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We provide an attractive tour dedicated to communicate the
essential truths of Buddhism and its importance in our daily life. The
significant places for a Buddhist Pilgrim are those which are related to
the events when lord Buddha was born, when he attained the supreme
insight, places he traveled to preach the truth of life and when he
ultimately passed away. These sacred sites include significant places like
Lumbini, Bodhgaya, Sarnath, Rajgir, Nalanda etc.
Some of the major Buddhist Pilgrimage destinations are:
Bodh
Gaya
Holding extreme religious importance to the Buddhists, Bodhgaya lies13 km
south of Gaya, beside the river Phalgu. It was here, that the Lord Buddha
sat under the Banyan tree and attained enlightenment, and a descendant of
that original tree still flourishes there today. Bodhgaya is small and
quiet town, which is the most important of all the Buddhist sites in the
world. more...
Kushinagar
The famous place where lord Buddha attained Nirvana, Kushinagar, situated
in the north Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, 51 km off Gorakhpur is one of
the most beautiful and scenic locations to visit. It will charm you with
its serenity and unassuming beautiful environment and climate. more...
Sarnath
Situated 10 km from Varanasi, Sarnath is the site where Buddha delivered
his first sermon to his five disciples, preaching the middle path for
attaining 'Nirvana'. Realising the sanctity of the site, emperor Ashoka,
in the 3rd century B.C. built some of the finest monuments and legacies.
more...
Lumbini
Lumbini is situated just a few kilometers inside Nepal and is the
birthplace of lord Buddha. Being one of the four holy places of Buddhism,
today we can find the Ashokan pillar with its inscription mentioning that
"here the Buddha was born", the nearby ruins that are presently
undergoing restoration and the modern temples. more...
Ladakh
The Buddhist principle of 'compassion' is perhaps the most visible trait
of the religion in Ladakh. There are numerous monasteries in Ladakh, but
the Lamayuru Gompa is the most significant one. Dating back to the 10th
century and is known to be the oldest house of faith, it is one of the
most picturesquely-located monasteries in Ladakh. It belongs to the
Kagyupa Order of Buddhism and is home to some of the finest frescos,
carpets and tangkhas. more...
Vaishali
Situated in the eastern Indian state of Bihar, around 55 km off
Patna, the capital of the state Vaishali is a small village surrounded by
banana and mango groves and rice fields. But excavations in the area have
brought to light an impressive historical past related to lord Buddha.
Lord Buddha visited this place frequently. Emperor Ashoka, in the third
century BC erected one of his famous lion pillars here. more...
Kaushambi
Kaushambi, in Uttar Pradesh, was visited by Buddha in the 6th and 9th
years after his enlightenment. He delivered several sermons here,
imparting great knowledge among the people residing here. On visiting
Kaushambi, one can see the ruins of Ashokan Pillar, an old fort and the
Ghositaram Monastery. The archaeological excavations here have yielded a
large number of sculptures and figurines, coins, punch-marked and cast
coins and terra-cotta sculptures that show the devotion of bygone era.
more...
Sanchi
Sanchi, about 9 kilometers south-west of Vidisha in Madhaya Pradesh,
India is one of the most beautiful site situated on a peaceful hill. It
displays some of the finest specimens of Buddhist architectural forms,
stupas, chaityas, temples and monasteries and other constructions. This
place is an ultimate example of Buddhist creative art and sculpture in the
country. The architectural pieces and sculptures displayed here include
the Ashoka pillar and images of Buddha and Kushan. more...
Sankisa
Sankisa is situated in central Uttar Pradesh, 47 kms from Farrukhabad,
located in the present day Basantpur village. Being an ancient site, this
place has an Ashoka elephant pillar has been excavated from close to the
Stupa. Near the pillar, on a platform stands a temple with a statue of the
Buddha. A very important site for Buddhist pilgrims this place was also
visited by Hiuen Tsang and other Chinese travelers.
Rumtek
A 24-km drive from Gangtok, through the beautiful, bewitching countryside
leads one to Rumtek. Rumtek, is the seat of the Karmapa Lama who heads the
Kagyupa Sect of Buddhism. The style of the monastery, strictly traditional
has been patterned on the lines of the Lamas series of Tibet. You can see
the main offerings / dances of Rumtek also called the "Tse-Chu Chaams"
held on the 10th day of the 5th month of the Tibetan calendar around June.
more...
Pemayangtse
118-km From Gangtok, Western Sikkim, Pemayangtse Monastery, the second
oldest monastery, it is situated at a height of 6,840 ft is the head of
all others and belonging to the Nyingma-Pa Sect. Presenting a gorgeous
view of the mountain ranges, it is now equipped with 50-bed tourist lodge
catering to travelers who want to visit this ancient and holy place. The
monastery houses religious idols and priceless antiques. more...
