Keem Fame rich at 11:13, 13 February 2026

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[[File:Great Buddha Statue, Bodh Gaya.jpg|thumb|right|350px|"[[Great Buddha (Bodh Gaya)|Great Buddha Statue]]" at [[Bodh Gaya]]]]

In [[religion]] and [[spirituality]], a pilgrimage is a long [[quest|journey]] or [[wikt:search|search]] of great [[moral]] significance. Sometimes, it is a journey to a sacred place or to a [[shrine]] of importance to a person's [[belief]]s and [[faith]]. Members of every major religion participate in pilgrimages. A person who makes such a journey is called a [[pilgrim]].

There are number of historical '''Buddhist pilgrimage sites in the [[Republic of India]]'''.

==Places associated with the life of Buddha==

===Primary sites===
{{BuddhasHolySites}}
[[Buddhism]] offers four primary sites of pilgrimage: [[Lumbini]] (birthplace of [[the Buddha]]), [[Bodh Gaya]] (the site where the Buddha attained [[Enlightenment in Buddhism|enlightenment]]), [[Sarnath]] (the location of the Buddha’s first sermon), and [[Kushinagar]] (the location where the Buddha attained [[parinirvana]]). All of these sites are located in India except [[Lumbini]], which is located in southern [[Nepal]]. [[Bodh Gaya]] is the holiest site of Buddhism.

<gallery widths="170px" heigt="200px">
File:Exterior view of the Mahabodhi Temple.jpg|"Maha Bodhi Temple" at Bodh Gaya
File:Dhamek Stupa, Sarnath.jpg|[[Dhamek Stupa]], [[Sarnath]]
File:Ancient Buddhist monasteries near Dhamekh Stupa Monument Site, Sarnath.jpg|Ancient Buddhist Monastery at Sarnath
File:Kusinara.jpg|[[Parinirvana Stupa]] at [[Kushinagar]]
File:Stupa ruins in Kushinagar.jpg|Remains of ancient stupas in Kushinagar
</gallery>

===Places visited by Buddha for discourse===


* [[Andhra Pradesh]]:
**[[Nagarjunakonda]] in [[Guntur]] district: Seat of [[Mahayana]]
**[[Thotlakonda]] and [[Bojjannakonda]] in [[Visakhapatnam]]
* [[Bihar]]: The name of Bihar is derived from [[vihara]], meaning monastery, such was the association of the area with Buddhism. In addition to these sites which were visited by the Buddha, other sites in India have become notable:
** [[Patna]] – Formerly known as [[Pataliputra]], it was the seat of the [[Mauryan empire]] and a significant Buddhist centre
** [[Rajgir]], [[Bihar]] – Formerly known as [[Rajagaha]], it was the capital of [[Magadha (Mahajanapada)|Magadha]], ruled by King [[Bimbisara]], one of the most prominent monarchs and supporters during the lifetime of the Buddha
** [[Nalanda]], [[Bihar]] – Site of an ancient Buddhist university, destroyed by [[Bakhtiyar Khalji]] during Islamic attacks
** [[Sravasti]], [[Uttar Pradesh]] – Formerly known as [[Savatthi]], it was the capital of [[Kosala]], ruled by King [[Pasenadi]], one of the most prominent monarchs and supporters during the lifetime of the Buddha
** [[Vaishali (ancient city)|Vaishali]], [[Bihar]] – Seat of a republican state of the Lichchavis, prominent supporters of the Buddha. Site of the [[Second Buddhist Council]]
* [[Haryana]]: Sacred places in the order of travel by Buddha, where he gave several important discourses documented in the Pali texts. After visiting Mathura, he travelled along [[Grand Trunk Road]] in Haryana (also see [[History of Haryana#Buddhism|Buddhist pilgrimage sites in Haryana]]).
** From [[Mathura]] in Uttar Pradesh, Buddha travelled along [[Grand Trunk Road]] in Haryana (also see [[History of Haryana#Buddhism|Buddhist pilgrimage sites in Haryana]]).
** [[Kumashpur#Pagoda|Kamashpura Aastha Pugdal Pagoda]] (Kumashpur) in Sonipat city, the place where Buddha gave [[Mahasatipatthana sutta]]),.<ref name=kamas2>[https://patthana.dhamma.org/en/dhamma-patthana/ Dhamma patthana], dhamma.org.</ref><ref name=kamas1>[http://sdbst.org/Kumaspur.aspx Aastha Pugdal Pagoda at Kumaspur (Kamas Nigam in Sonepat], SDBST.</ref>
** [[Bodh Stupa|Kurukshetra Stupa]] on the banks of sacred [[Brahma Sarovar]] in Kurukshetra city
** [[Topra Kalan#Topra Ashokan Edicts Archaeological Park and Museum|Topra]] between Kurukshetra and Yamunanagar, now has a large open air museum park housing several replica of [[Ashoka]]'s edicts including largest [[Ashoka Chakra]] in the world
** [[Srughna]], now known as the [[Sugh Ancient Mound]], on outskirts of Yamunanagar city
** [[Jagadhri#Chaneti|Chaneti Stupa]], on outskirts of Yamunanagar city

==Other prominent historic Buddhist sites by state==


All are the historic ancient sites of learning, and the list includes very few relatively new sites which have been specifically highlighted accordingly. Most of these sites have association with [[Ashoka]] and other Buddhist kings.

===Andhra Pradesh===


* [[Amaravati]]
*[[Bavikonda]]
* [[Bojjannakonda]]
* [[Bhattiprolu]]
* [[Chandavaram Buddhist site|Chandavaram]]
*[[Dharanikota]]
* [[Ghantasala, Krishna district|Ghantasala]]
*[[Gudivada]]
* [[Guntupalle, Eluru district|Guntupalli]]
*[[Jaggayyapeta]]
*[[Nagarjunakonda]]
* [[Pavurallakonda]] museum<ref name="museums.ap.nic.in"/>
* [[Ramatheertham]]
* [[Salihundam]]
* [[Thotlakonda]]
*[[Undavalli Caves]]
* [[Visakhapatnam]]

===Assam===


* Namphake in [[Dibrugarh]]
* [[Surya Pahar]] in [[Goalpara]]
* [[Hayagriva Madhava Temple|Hayagriva Madhava]] at [[Hajo]]

===Bihar===


* [[Kesaria stupa]]
* [[Krimila]]
* [[Nalanda]]
* [[Odantapuri]]
* [[Saptaparni Cave]]
* [[Sujata Stupa]]
* [[Vaishali (ancient city)|Vaishali]]
* [[Vikramshila]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thegrandindianroute.com/blogs/top-buddhist-sites-in-india/|title=Top Buddhist Sites In India To Visit|language=en-IN}}</ref>
* [[Vulture Peak]]

===Goa===

* [[Lamgao caves]]
* [[Rivona|Rivona caves]]

===Gujarat===

* [[Vadnagar]] in [[Mehsana]] district<ref>[http://www.vadnagar.blogspot.com New Buddha site found in Gujarat]</ref>

===Haryana===


In 2021, it was announced that Buddha Haryana circuit will be developed by the Centre for [[yatra]] (pilgrimage).<ref name=d21>[https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/others/cleanliness-of-tiraths-a-challenge-in-haryana-101627412369348.html Cleanliness of tiraths a challenge in Haryana], Hindustan Times, 27 July 2021.</ref>

Also see above the "places visited by Buddha for discourse" which has additional sites in Haryana.
* [[Adi Badri, Haryana]]<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://thebuddhistforum.com/wp/haryana-misses-the-buddha-moment-the-tribune.html |title=Haryana misses the Buddha moment : The Tribune | the Buddhist Forum |access-date=2017-07-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170628025026/http://thebuddhistforum.com/wp/haryana-misses-the-buddha-moment-the-tribune.html |archive-date=2017-06-28 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* Mounds: [[Agroha Mound]], [[Sugh Ancient Mound]]
* [[Pillars of Ashoka]]: ([[Firoz Shah Palace Complex#Hisar Ashokan Pillar|Hisar]], [[Fatehabad, Haryana#History|Fatehabad Ashokan Pillar]],<ref>[https://fatehabad.nic.in/tourist-place/lat-of-feroz-shah/ Lat of Feroz Shah]</ref> [[Topra Kalan#Topra Ashokan Edicts Archaeological Park and Museum|Topra Kalan Edicts Museum]])

===Jammu and Kashmir===


* Harwan, near [[Shalimar Bagh, Srinagar|Mughal Shalimar Garden]], dating from the fifth century
* [[Parihaspore]], 20 km northeast of [[Srinagar]]
* Panderathan, near Srinagar

===Madhya Pradesh===


* [[Bagh Caves]]
* [[Sanchi]], site of a large stupa built by Ashoka which also houses the [[relics of Sariputra and Mahamoggallana]], the two chief disciples of the Buddha; reputedly the place from which [[Mahinda (Buddhist monk)|Mahinda]] set out to proselytise [[Sri Lanka]].

===Maharashtra===


* [[Ajanta Caves|Ajanta]], site of intricate Buddhist cave paintings depicting Buddhism
* [[Karla Caves]] site of intricate Buddhist cave paintings
* [[Ellora]], site of intricate Buddhist cave paintings
* [[Deekshabhoomi]], a new 20th century site associated with Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar<ref>{{cite book|last=Lelyveld|first=Joseph|title=Great soul Mahatma Gandhi and his struggle with India|year=2011|publisher=Alfred A. Knopf|location=New York|isbn=978-0307595362|page=[https://archive.org/details/greatsoulmahatma0000lely/page/210 210]|url=https://archive.org/details/greatsoulmahatma0000lely|url-access=registration|quote=Dhamma Chakra Pravartan Din.|edition=1st}}</ref>

===Odisha===


* [[Lalitgiri]]
* [[Ratnagiri, Odisha|Ratnagiri]]
* [[Udayagiri, Odisha|Udayagiri]]

===Telangana===


* [[Nelakondapalli]],<ref name="museums.ap.nic.in">{{cite web|url=http://museums.ap.nic.in/b-sites.htm |title=Dept. Of Archaeology & Museums |accessdate=2012-10-24 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120209160246/http://museums.ap.nic.in/b-sites.htm |archivedate=2012-02-09 }}</ref>
* [[Phanigiri]]

===Tripura===


* [[Pilak, Tripura|Pilak]], an archaeological site in the [[Santirbazar]] sub-division of [[South Tripura district]]

===Uttar Pradesh===


* [[Kausambi|Kosambi]]
* [[Mathura, Uttar Pradesh|Mathura]]
* [[Pāvā]] ([[Fazilnagar]])
* [[Piprahwa]]

==Tibetan Buddhist sites==

===By state===


* [[Arunachal Pradesh]]: [[Tawang]]
* [[Sikkim]]: [[Dubdi Monastery]], [[Enchey Monastery]], [[Pemayangtse Monastery]], [[Ralang Monastery]], [[Rumtek]], [[Tashiding Monastery]], [[Tawang Monastery]], [[Zang Dhok Palri Phodang]]
* [[Himachal Pradesh]]:
** [[Dharamsala, Himachal Pradesh|Dharamsala]],
** [[McLeod Ganj]] at [[Dharamsala]], the primary seat of current [[Dalai Lama]]
** [[Palpung Monastery#Palpung in India|Palpung Sherabling Monastery]] at [[Baijnath, Himachal Pradesh|Baijnath]]
** [[Tabo Monastery]], [[Spiti Valley]], [[Himachal Pradesh]]
** [[Rewalsar Lake]]
* [[Karnataka]]: [[Namdroling Monastery]] in [[Bylakuppe]] near [[Mysore]]
* [[Ladakh]]: [[Leh]]

===Sikkim===


* [[Dubdi Monastery]], occasionally called 'Yuksom Monastery' is a [[Buddhism|Buddhist]] [[Vihara|monastery]] of the [[Nyingma]] sect of [[Tibetan Buddhism]] near [[Yuksom]], in the [[Geyzing]] subdivision of [[West Sikkim]] district.<ref name="Si">{{cite web|url=http://sikkiminfo.in/monasteries.htm|title=Monasteries|publisher=sikkiminfo.in|accessdate=November 21, 2009|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100213055527/http://sikkiminfo.in/monasteries.htm|archivedate=February 13, 2010}}</ref><ref name=Dubdi>{{Cite web|url=http://www.sikkiminfo.net/monasteries.htm|title=Monasteries in Sikkim are of three types|work=Dubdi Monastery|accessdate=2010-05-05|publisher=Sikkim Info}}</ref>
* [[Enchey Monastery]] is located in [[Gangtok]], the capital city of [[Sikkim]] in the Northeastern [[Indian state]]. It belongs to the [[Nyingma]] order of [[Vajrayana]] [[Buddhism]].
* [[Pemayangtse Monastery]] is a [[Buddhism|Buddhist]] monastery in Pemayangtse, near [[Pelling]] in the northeastern [[Indian state]] of [[Sikkim]], located {{convert|140|km|mi}} west of [[Gangtok]].<ref name="bt">{{cite web|url=http://www.buddhist-temples.com/buddhist-monastery/sikkim/pemayangtse-monastery.html|title=Pemayangtse Monastery|publisher=Buddhist Tourism|accessdate=November 7, 2009}}</ref>
* [[Ralang Monastery]] is a [[Buddhism|Buddhist]] monastery of the [[Kagyu]] sect of [[Tibetan Buddhism]] in southern [[Sikkim]], northeastern [[India]]. It is located six kilometres from [[Ravangla]].<ref name="Temples">{{cite web|url=
http://www.buddhist-temples.com/buddhist-monastery/sikkim/ralang-monastery.html
|title=Ralang Monastery|publisher=Buddhist-temples.com|accessdate=November 21, 2009}}</ref>
* [[Rumtek Monastery]] also called the "Dharmachakra Centre", is a [[gompa]] located in the [[India]]n state of [[Sikkim]] near the capital [[Gangtok]]. It is a focal point for the sectarian tensions within the [[Karma Kagyu]] school of [[Tibetan Buddhism]] that characterize the [[Karmapa controversy]].
* [[Tashiding Monastery]] is a [[Buddhism|Buddhist]] monastery of the [[Nyingma]] sect of [[Tibetan Buddhism]] in Western [[Sikkim]], northeastern [[India]]. It is located on top of the hill rising between the Rathong chu and the [[Rangeet River]].
* [[Tawang Monastery]] in the [[States and Union Territories of India|Indian]] state of [[Arunachal Pradesh]] is the largest monastery in India and second largest in the world after the [[Potala Palace]] in [[Lhasa]], [[Tibet]].
* [[Zang Dhok Palri Phodang]] is a [[Buddhist]] monastery in [[Kalimpong]] in [[West Bengal]], [[India]]. The monastery is located atop [[Durpin Hill]], one of the two hills of the town. It was consecrated in 1976 by the visiting [[Dalai Lama]].

<gallery widhts="240px" heights="200px">
File:Tawang Monastery Doorway Mandala.jpg|The Manadala at the "Kakaling", the entry gate to the [[Tawang Monastery]]
File:Main Shrine of Pemangytse Gompa with prayer flags.jpg|[[Pemayangtse Monastery]]
File:Zang Dhok Palri Phodang 01.jpg|The [[Zang Dhok Palri Phodang]] monastery atop Durpin Hill
File:PrayerWheelsRumtek.JPG|Prayer Wheels in the [[Rumtek Monastery]]
File:Window of prayer hall, Enchey.jpg|Ornately carved colourful Window of [[Enchey Monastery]]
File:Yuksom Dubdi Gompa.jpg|[[Dubdi Monastery]]
File:The golden chorten - tashiding.jpg|The Golden Chorten near [[Tashiding Monastery]]
File:Ralong monastery - top view.jpg|[[Ralang Monastery]]
</gallery>
{{wide image|Vikramjit-Kakati-Rumtek.jpg|800px|[[Rumtek Monastery]], Sikkim, India}}

==See also==
{{Portal|India|Religion|Society}}
* [[Buddhist pilgrimage]]
* [[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) in Japan

==References==
{{reflist}}

== Further reading ==
*{{cite book |last1=Goldberg |first1=Kory |last2=Decary |first2=Michelle |title=The Meditator's Companion to Pilgrimage in the Buddha's India and Nepal |date=2013|publisher=Pariyatti Publishing |isbn= 9781938754555|pages=455|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=98_HDwAAQBAJ |access-date=18 January 2025 }} (First Edition 2009)
{{commons category|Buddhist pilgrimage sites in India}}

==External links==
;
* [http://www.buddhist-temples.com/buddhist-pilgrimage.html Buddhist pilgrimage sites in India]
* [http://www.buddhanet.net/e-learning/pilgrim/places.htm Pilgrims Guide to Buddhist India: Buddhist Sites]

[[Category:Buddhist pilgrimage sites in India| ]]
[[Category:Buddhism in India|Pilgrimages]]
[[Category:Buddhist buildings and structures in India|Pilgrimages]]
[[Category:Pilgrimage in India]]
[[Category:Lists of pilgrimage sites in India]]
[[Category:India religion-related lists]]

Buddhist pilgrimage sites in India - Revision history

Keem Fame rich at 11:13, 13 February 2026