Buddhist Pilgrimages in India

India is the birth place of Buddhism but now this religion is practiced by minority in India.  Other South Asian countries like Japan, China, Korea and Thailand follow the Buddhism as their main religion.  Buddhist Pilgrimage started after the death of Lord Buddha when disciples started to visit the places associated with the important aspects of Buddha’s life.  Lumbini, Bodh Gaya, Sarnath and Kushinagar are most important pilgrimage sites for Buddhist.

1. Bodh Gaya:  This is the place where Buddhism started in India.  Bodh Gaya is the place where prince Siddhartha attained enlightenment and became Lord Buddha.  This place is the location of famous Bodhi Tree under which Lord Buddha sat and meditated.  He was born in Lumbini which is currently located in Nepal.  Bodh Gaya is located in the eastern state of Bihar Mahabodhi Temple is the major attraction here.
2. Sarnath:  This place is located in the state of Uttar Pradesh in India and has the deer park which is still preserved along with ruins of monasteries & stupas that bear testimony to the flourishing state that Buddhism had reached in India.  This is the park where Buddha is said to have delivered his first teachings about Dharma, and other basic concepts of Buddhism.
3. Kushinagar:  This is the place where Lord Buddha accepted his death.  Kushinagar is the fourth important Buddhist Pilgrimages site in the world and the third in India.  Lumbini being one of the four important places and located in Nepal presently.  The cremation site of Lord Buddha can still be seen here.