Buddhist pilgrimage sites

The most important places inBuddhismare located in theIndo-Gangetic Plainof southernNepaland northernIndia.This is the area whereGautama Buddhawas born, lived, and taught, and the main sites connected to his life are now important places ofpilgrimagefor both Buddhists andHindus.Many countries that are or were predominantly Buddhist have shrines and places which can be visited as a pilgrimage.

Pilgrims,TsurphuGompa,Tibet, 1993

Sites associated with Buddha's life

Four main pilgrimage sites listed by Buddha himself

Gautama Buddha himself had identified the following four sites most worthy of pilgrimage for his followers, observing that these would produce a feeling of spiritual urgency:

• Lumbini:birthplace of The Buddha as Prince Siddhartha Gautam (inTaulihawa,Lumbini,Nepal) is the most important religious site and place of pilgrimages for Buddhism. It is also approved by UNESCO for World Heritage sites as most holy place for Buddhism and world religions.
• Bodh Gaya:(in the currentMahabodhi Temple,Bihar,India), is the religious site and place of pilgrimage, theMahabodhi Templehouses what is believed to be theBodhi Treewhere Prince Siddhārtha attained enlightenment (Nibbana) and became known as Gautama Buddha.
• Sarnath:(formallyIsipathana,Uttar Pradesh,India) where Gautama Buddha delivered his first sermon (Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta), and He taught about theMiddle Way,theFour Noble TruthsandNoble Eightfold Path.
• Kuśinagara:(nowKushinagar,Uttar Pradesh,India) where Gautama Buddha died and attainedParinirvana.

The Eight Great Places of pilgrimage

In addition the four sites mentioned earlier (Lumbini,Bodh Gaya,SarnathandKushinagar), the Buddhist texts later written by Buddha's followers also mention four more sacred sites where a certain miraculous event is reported to have occurred, thus completing the list of"Attha-mahathanani"(Palifor"The Eight Great Places") in India:

• Rajgir:Place of the subduing of Nalagiri, the angry elephant, through friendliness. Rajgir was another major city of ancient India, withNalandanearby (14 km), a major center of Mahayana Buddhist learning.
• Vaishali:Place of receiving an offering of honey from a monkey. Vaishali was the capital of the Vajjian Republic of ancient India.
• Sravasti:Place ofthe Twin Miracle,showing his supernatural abilities in performance of miracles. Sravasti is also the place where Buddha spent the largest amount of time, being a major city in ancient India.
• Sankassa:Place of the descending to earth fromTavatimsaheaven (after a stay of 3 months teaching his mother theAbhidhamma).

Lumbini Bodh Gaya Sarnath Rajgir Sravasti Sankasia Vaishali Kusinara class=notpageimage| The Eight Great Places in Buddhism (Four Great Places are plotted in red.)

Other sites related to Buddha's travels

Main article:Buddhist pilgrimage sites in India

Tibetan pilgrim,Rewalsar Lake,Himachal Pradesh

Some other pilgrimage places in India and Nepal connected to the life ofGautama Buddhaare mostly located in theGangetic plain.

Alphabetically by states

• Andhra Pradesh:Amaravati,Nagarjuna Konda
• Bihar:Gaya,Kesariya,Nalanda,Vaishali,Pataliputta,Vikramshila
• Haryana(in the order of travel by Buddha):Kamashpura Aastha Pugdal Pagoda(Kumashpur, place where Buddha delivered theMahasatipatthana sutta),.Kurukshetra Stupa,Topra,Srughna(Sugh Stupa) andChaneti Stupawere all visited by the Buddha where he gave discourse after visiting Mathura he travelled alongGrand Trunk Roadin Haryana (also seeBuddhist pilgrimage sites in Haryana).
• Madhya Pradesh:Sanchi
• Uttar Pradesh:Devadaha,Kosambi,Mathura,Pāvā(Fazilnagar,Varanasi

Chronologically by routes

In the order of places traveled by Buddha. Please help expand this incomplete list.

