On Call of Buddha - Buddhist pilgrimage sitesBuddhist Pilgrimage – Vaishali Vaishali, one of the favourite resorts of Lord Buddha was the site of the announcement of his Parinirvana

ON CALL

OF

BUDDHA

Buddhist Pilgrimage to India

AGENDA

• Buddhist Pilgrimage – Recalling Lord

Buddha’s Teachings

• Tracing Buddha’s footprints

• Buddhist Pilgrimage

– Destinations

– Attractions

– Infrastructure

www.buddhist-pilgrimage.com

Before his Mahaparinirvana, the Call of Lord Buddha in

Mahaparinibbana Sutta suggests the followers to embark on

Buddhist-Pilgrimage in the journey of awakening

This journey follows the footprints of Lord Buddha in -

Buddhist Pilgrimage

Recalling Lord Buddha’s Teachings

Bodhgaya

Sarnath

Kushinagara

Site of Enlightenment or Bodha

Preaching First Sermon to first five

followers or Bodhisattvas Site of Mahaparinirvana

Lumbini Birthplace of Sakyamuni


Let’s embark on the pilgrimage of life

In the Land of Lord Buddha


Tracing Buddha’s Footprints

Rajgir – Nalanda – Kesariya –Vaishali

Bodhgaya

Mayadevi Temple

Sravasti – Kapilvastu

Kushinagar

Sarnath

Stupas

Lumbini


• Bodhgaya in Bihar is the site of

Prince Siddhartha’s enlightenment.

• After wandering as a monk for years,

he found answers to the problems

troubling him in deep meditation and

attained enlightenment.

Buddhist Pilgrimage – Bodhgaya


• Mahabodhi Temple, in Bihar is deeply

associated with the life of Buddha.

• Built by Emperor Ashoka in 3rd Century

BC, it is one of the earliest Buddhist

temples in brick standing in India.

• The inscription dated between 1st and

2nd century AD mentions that the temple

of Ashoka was replaced by a new

structure.


The Great Awakening Temple


Under Bodhi Tree, the sacred

Banyan / Peepal tree, Lord Buddha

sat in his meditation at Vajrasana,

the diamond throne and attained

enlightenment.

Animesh Lochan Chaitya is the site

where Gautama Buddha spent his

one week gazing in gratitude towards

the Bodhi tree.




Lord Buddha did the meditation tour

at Chankramana during third week

post enlightenment. On this

platform, lotuses indicate the places

the Buddha’s feet rested while

walking.

The statue of Buddha amidst the lake

meditating on a snake coil at

Muchalinda Lake inspires pilgrims to

meditate and keep the coil



Pragbodhi was the site where

Siddhartha practiced austerities for

six years before descending to Bodh

Gaya.

Pragbodhi – Where Prince Practised Austerities


Tourist Infrastructure at Bodhgaya

• Bodhgaya, being the world heritage site is equipped with the infrastructure

assisting Buddhist Pilgrimage

• The city enjoys connectivity from the nearest airport at Gaya in Bihar

• There are many hotels that accommodate pilgrims during their Buddhist

Pilgrimage

Hotel Royal Residency

Hotel Sujata

Hotel Lotus Nikko

Hotel Siddhartha International

Hotel Niranjana

Hotel Bodhgaya Gautam

Hotel Galaxy Intercontinental

Imperial

Hotel Taj Darbar

Sambodhi Retreat


Hotels of Bodhgaya at a Glance


Buddhist Pilgrimage – Sarnath

• Sarnath, near Varanasi is the deer

park where Lord Buddha first taught

dharma to his first five followers

after enlightenment.

• He initiated Sangha and turned the

Wheel of Law at Deer Park or

Issipattna

• Teachings of Middle Path and

Eightfold Path deserve mention

when importance of Sarnath is

concerned.


Chaukhandi Stupa commemorates

the spot where Buddha met his first

disciples.

The massive Dhamekh Stupa

symbolizes the place where Lord

Buddha delivered his first teachings

in the form of four noble truths.


Stupas of Sarnath


• Ashokan Pillar at Sarnath is one of

the most celebrated icons of India.

• It consists of a canopy representing

an inverted bell-shaped lotus flower

with Lion Capital facing four

directions.

• Did you know that National Emblem

of India featuring four lions is inspired

by the same Lion Capital of Ashokan

Pillar.

Ashokan Pillar - Lion Capital at Sarnath Museum



Excursions of Sarnath – Varanasi

Located close to Sarnath is Varanasi,

one of the oldest continuing spiritual

cities of India.

Situated on the eastern banks of River

Ganges, this city is famous for its rich

culture and spiritual traditions.

Boat-ride on River Ganges and

Evening Aarti at Dashashwamedha

Ghat is a must do activity post Sarnath

Tour.

Varanasi – As old as time


Tourist infrastructure at Sarnath

• Sarnath, one of the important Buddhist Pilgrimage sites, is equipped with

adequate infrastructure to support pilgrims

• This Buddhist site is well connected by the nearest airport in Varanasi, Uttar

Pradesh

• Pilgrims can stay in the luxurious hotels of Varanasi and experience the

serenity of Sarnath during the day

• Some renowned hotels preferred by Pilgrims during the stay at Varanasi are

Radisson Hotel

Ramada Plaza JHV

The Gateway Hotel Ganges

Hotel Clarks

Hotel Hindustan International (HHI)

Hotel Rivatas By Ideal


Hotels of Varanasi at a Glance


Buddhist Pilgrimage – Kushinagar

• Kushinagar is the site of Lord Buddha’s Mahaparinirvana, the final exit from

this earth on the full moon night

• The then capital of the Mallas, Kushinagar also witnessed the last teaching

of Buddha, Mahaparinibbana Sutta.

Site of Mahaparinirvana


• Mahaparinirvana Temple –This famous Temple houses a statue of Buddha

reclining on his right side, representing his Mahaparinirvana. This Chunar

sandstone statue belongs to the fifth century, according to inscriptions.


Temple of Reclining Buddha


Nirvana Stupa – Nirvana Stupa in

Kushinagar is a huge brickwork stupa

enshrining the Lord Buddha remains,

right next to Mahaparinirvana Temple.

This bell-shaped stupa symbolizes the

Buddha's complete absorption into the

highest state of mind.

Ramabhar Stupa – This 50 ft large

stupa is famous as the cremation site

of Lord Buddha.


Stupas of Kushinagar


Tourist Infrastructure – Kushinagar

• Kushinagar is easily accessible for pilgrims by road and rail.

• The nearest airport to Kushinagar is in Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh (52 km)

• There are a number of hotels, dharamshalas and monasteries that

accommodate pilgrims in Kushinagar.

• Some renowned accommodation options in Kushinagar are -

– The Royal Residency

– Lotus Nikko

– The Imperial

– Pathik Niwas (Government owned accommodation)


Hotels of Kushinagar at a Glance


Buddhist Pilgrimage – Lumbini

• 2500 years ago, the village of

Lumbini in Nepal witnessed the

divine birth of Lord Buddha under

the grove of Sal tree.

• Keeping in mind its glorious

heritage and contribution to the

Buddhist beliefs, Lumbini is a world

heritage site.

Where Buddha was Born


Mayadevi Temple, Lumbini

Maya Devi Temple was built over the

foundations of more than one earlier

temple or Ashokan stupa.

In 1996, an archaeological dig

unearthed a 'flawless stone' placed

there by Ashoka in 249 BC to mark the

precise location of the Buddha's birth

more than 2,600 years ago.

This excavation has brought Lumbini

more prominently on the map for

millions of religious pilgrims.


Buddhist Pilgrimage – Lumbini

Mayadevi Pond or Pushkarni is the

site where Queen Mayadevi, mother of

Prince Siddhartha took bath before

delivery.

Ashokan Pillar in Lumbini is one of the

inscribed evidences testifying the fact

that the village was the birthplace of

Lord Buddha.


Buddhist Pilgrimage – Rajgir

Lord Buddha visited Rajgriha, during

the times of Bimbisara and Ajatshatru.

After Buddha’s Parinirvana, Rajgir was

chosen for the first Buddhist Council.

Griddhakuta – The rock cut caves of

Griddhakuta were sanctified by the

Lord Buddha’s presence. The hills

were one of the favourite meditation

sites of the master. Opposite to this

Bimbisara Jail, is another landmark

where the jailed king used to observe

Buddha in meditation .

The Royal Abode



Site of First Buddhist Council

Saptaparni Cave in Rajgir is the

site where the first Buddhist

council was held immediately

after Buddha attained Nirvana.


Peace for the World

Vishwa Shanti Stupa is a marble

structure bearing golden image of the

Buddha.

This was recently built by the

Napponzan Myohoji sect of Japan, The

38 metre high Vishwa Shanti Stupa is

the 22nd in the chain of shrines built to

propagate world peace.



Hotels of Rajgir

The Royal Abode


Ancient University of Learning

Nalanda was one of the first great

centers of learning in as the world’s

first residential university. Around

2,000 teachers and 10,000 Buddhist

monk students lived and studied here.

Buddha himself visited the university

many times.

Buddhist Pilgrimage – Nalanda


Kesariya is the site where the

largest Buddhist Stupa of the

world rests in peace.

Here, Lord Buddha stayed once

and preached the Sutta on

Kalamas of Kesaputta, dedicated

to natives of Kesariya.

Buddhist Pilgrimage – Kesariya

World’s Largest Buddhist Stupa


Buddhist Pilgrimage – Vaishali

Vaishali, one of the favourite resorts of

Lord Buddha was the site of the

announcement of his Parinirvana.

Lord Buddha received a bowl of honey

from monkeys.

Notable Buddhist sites in Vaishali include

Stupa of Buddha’s ashes built by

Lichchvis, Ananda Stupa, the famous

lion pillar by Emperor Ashoka.

Site of Second Buddhist Council


Monastic shelter of Lord Buddha

Buddhist Pilgrimage – Sravasti

• Sravasti was one of the prominent

cities in India during Buddha’s time.

Jetavana in Sravasti was the famous

monastery where Buddha gave majority

of his discourses and spent 20 rainy

seasons.

• Ruins of Sahet and Mahet are

primarily visited for their religious

importance


Hotels of Sravasti


Buddhist Pilgrimage – Kapilvastu

Kingdom of Shakyas

• Kapilvastu was the Sakya Kingdom,

whose king was Sudhodhana, Prince

Siddhartha’s Father.

• Lord Buddha spent his first 29 years

living in royal indulgence.


Attend the call of Lord Buddha

Buddhist Pilgrimage

This spiritual call of Buddha invites

the followers from the world over

visit Buddhist-Pilgrimage and walk

on the path to enlightenment, just

like him.


A Prime Buddhist Pilgrimage Experience


• Buddhist-Pilgrimage, a division of

Top Travels and Tours is a special

venture exploring the footprints of

Lord Buddha in India and Nepal.

• With an experience of 27 years,

the company is committed to

provide pilgrims a serene

experience in the blissful land of

Buddha – India.


For more information visit

Thank You


Documents

On Call of Buddha - Buddhist pilgrimage sitesBuddhist Pilgrimage – Vaishali Vaishali, one of the favourite resorts of Lord Buddha was the site of the announcement of his Parinirvana