In the Mahaparinirvana sutra, Buddha tells his followers that they can attain merit and a noble rebirth from pilgrimage in Lumbini, Bodhgaya, Sarnath & Kushinagar. These are some of the major spots where he was born, got enlightenment, first taught, and attained Nirvana.

Lumbini, Nepal – Birthplace of Sakyamuni

Bodh Gaya, Bihar – Gautama’s enlightenment

Rajgir, Bihar – Lived and preached his two sermons in Rajgir

Kapilavastu, Uttar Pradesh – Gautama Buddha spent his early years

Sarnath, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh – Gave his first sermon after attaining enlightenment

Kausambi, Uttar Pradesh – Kausambi is the region where after his enlightenment, he stayed and preached

Shravasti, Uttar Pradesh – Spent more than 18 rainy seasons in Shravasti

Vaishali, Bihar –The region where Gautama Buddha held his last sermon

Kushinagar, Uttar Pradesh – Attained Parinirvana or nirvana-after-death, which occurs at the death of a being who attain nirvana in lifetime