation options are not available at Rajgir, better you stay in Patna and take a day trip to Rajgir. Patna has a number of deluxe and budget hotels that offer accommodation at reasonable rates. Some of the popular hotels of Patna include Hotel Maurya Patna (South Gandhi Maidan), Hotel Chanakya (Beer Chand Patel Marg), Pataliputra Ashok (Beer Chand Patel Marg), Samrat International (Fraser Road) etc.

Attractions

Rajgir Dance Festival : Department of Tourism and Development Bihar organizes the dance festival from October 24 to 26. During the festival the artists from the state present the classical and folk dances.

Malamasa Mela : Malamasa Mela is held here in every three years in which thousands of the people participate. According to the Indian calendar every three years has a 13th month which is considered auspicious, that's why this festival is held.

Makar Sankranti Mela : A specific festival of Rajgir, the Makar Sankranti Mela is held on the last of the lunar calendar month 'Paus' (mid January). During the Mela the devotees offer flowers to the deities of the temples at the hot springs and take a holy dip.

District
Nalanda
Location
105 kms from Patna.
STD Code
06112
Termperature
Summer 22-37°C, Winter 19-32°C
Best time to visit
October to March
Famous For
Buddhist pilgrimage sites

Nalanda

State

Nalanda, lies about 100 kms south-east of Patna, is believed to have been one of the greatest centers of learning in the ancient times. It is also one of the important Buddhist pilgrimage centre as Nalanda was frequently visited by Lord mahavira and lord Buddha in the 6th century BC. It is also supposed to be the birthplace of Sariputra, one of the Chief disciples of the Lord Buddha.

History

The history of Nalanda is deeply connected with the Buddhism during its early stages. Buddha himself visited Nalanda several times.

THE history of Nalanda, the ancient university town of Bihar, goes back to the days of Buddha and Mahavira in the Sixth Century B.C. The town was home to Nalanda Mahavihara, a monastic university of international repute.

There are many versions of what the term nalanda means. One is that nalam (lotus) and da (to give) combine to mean "giver of the lotus". Since the lotus is supposed to represent knowledge, Nalandameans "giver of knowledge". The university of Nalanda, a suburb of Rajgir in ancient times, is just off the main road from Rajgir to Patna.

Both Buddha and Mahavira often stayed at Nalanda during the rainy season. Buddhist scriptures reveal that they once stayed at Nalanda at the same time, but there is no record of them meeting one another.

Ancient Buddhist sources say that Asoka, the Mauryan emperor (Third Century B.C) built a temple at Nalanda. It was a flourishing hub where the philosopher and alchemist, Nagarjuna, studied and taught in the Second Century A.D. However, excavations have not revealed anything to suggest that the site was occupied before the Gupta period (Fifth Century A.D.), the earliest finds being a copper plate of Samudragupta and a coin of Kumaragupta (414-455 A.D.). Fa-Hien who visited in the Fifth Century A.D. makes no mention of the massive monastic establishments at Nalanda. But Hiuen Tsang who came in A.D 637 during Harsha's reign (606-647 A.D.) refers to the great monastery that Harsha endowed with liberal grants.

Modern District of Nalanda with HQ Biiharsharif was established on Nov 9, 1972. Earlier it was Biharsharif sub-division of Patna district.

Accessibility

Air

Lok Nayak Jayaprakash airport at Patna is the nearest airport, which is 100 km away from Nalanda. This airport is connected to major Indian cities like Mumbai, Delhi and Kolkata. Taxies are available from the airport to Nalanda and fare is about Rs 2000.

Rail

Rajgir is the nearest railway station which is 12 km away from Nalanda. Regular train services are available from this station to all part of India. Taxis are available from the railway station and cost about Rs 300 to Nalanda.

Road

Nalanda is connected to other cities by state owned public bus services. Bihar Tourism and Development Corporation provide bus services from Patna to Nalanda, and also from cities like Bodhgaya and Rajgir to Nalanda. Tourist buses charge about Rs 400 from Patna to Nalanda.

Accommodation

Patna is the ideal base to visit Nalanda, which is dotted with a number of good hotels including deluxe and budget hotels. Equipped with all the necessary amenities the hotels in Patna provide a pleasant stay to guests.

Deluxe Hotels : Hotel Maurya Patna (South Gandhi Maidan) and Hotel Chanakya (Beer Chand Patel Marg).

Standard Hotels : Pataliputra Ashok (Beer Chand Patel Marg), Samrat International (Fraser Road).

District
Nalanda
Location
Nalanda The site of Nalanda is about 55 miles south east of Patna.
STD Code
06112
Termperature
Summers 20-44°C, Winters 4-28°C
Best time to visit
October to March
Famous For
Ruins of Nalanda University (5th to 12th centuries A.D).

Kushinagar

State

Kushinagar, earlier known as Kushinar, is one of the most sacred sites for the Buddhists. It wis the place where Lord Buddha is said to have attained 'Mahaparnirvana', the freedom from the endless cycle of birth and rebirth at Kushinagar. The Mukutabandhana Stupa, which was built to hold the Buddha’s cremated remains is considered of great sanctity.

