Buddhism, one of the religions and religious practices famous worldwide, was founded in India. Siddhartha Gautam, famous as Gautam Buddha, is believed to be the founder of Buddhism. Buddha is one of the most excellent spiritual teachers in the world. As this religion was founded in India, and Buddha attained enlightenment in India, many Buddhist destinations in India are famous worldwide.
Here is the list of Top 20 Buddhist Destinations in India:
1. Bodh Gaya, Bihar
There is no doubt that Bodh Gaya is the most famous and essential Buddhist destination in India. Mahabodhi Temple and Lord Buddha’s statue of the height of 80 feet, of Bodh Gaya, are quite famous among tourists and Buddhism followers.
Here, under the bodhi tree, Gautam Buddha attained enlightenment and one can have the opportunity to see the descendants of that Bodhi tree. Read Also: Buddha Temple, Bodh Gaya Bihar – Travel Guide
2. Kushinagar, Uttar Pradesh
This is the place where Buddha attained Mahaparinirvana at the age of 81 years. This fact makes it one of the four most sacred Buddhist destinations in India.
Lord Buddha gave his last lesson and said that Decay is inherited in all living things. Ramabhar Stupa and Mahaparinirvana temple are the most visited among all shrines, temples, stupas and museums. Read Also: 20 Best Places to Visit in Uttar Pradesh
3. Sarnath, Uttar Pradesh
Sarnath is the place where the sermon and preachings of Buddha began. After enlightenment, Buddha gave his very first sermon in a deer park.
Chaukhandi and Dhamekh Stupa of Sarnath are essential both historically as well as religiously. It is one of the four sacred Buddhist destinations in India. Read Also: Top 10 Attractions In Sarnath
4. Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh
This place and the beauty bestowed by mother nature are enough to heal you mentally, emotionally and spiritually. A ten days meditation course is provided by Sikhara Dhamma which is quite famous among tourists.
This place is called home to all the Buddhist destinations in India. Tsuglagkhang Complex and the Palpung Sherabling Monastic Seat are quite famous among tourists and followers of Buddhism. Read Also: 10 Popular Places to Visit in Dharamshala
5. Shravasti, Uttar Pradesh
A monastery is here where Buddha stayed for many years. The famous Stupas of “Kachhi Kuti” and “Pakki Kuti” attract many visitors. It is the most famous Buddhist destination in India and is quite famous among tourists.
Read Also: India promotes post covid trains to visit Buddhist Heritage Sites
6. Sanchi, Madhya Pradesh
This is also called the land of stupas. This place is famous for Sanchi Stupa, the Great Bowl and Ashoka pillar. There are inscriptions and many carvings on the stupas and the entrance gates.
There are many other temples, sculptures, pillars and monasteries here which are entirely dedicated to Buddha.
Read Also:
- Sanchi Stupa, Bhopal – History, Tickets, Timing, Nearby Attraction
- 20 Best Places to Visit in Madhya Pradesh
7. Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh
This place is famous for Madhuri Lake, Tawang Monastery and Sela Pass. Tawang Monastery, the largest monastery in India, famous for its richness, grandness and colourful, is the centre of spirituality and knowledge.
This monastery is renowned as Galden Namgey Lhatse among locals, locals, meaning ‘celestial paradise in a clear night’. It is considered to be one of the holiest Buddhist destinations in India. Read Also: Top 20 Places to visit in Arunachal Pradesh
8. Vaishali, Bihar
Vaishali is famous for The Ashoka pillar, Buddha’s Stupa, Abhishek Pushkarni (coronation tank), Archeological museums, and Vishwa Shanti Stupa.
This is the place where the second Buddhist council was held. This place is important historically, culturally as well as religiously. Buddha frequently visited this place. Many pillars of Ashoka are also found here. Read Also: Top 10 Temple to Visit in Bihar for Religious Getaway
9. Rumtek Monastery, Gangtok
Rumtek Monastery is also famous as Dharma Chakra Centre, its original name. Along with providing peace spiritually, this place provides calmness to the eyes.
With all the green mountains and greenery around the monastery, this place is a visual treat for its visitors. From the top of the Rumtek Monastery, the whole city of Gangtok can be seen, which is a breathing view in itself. Read Also: 10 Most Popular Tourist Attractions in Gangtok
10. Leh, Ladakh
This is also called India’s Moonland. This place has many rich, large as well as ancient monasteries. Thiksey Monastery, Lamayuru Monastery, Phyang Monastery, and Hemis Monastery are among the most famous monasteries. The Hemis festival celebrated here is famous among visitors as well as followers of Buddhism.
