Republished from Agoda Travel Guides
More than 200 miles (322 kilometers) north of where Buddha attained enlightenment and delivered his first sermon is where Buddhists can make a pilgrimage to see Buddha’s final resting place. Located in the eastern part of Uttar Pradesh, Kushinagar is where Buddha ended his own journey and attained Mahaparinirvana, the final stage of life and spiritual liberation. The area holds deep meaning for Buddhists and offers unique opportunities to experience local culture and Indian history. The region is accessible from Gorakhpur, which has the nearest airport, about 30 miles (50 kilometers) away. There are several places to visit in Kushinagar that hold significant meaning for Buddhist pilgrims, as well as for tourists who want to delve deeper into Indian history and religion. Find out about the region’s role as a major site on the Buddhist Circuit, along with activities and attractions in the area.
Introduction to Kushinagar as part of Buddhist Circuit
Kushinagar is a serene village located in the heart of northern India’s Uttar Pradesh state, and it holds one of the most hallowed places on the Buddhist Circuit. This tranquil town is where Buddha’s earthly journey ended and his Mahaparinirvana occurred. The transition from life on earth to Mahaparinirvana is a key element to Buddhist beliefs, as Kushinagar is a key stop on the Buddhist Circuit. Kushinagar invites Buddhist pilgrims and travelers to seek spiritual enlightenment with its unique offerings of historical landmarks, religious temples and monasteries, where Buddha’s teachings continue to echo to this day.
Kushinagar Importance and Places to Visit
One of the holiest destinations on the Buddhist Circuit, Kushinagar offers travelers opportunities to experience the teachings of Buddhism on unique levels. Many of the most important places to visit in Kushinagar carry profound meaning for Buddhists making a pilgrimage to the region, and all have significantly influenced Indian history. These top sites of just a few of the treasures that can be found in the holy city of Kushinagar.
Parinirvana Stupa
The landmark monument of Kushinagar and the destination of many pilgrimages is the Parinirvana Stupa . This remarkable and sacred monument holds great significance in Buddhism, as it marks the spot where Buddha is believed to have attained Mahaparinirvana, the final stage of his life when he achieved Nirvana. According to history, the Buddha was 80 years old when he was liberated from the cycle of birth and death, and the temple serves as a place of reverence for Buddhists worldwide. Excavated in 1867 and reconstructed to its current status in 1956, Parinirvana Stupa stands 65 feet (19.8 meters) tall.
Visitors can meditate along the paths around the stupa and view the many historical artifacts and sculptures preserved within the complex. One of the main structures is a massive reclining Buddha that measures 20 feet (6.10 meters) long. The statue depicts Buddha lying on his right side, facing west, in a meditation posture, signifying his position as he passed into Mahaparinirvana. Devotees gather daily to offer prayers and meditate, especially those making pilgrimages on the Buddhist Circuit. Ancient inscriptions and the adjacent Nirvana Temple also add to the spiritual significance of Parinirvana Stupa. The site is particularly lively in May during Buddha Purnima, or Buddha’s birthday celebration. The day is popular for Buddhists to visit the temple to offer prayers and participate in meditation.
Ramabhar Stupa
The Ramabhar Stupa, also known as the Mukutbandhan-Chaitya, commemorates a crucial event in the life of Buddha. It not only symbolizes Buddha’s attainment of mahaparinirvana, but according to Buddhist scriptures and historical accounts, the grounds encompass the actual site where Buddha’s body was cremated, sometime around 483 BC. The circular structure that marks the location is constructed in traditional Buddhist style but lacks the ornate details of other stupas of historical importance. Ramabhar Stupa’s lackluster appearance adds to its spiritual charm and is regarded as one of the most revered sites for Buddhists worldwide. Ramabhar Stupa can be visited in conjunction with Parinirvana Stupa and the Nirvana Temple. It is open from sunrise to sunset.
Kushinagar Temple
While Kushinagar is the home to some of Buddhism’s most sacred landmarks, it also houses many monasteries and smaller temples, which all contribute to the region’s spiritual atmosphere. Kushinagar Temple is one of those smaller temples near Parinirvana Stupa that is part of the pilgrimage circuit in Kushinagar. The quaint grounds of Kushinagar Temple provide serene, natural surroundings for visitors looking for a quiet place to meditate. Tourists will appreciate the temple’s proximity to other notable Buddhist landmarks in Kushinagar, like Mahaparinirvana Temple, Nirvana Temple and Ramabhar Stupa. Within walking distance of Kushinagar Temple are the Vietnamese Temple, the Wat Thai Temple and Mathakaut Temple, the location where Buddha gave his last sermon.
Matha Kuar Shrine
The Matha Kuar Shrine is a relatively simple and modest structure compared to some of Kushinagar’s grand Buddhist monuments. The small, open-sided structure is located just a short walk from Parinirvana Stupa and symbolizes where Buddha delivered his last teachings and performed his last human acts, like drinking water. The shrine contains a stone image of Buddha under the Bodhi tree in the Bhumi Sparsha Mudra, or earth-touching, position. The site, despite its smaller size, holds significant meaning for Buddhists traveling on the Buddhist circuit, as well as devotees who want to absorb the Buddha’s final words of wisdom.
Buddhist Museum (Kushinagar Museum)
The Buddhist Museum, also known as the Kushinagar Museum, is one of the essential things to do in Kushinagar, particularly for visitors wanting to experience the Buddhist heritage and archaeology of the region. The museum is one of the oldest museums in Kushinagar and sits nearby the Tibetan Temple. The Buddhist Museum contains an impressive collection of ancient artifacts and relics associated with the teachings of Buddha, as well as sculptures and educational information. Exhibits clearly outline the life of Buddha and his journeys in India, giving insight to the spiritual atmosphere of Kushinagar and the state of Uttar Pradesh. The museum is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, except for Mondays. It is closed on Monday.
Meditation Park
Situated near Parinirvana Stupa, near Golden Temple, is this quaint park where locals and visitors go to meditate and seek serenity. Tall trees, still ponds and manicured lawns create the perfect atmosphere for saying prayers and reflecting on the the teachings of Buddha. Sometimes referred to as the Japanese Meditation Park, the grounds were established in the early 1990s as a part of the Indo-Japanese project. The park is open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily.
Birla Temple
The Birla Temple is a prominent Hindu temple and one of the newest religious sites in Kushinagar. The temple is a branch of the Birla Foundation, an organization dedicated to promoting literature, particularly Hindi literature, as well as the arts and education. Birla Shiva Temple features a marble statue of Lord Shiva sitting erect inside a modern, ornate temple that welcomes visitors with top-notch accommodations and facilities at affordable rates. Many pilgrims travel across the world to visit Birla Shiva Temple and receive blessings from Lord Shiva.
Sun Temple
Dedicated to the sun god, Sun Temple is a Hindu temple located about 10.5 miles (17 kilometers) east of Kushinagar in the town of Turkpatti. For this reason, the temple often is called Sun Tempal Turkpatti. Regardless of its distance from Kushinagar’s main temples, the Sun Temple still is regarded as one of the top places to visit in Kushinagar, as it is one of the most sacred shrines in the region. Inside the temple visitors meditate and offer prayers around two large statues of the sun god that were carved from black stone. The statues are believed to be older than the Sun Temple in Konark, which dates between 1238 and 1250 CE.
