Siddhartha Gautama, the prince of a small kingdom in
Nepal, found enlightenment in India and came to be known as Gautam
Buddha. Beautiful Buddhist monasteries and stupas over the relics have
become an inseparable part of Indian art, culture and architecture.
Nalanda was once a world center for Buddhism and its philosophy until it
disappeared suddenly in 13th century except for the small kingdoms in
the hilly tracts. Early 20th century saw re-emergence of Buddhism and
even today some of the famous pilgrimage sites in India related to
Buddhism attract large number of devotees and visitors every year. Most
of them are situated around the River Ganges. The significant sites to
be visited as great Buddhist centres are Lumbini, Bodhgaya, Sarnath,
Shravasti, Sankashaya, Nalanda, Rajgir, Sanchi stupa and other cave
temples as in Ajanta and Ellora.
Lumbini is said to be the birthplace of Buddha and the site is marked
by ruins a great stupa and pillar by Emperor Ashoka. Buddha finally got
enlightenment in Bodhgaya, when he was 29 years old, under the Bodhi
tree, which seems to have eternal life as it keeps sprouting even after
destroyed completely. The Mahabodhi temple and a monastic order looking
after the three monasteries are things of interest here. Sarnath
monasteries from 3rd century B.C.E. to the 1st century C.E. are in ruins
now. The key factors of Buddhism such as the four noble truths and the
philosophy of moderation were taught here. There is Shravasti, where
there are several legends about Buddha's miracles said to be performed
there and there is Sankashaya, where ther are no temples and monasteries
but is still a revered place because it was here that Buddha was said to
be descended from the Tushita Heaven. Nalanda, Rajgir, Sanchi Stupa,
Amravati, and cave temples of Ajanta and Ellora are the preferred
Buddhist pilgrimage spots in India.
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