Kushinagar is one of the main four Buddhist pilgrimage sites related to the life of Gautama Buddha, other three are Lumbini, Bodh Gaya, and Sarnath.

History

Kushinagar was a celebrated center of the Malla kingdom of ancient India. At this location, near the Hiranyavati River, Gautama Buddha attained Parinirvana (passed away), and was cremated.

Many of the ruined stupas and viharas at Kushinagara date back to 3rd century BC to the 5th century AD when prosperity was at its peak. The Mauryan emperor Ashoka is known to have contributed to significant construction at this site.

Prior to its rediscovery in the nineteenth century, there was a silence of more than half a millennium at Kasia. Due possibily to violent invasions, Kushinagar lost its vitality and eventually was neglected. The notable Buddha Temple, when rediscovered, was covered in a 40 foot high mound of bricks surrounded by a dense thorny forest.

Excavations began in the late 1800s and many important remnants of the main site such as the Matha Kuar and Ramabhar stupa were unveiled.

Accessibility

Air

There is no direct air connection.

Rail

Nearest railway station is Gorakhpur : 51 km, which is the headquarters of North Eastern Railways and linked to important destinations. Some important trains to Gorakhpur are Bombay-Gorakhpur-Bandra Exp., New Delhi-Barauni-Vaishali Exp. Cochin-Gorakhpur Exp., Shaheed Exp, Amarnath Exp, Kathgodam Exp, (Kushinagar does not has a Railway Station, one has to go to Gorakhpur from where Kushinagar can be reached by road).

Road

Situated on National Highway No. 28, with frequent bus services, Kushinagar is well connected with other parts of the state. Some major road distances are: Gorakhpur-51 km, Lumbini-173 km, Kapilastu-148 km, Sravasti-254 km, Sarnath 266 km.

Bodhgaya

State

Bodhgaya, about 12 Km from Gaya City, is a religious site and place of pilgrimage associated with the Mahabodhi Temple Complex. It is the place where the quest of Prince Siddharth was fulfilled after years of seeking the truth and saga of Buddha began where Gautama Buddha is said to have obtained Enlightenment (Bodhimandala).

The two major sacred sites in Bodhgaya are the Mahabodhi Temple and the Bodhi Tree, around which many other temples and monasteries of various Buddhist traditions (Japanese, Tibetan, Bhutanese and others) have been built.

History

Situated by the banks of River Phalgu, Bodhgaya is the holiest of all Buddhist pilgrim destination in entire world. It was here an entire new religion was born out of one man who went on to be known as Lord Buddha and the religion was called Buddhism. Prince Siddhartha who renounced all worldly connections and set out in search of truth, attained enlightenment under the Bodhi tree here. The entire life of Bodhgaya revolves around this most revered tree in the world. A huge complex containing many international monasteries and temples have come up around the tree. Bodhgaya acquired importance during the period of Lord Buddha itself, but the temples started coming up only in the 7th century. During the 16th century, Buddhism here started declining. But once the excavations were started by British archaeologists and its true significance was established, Buddhist pilgrims from all over the world started visiting Bodhgaya. Thus making it the most important pilgrim site of international Buddhism.

The best time to visit Bodhgaya is between November and February when thousands of exiled Tibetans come here to attend the ceremonies and lectures under the Bodhi Tree. Buddhist monks from other Buddhist countries too come here during this period. And if one is looking for some solitary and peaceful holidays, then there is no place better than Bodhgaya for the purpose.

Accessibility

Air

The Airport in Gaya is about 14 km away from city center. Taxi charges about Rs 250. This domestic airport connects to Calcutta, with less frequency. Kolkata is the major Airport available nearby, which is about 485 km away. Kolkata is well connected to many foreign cities and to most of the Indian cities.

Rail

Gaya Junction is the nearest railhead, which is 15 km away from Bodh Gaya. Gaya junction is connected to major cities in state by rail. Taxi charges for travel from railway station to city is about Rs 300.

Road

BSTDC runs regular buses from Patna to Bodh Gaya. Bodh Gaya is connected to Gaya, Nalanda, Patna, Varanasi and Rajgir. Taxis and luxury buses connect Bodh Gaya with Kolkata. Luxury buses costs about Rs 1500, while Taxi charge is about Rs 5000 or more.

Accommodation

Bodhgaya offers a fairly extensive range of accommodation facilities which includes three star hotels, budget hotels, and a number of guesthouses and tourist bungalows. In addition to the regular accommodation offered by commercial establishments, rooms (or beds) are offered by some monasteries in Bodhgaya. These come minus the frills, but are usually comfortable and clean enough, besides being fairly cheap. Do note, however, that monasteries usually offer first preference to pilgrims of their own country.

District
Gaya
STD Code
0631
Termperature
Summer 25 to 45°C, Winter -1 to 28°C
Best time to visit
October and March
Famous For
Bodhgaya- famous for being the place of Buddha’s attainment of Enlightenment!