• Uttar Pradesh-Haryanatravel route of Buddha
  • FromMathurain Uttar Pradesh, Buddha travelled alongGrand Trunk Roadin Haryana (also seeBuddhist pilgrimage sites in Haryana).
  • Kamashpura Aastha Pugdal Pagoda(Kumashpur) in Sonipat city, the place where Buddha delivered theMahasatipatthana sutta),.
  • Kurukshetra Stupaon the banks of sacredBrahma Sarovarin Kurukshetra city
  • Toprabetween Kurukshetra and Yamunanagar, now has a large open air museum park housing several replica ofAshoka's edicts including largestAshoka Chakrain the world
  • Srughna,now known as theSugh Ancient Mound,on outskirts of Yamunanagar city
  • Chaneti Stupa,on outskirts of Yamunanagar city

Other pilgrimage places by country

Other famous places for Buddhist pilgrimage in various countries include:

• Bhutan:Punakha Dzong,Chimi Lhakhang Temple,Kyichu Lhakhang,Kurje Lhakhang,Gangtey Monastery,Gomphu Kora, Chagri Dorjeden Monastery, Dzongdrakha Monastery,Phajoding Monastery
• Cambodia:Wat Botum,Wat Ounalom,Silver Pagoda,Angkor Wat,Angkor Thom
• China:Yungang Grottoes,Longmen Grottoes.TheFour Sacred MountainsnamelyWǔtái Shān( ngũ đài sơn ),Éméi Shān( nga mi sơn ),Jiǔhuá Shān( cửu hoa sơn ).

Elderly pilgrim,TsurphuGompa, Tibet, 1993

• India:Sanchi,Nalanda,Ellora,Ajanta,also seeBuddhist pilgrimage sites in India
• Indonesia:Borobudur,Mendut,Sewu.
• Japan:Kyoto,Nara,Shikoku Pilgrimage,Kansai Kannon Pilgrimage
• Laos:Luang Prabang
• Malaysia:Kek Lok Si,Buddhist Maha Vihara, Brickfields
• Myanmar:Shwedagon Pagoda,Mahamuni Buddha Temple,Kyaiktiyo Pagoda,Bagan,Sagaing Hill,Mandalay Hill
• Mongolia:Erdene Zuu Monastery,Gandantegchinlen Monastery,Zayiin Gegeen Monastery,Gandantegchinlen Khiid Monastery,Amarbayasgalant Khiid,Shankh Monastery
• Nepal:Maya Devi Temple,Boudhanath,Swayambhunath,Kapilavastu
• Pakistan:Gandhara,most notablyTaxilaandSwat.
• Sri Lanka:Anuradhapura(theAtamasthanaor 'eight places'),Mihintale,Polonnaruwa,theTemple of the Tooth(Kandy),Sri Pada(theSolosmasthanaLewenth places'),
• North Korea:Pohyonsa,Anguksa,Jangansa
• South Korea:Bulguksa,Three Jewel Temples
• Thailand:Wat Phra Kaew,Wat Pho,Wat Doi Suthep,Phra Pathom Chedi,Sukhothai,Ayutthaya,Wat Phra Phutthabat,Wat Phra Thaen Dong Rang(Buddha Death bed),Chedi Phukhao Thong,Phra Pathommachedi
• Tibetབོད:Pǔtuó Shān,Potala Palace,Mount Kailash,Lake Manasarovar,Lake Nam-tso.
• United States of America:City of Ten Thousand Buddhas
• Vietnam:Dâu Pagoda,Hương Pagoda,Mount Yen Tu

See also

• Buddhist pilgrimage sites in India
• Buddhist pilgrimage sites in Nepal
• Shikoku Pilgrimage,Eighty-eight Temples pilgrimage in the Shikoku island, Japan
• Japan 100 Kannon Pilgrimage,pilgrimage circuit that is composed of three independent pilgrimages (Saigoku, Bandō and Chichibu), consist of one hundred Temples.
• Parikrama
• Yatra

References

• Chan, Khoon San,Buddhist Pilgrimage(e-book - the eight major Buddhist sites in India)
• Coluzzi, Paolo (2021). Buddhism and Pilgrimage: A Journey to the Four Sites. Mud Pie Slices.

External links

• Virtual Tour of Buddhist Pilgrimage Sites on Google Map (Interactive 360° View available on certain sites)Archived2020-10-19 at theWayback Machine
• Buddhist Pilgrimage in India and Sri Lanka
• "Buddhist Pilgrimage".Asia.Victoria and Albert Museum.Retrieved2011-04-03.
• Why do Buddhists go on Pilgrimage?Buddhism for Beginners