Alchi
Alchi, 70-km west of Leh, one of the most significant historical sites in
Asia and it harbors an extraordinary wealth of ancient wall paintings and
wood sculptures, miraculously preserved for over nine centuries inside
five tiny mud walled temples. Nestled beside a bend in the milky blue
river Indus, amid some dramatic scenery, it's also a serene spot and the
perfect place to break a long journey to or from the Ladakh capital.
more...
Tawang
180-km from Bomdila, Tawang District, Arunachal Pradesh, Tawang Monastery
stands on the spur of a hill, about 10,000 feet above sea level and has
ravines in the south and west, narrow ridge on the north and a gradual
slope on the east. It offers a commanding and picturesque view of the
Tawang-Chu valley. Though it has the capacity for housing about seven
hundred monks, the actual number of resident Lamas (Monks) at present is a
little more than 300. This monastery is the fountainhead of the spiritual
life of the people of this region. more...
Tabo
The rugged hills around Tabo house a tiny hamlet that is home to some 350
people. The Tabo monastery, also referred to as Tabo Chos-Khor- 'doctrinal
circle' or 'doctrinal enclave' is a complex that holds nine temples, 23
chortens, a monks' chamber and an extension that houses the nuns' chamber.
Tabo holds the distinction of being the largest monastic complex in Spiti.
Constructed in 996 AD, Tabo was the brainchild of the great translator and
teacher, Rinchensang Po. more...
Dharamshala
Set against the backdrop of the dramatic Dhauladhar mountains,
Dharamshala is perched on the high slopes in the upper reaches of Kangra
Valley. Today, Dharamshala has become the synonymous to the Tibetan
government in exile and the home of Tibetan leader Dalai Lama. Today,
Dharamshala has become the synonymous to the Tibetan government in exile
and the home of Tibetan leader Dalai Lama. more...
Nalanda
Towards the Southeast of Patna is a village called the 'Bada Gaon', in
the vicinity of which, are the world famous ruins of Nalanda University.
Housing about 10,000 students and 2,000 teachers, this university
attracted pupils from all over the world. A Walk in the ruins of the
university, takes you to an era, that saw India leading in imparting
knowledge, to the world - the era when India was a coveted place for
studies. The university flourished during the 5th and 12th century. more...
Nagarjuna
Konda
A fascinating island, situated 150 km from Hyderabad, Nagarjuna Konda is
an important Buddhist site. The historic location takes its name from the
Buddhist saint and learner Acharya Nagarjuna. Set in the middle of a
man-made lake, Nagarjuna Konda, houses the excavated remains of the 2nd
and 3rd century Buddhist civilization found at Nagarjunasagar. To reach
Nagarjuna Konda, visitors have to take a boat ride near Vijayapuri
township. more...
Udaigiri
Situated 60-km from Cuttack, Orrisa, it consists of extensive ruins of
brick pagodas, sculptured stone portals and esoteric Buddhist images
testifying its ancient glory. One can access to the site on the Udayagiri
hill is provided by flights of steps and an imposing ancient ramp rising
gradually from the foot of the hill and reaching the high terrace. more...
Lalitagiri
Situated 55-km from Cuttack , Orissa, it is very famous as a Buddhist
Site comprising of ancient and beautiful relics of Buddha & Monastery
Complex on hill. HiuenT' sang, the Chinese Pilgrim found it to be the seat
of a flourishing Buddhist University called 'Puspagiri'. more...
Ratnagiri
Situated in northeast of Cuttack, 100-km from Bhubaneshwar, Orissa,
Ratnagiri is the gem of Relics of Buddha & Monastery complexes. The
two large monasteries here flourished from 6th to 12th centuries AD. The
magnificently carved doorjamb of the Vihar and the superbly finished
Buddha images form perhaps the greatest concentration of the post-Gupta
period Buddhist sculptures. more...
Dhauli
Hill
Dhauli hill on the bank of the river Daya is a little away from the main
road as one drives to Puri/ Konark from Bhubneswar. This stands as the
mute witness to the great 'Kalinga' war which fought in the 3rd century
BC, the great transformation, unprecedented in whole of the world, took
place here. Dhauli is famous for the Ashokan rock-edicts, which are
inscribed on a rock, with the relief of an emerging elephant at the top.
Along with the Ashokan Edicts, the peace pagoda and modern Buddhist
monastery, Dhauli offers the visitors small rock cut caves, Hindu temples
of early medieval period and a renovated Shiva temple dedicated to Lord
'Dhavalesvara' on top of the hill as added attractions. more...