Buddhist Circuit
Pilgrimage
- Bodhgaya
- Rajgir
- Nalanda
- Varanasi
- Sarnath
- Lumbini
- Sravasti
- Kushinagar
In the Mahaparinirvana sutra, Buddha tells his followers that they can attain merit and a noble rebirth by going on a pilgrimage to Lumbini, Bodhgaya, Sarnath and Kushinagar. These were the major spots where he was born, gained enlightenment, first taught, and attained Nirvana
Sites covered on this Pilgrimage
Lumbini, Nepal – Birthplace of Sakyamuni
Bodh Gaya, Bihar – Gautama’s enlightenment
Kapilavastu, Uttar Pradesh – Gautama Buddha spent his early years
Rajgir, Bihar – Lived and preached his two famous sermons in Rajgir
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 that is commonly nirvana-after-death, which only happens/occurs at the death of someone who has attained nirvana in his or her lifetime