Read Also:
- 10 Best Places to Visit in Leh Ladakh
- 10 Best Monasteries in Ladakh
- 10Â Most Popular Festival and Events of Ladakh
11. Mindrolling Monastery, Dehradun
This monastery houses the history as well as knowledge related to Buddhism. Here, you will be able to see the Great Stupa, considered the tallest one, worldwide.
The most famous and essential Buddhist Indian institute, for studying and practising Buddhism, Ngagyur Nyingma College is also here.
Read Also:Â
- Must Visit Places to Visit in Dehradun
- Delhi to Dehradun Road Trip: Distance, Time, Routes & Stopovers
12. Golden Temple, Coorg
The colour, structure and visuals of this monastery give it generosity along with spirituality. And this and its geography is the reason for its being unique among all other monasteries of India.
The big and grand Lord Buddha’s statues, embellished with rich ornaments are mesmerising. This Golden Temple is also known as Namdroling Monastery.
Read Also:Â
13. Rajgir, Bihar
Rajgir is believed to be on the list of Buddha’s favourite places. In Rajgir Buddha gave two of his most famous sermons. The first Buddha council was held here in The Saptparni cave, and the Prajnaparamita and the Lotus Sutra, two of all important sutras were given on the Gridhakuta hill.
The white Shanti Stupa with all four Buddha’s gold statues is quite a mesmerising view. Along with Buddhism, this place is famous among Jainism followers.
Read Also:Â
14. Dhamma Setu, Tamil Nadu
This recent centre in Chennai is a Vipassana meditation centre. And it can adjust to hundreds of people at the same time. Every month a meditation course of 10 days is held twice.
This place is quite a peaceful and beautiful place with all its greenery around it. Moreover, along with adults, a separate course for children is also available here.
Read Also:
15. Spiti Valley, Himachal Pradesh
The monasteries are colourful, rich in culture, art statues, scriptures, and exquisite and unique landscapes. All these beautiful sites and spiritual peace makes it quite famous among visitors. There are many caves for meditation in the Tabo Monastery. Read Also: 10 Beautiful Places to Visit in Spiti Valley
16. Stupa of Sariputra
There are bones of two main Buddha disciplines here, which makes it quite famous among monks and followers of Buddhism. Following the footsteps of Lord Buddha, Sariputra was able to become Arhat by attaining salvation.
Able to Stupa of Sariputra contains the bones of one of the two chief disciples of Gautam Buddha. This stupa is pyramidal in shape and pillars surround it.
17. Ghoom Monastery, Darjeeling
This oldest Tibetan Buddhist monastery, Ghoom Monastery, is also famous as Yiga Choeling. A statue of Maitreyi Buddha of approximately 15 feet in height is here and made of clay from Tibet.
Here, many rare Buddhist manuscripts can be found. In a typical Tibetan tradition, prayer flags are hosted here, and monks host these.
Read Also:
18. Key Monastery, Spiti
It is believed that the monastery was founded by a student of Atisha, Dromton. This Tibetan monastery is close to the Spiti river. It is the most famous among all the Buddhist destinations in Spiti. Read Also: Top 20 places to visit in Himachal Pradesh
19. Ajanta Caves
Ajanta caves are one of the world heritage sites. Here the culture related to Buddha and their followers is shown through wall sculptures and paintings. It is a set of 30 rock-cut Buddhist caves.
‘Chaityagrihas’ & ‘Viharas’, are the basic designs of the cave. This place will remind you of Jakarta. The sculptures here belong to the period of the 2nd century BC and 650 CE. Read Also: Top 10 facts about the Ajanta and Ellora caves, Maharashtra
20. Bojjannakonda, Visakhapatnam
This was built in this region when Buddhism was spreading here. It is a group of six rock-cut caves. And these belong to the 4th century AD.
There are beautiful statues of Buddha carved in these caves, which are quite famous among tourists and Buddhism followers. Read Also: Top 10 Places to Visit in Visakhapatnam
21. Karla and Bhaja Caves
These caves are of early Buddhist architecture. These contain chaitya, a prayer hall and a vihara, a monastery. And these two chaityas and vihara are the characteristic features of the early temples of Buddha.
Read Also:
Conclusion
Along with all these, there are many other destinations entirely dedicated to Buddha. Some essential goals are in India’s neighbouring country, Nepal, as it is the birthplace of Buddha. But, India is important because of being the place where Buddha attained enlightenment. These places are peaceful, giving spiritual, mental as well as emotional peace to their visitors.
Check more information on India:
