Travel Guide









Key Sites

India

Lumbini
The garden where Prince Siddhartha was born

Prince Siddhartha was born in a lovely garden called Lumbini, who later became Gautama Buddha, the founder of Buddhism, which was destined to be the prevalent religion in Asia.

Bodh Gaya
Where Prince Siddhartha attained Enlightenment under the Bodhi Tree

This small town, known at the Buddha's time as Uruvela, is the place where all Buddhas, past and future, did and will become enlightened, it is the centre of the Buddhist universe, the Navel of the Earth. In the middle of the town is the Mahabodhi Temple with the Bodhi Tree behind it and the surrounding shrines marking the Buddha's seven weeks in Bodh Gaya.

Sarnath
The deer park where Buddha preached his first two discourses

Just 13 kilometres from Varanasi is Isipathana, now called Sarnath, the deer park where the Buddha first proclaimed the Dhamma to the world. He taught two discourses here, the Dhammacakkhapavathana Sutta and the profound Anattalakhana Sutta.

Kusinara
Where the Buddha attained Parinivana

In his eightieth year the Buddha and a group of monks arrived in this small place. Ananda described it as 'a wattle and daub town'. Exhausted and sick the Buddha was unable to go on and he laid down to rest between two sal trees. His final hours and the events that filled it are movingly described in the last part of the Mahaparinibbana Sutta which you will find in the Long Discourses.


China

Dunhuang
The ancient route where Buddhism spread from India to China

The national, historical city of Dunhuang is a renowned tourist city famous for the Mogao Caves. It is situated in the common boundary of Gansu Province, Qinghai Province and Xinjiang Province. This ancient route is credited for the spread of Buddhism from India to China, and thereafter throughout the world.


Japan

Horyuji
The First Gateway of Buddhism into Japan


Founded by Prince Shotoku, who is credited with presenting Buddhism to Japan, Horyuji is one of the oldest temples. It's principal hall, a five storied high pagoda and the central door, is located in the temples' s Saiin Garan (Western enclosure). It dates from the 7th century, and is the oldest survival timber structures in the world.


Sri Lanka

Mihintale
Place of arrival of Buddhism to Sri Lanka

It was on the memorable Poson fullmoon day in the month Jattha (June), in BC 306, (i.e., 237 years after the demise of the Buddha), that the Arhat Mahinda, the illustrious apostle of Buddhism met King Devanampiyatissa (307-267 BC) of Sri Lanka, atop the Mihintale rock (then known as Missaka-pabbata), situated about 12 km. east of Anuradhapura. This confrontation paved way for the establishment of Buddhism in Sri Lanka.


Thailand

Ayutthaya
The seat of Buddhism in ancient Siam

Ayutthaya was founded around A.D.1350 by a Prince of U-Thong. It used to be one of the richest cities in Asia by the 1600s, exporting rice, animal skins, ivory, etc. In 1767 the city was completely burned during the war.

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