Kushinagar, located in the state of Uttar Pradesh, India, is an important pilgrimage site for Buddhists around the world. It holds immense historical and spiritual significance as it is the place where Gautama Buddha, the founder of Buddhism, attained Parinirvana, which refers to his passing away into final Nirvana after death.
Places to Visit in Kushinagar
Nirvana Temple
The Nirvana Temple is one of the most visited shrines among all the Buddhist shrines around the world. This place elicits emotion for every Buddhist as it is the very shrine near which Buddha passed away. The temple contains a 6-meter long statue of Lord Buddha in a reclining position.
This statue is believed to illustrate the last few moments of Lord Buddha before he achieved Mahaparinirvana.
This sculpture was dredged up during the excavations carried out in 1876. The statue, carved in Chunar sandstone, portrays the dying Buddha leaning towards his right side. The shrine is erected on the same pedestal as the stupa built behind it.
Ramabhar Stupa
Ramabhar Stupa is regarded as one of the most hallowed shrines for Buddhists all over the world. Located at a distance of only a kilometer from the city center, it is very convenient for every tourist to travel to this magnificent site. This is the site where Lord Buddha was cremated. Sources have revealed that Lord Buddha had conducted many preaching sessions at this place.
Mathakaut Temple
Mathakaut Temple is one of the most frequently visited shrines in Kushinagar. Situated at a distance of 300 meters off Maha-Parinirvana Stupa, this temple is another popular Buddhist shrine. The shrine is located towards the side of the lane when you proceed towards the southwest of Maha-Parinirvana Stupa.
One of the reasons for the popularity of this shrine is that this is the place where a black stone illustration of the Buddha in the 'Bhumi Sparsha Mudra' was retrieved during the initial excavations. 'Bhumi Sparsha Mudra' is a Hindi term meaning 'Kneeling Posture'. It is generally believed that this is the place where Lord Buddha delivered his final sermon.
Mathakaut Temple
The shrine has been renamed Mathakaut Temple owing to the fact that it houses the portrayal of Lord Buddha resting on the ground in a kneeling posture. The Hindi word matha means 'Head'. It is a 3.05-meter long statue that radiates a deep blue color. The sculpture has been carved using stones recovered from the hillocks surrounding Bodhgaya. The sculpture is built to depict Lord Buddha settled beneath the Bodhi tree in 'Bhumi Sparsha Mudra'. This posture has a profound meaning associated with it. This particular posture signifies the crowning moment of Buddha's life right before he achieved Enlightenment when he summoned the Earth to bear testimony to the acts of piety conducted him in his previous lives. Hence, this shrine and statue carry a deep relevance in Buddhism doctrines.
India Holiday Mall provides tours to all the pilgrim sites for Buddhists along with tour packages for various prominent attractions located all over the country of India.