The document lists 20 significant Buddhist holy sites in India, highlighting their historical and spiritual importance, such as Bodhgaya, where Buddha attained enlightenment, and Sarnath, where he delivered his first sermon. It also details other sites like Kushinagar, Rajgir, and Nalanda, emphasizing their contributions to Buddhist teachings and architecture. Many of these locations, including the Ajanta and Ellora Caves, are recognized as UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

1. 20 Buddhists Holy Places in India

2. Bodhgaya
The holy site situated in Bihar
where Prince Siddhartha attained
enlightenment underneath a bodhi
tree and became Buddha some
2,600 years ago. The Mahabodhi
Temple located inBodhgaya became
a UNESCO World Heritage Site in
2002.

3. Sarnath
Located 13 km north-east of the holy
city of Varanasi, Sarnath is the place
where Buddha set the motion of the
Wheel of Dharma and taught the four
noble truths and teachings associated
with it. It also houses the Ashoka
Pillar surmounted by the famous
Ashokan Lion Capital which became
the National Emblem of India and
National Symbol on the Indian Flag.

4. Kushinagar
Known as Kushavati in the ancient
times, Kushinagar is where Gautama
Buddha attained Parinirvana, which
occurs upon death of a body of someone
who has attained nirvana during their
lifetime. Many of the ruins of stupas here
are dated as early as 3rd and 5th century
B.C.

5. Rajgir
Rajagirha or Rajgir in Bihar is where
the second turning of the Wheel of
Dharma is said to have taken place. It
is also famous for the hot water
springs, also known as Brahmakund,
and has the Peace Pagoda, Vishwa
Shanti Stupa, one of the 80 Peace
Pagodas in the world.

6. Shravasti
The third turning of the Wheel of
Dharma was delivered to an
audience of bodhisattvas in the
ancient city of Shravasti or
Savatthi, one of the six largest
cities in India during Gautama
Buddha’s lifetime. Jetavana
monastery, the most famous
Buddhist monastery in India
where Buddha gave majority of
his teachings and discourses, is
also located here.

7. Sankashya
As per the legends, after preaching his
mother, Queen Mayadevi, in heaven,
Buddha descended from Tushita Heaven
in the ancient city of Sankashya. It is one
of the last four places common to the
Buddhas of the world.

8. Vaishali
The ancient city of Bihar, which is
now an archaeological site, is where
Gautama Buddha preached his last
sermon before his death in 483 B.C.
The second Buddhist council was also
held here in 383 B.C. and the city
contains one of the best preserved
Pillars of Ashoka, topped by a single
Asiatic lion.

9. Nalanda
Nalanda was an ancient centre for
higher religious learnings in ancient
India and is located 88 km from
south-east of Patna, the capital of
Bihar. Nalanda was visited by both,
Mahavira and Buddha in the sixth
and fifth centuries B.C. and many
famous Buddhist scholars either
studied or taught at Nalanda.

10. Sanchi
The “Great Stupa”, the oldest stone
structure in India, which was
originally commissioned by the
Emperor Ashoka, The Great, in the
3rd century B.C. is located in Sanchi.
The monuments have been listed
among the UNESCO World Heritage
Sites since 1989.

11. Kapilavastu
Once the capital of Shakyas,
Kapilavatthu or Kapilavastu is a
prominent Buddhist pilgrimage site.
It is believed that before he
renounced the material world and
became Gautama Buddha, Prince
Siddhartha spent 29 years of his life
here

12. Ajanta & Ellora Caves
The 3rd-century caves
at Ajanta & Ellora are one of the
finest masterpiece of historical
Buddhist art and architecture. These
man made rock-cut caves have
beautiful paintings on the walls
illustrating the events in the life of
Gautama Buddha. Both these caves
at Ajanta & Ellora are designated
World Heritage Sites.

13. Pataliputra (Patna)
Situated next to modern day Patna, the
capital of Bihar, Patliputra was an ancient
city built by the Magadha ruler Ajatshatru
in 490 B.C. Two important early Buddhist
councils were held here, the first at the
death of Buddha and second during the
reign of Emperor Ashoka The Great.

15. Ajanta & Ellora Caves
The 3rd-century caves
at Ajanta & Ellora are one of the
finest masterpiece of historical
Buddhist art and architecture. These
man made rock-cut caves have
beautiful paintings on the walls
illustrating the events in the life of
Gautama Buddha. Both these caves
at Ajanta & Ellora are designated
World Heritage Sites.

16. Gaya
The ancient city of Gaya holds mythological
significance and is of religious importance
for the Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism. It
was at the Gayasisa hill, now known as
Brahmayoni Hill, that Buddha preached the
Fire Sermon to a thousand former fire-
worshipping ascetics, who all got
enlightenment while listening to the
discourse.

17. Kesariya
Kesariya is the site of the stupa built
by the Emperor Ashoka, The Great,
which is one of the largest stupas in
the world. It was here that Buddha
preached the famous Kalama Sutta,
advocating use of sound logical
reasoning arguments and charter of
free inquiry.

18. Vikramshila
Vikramshila University was one of
the two most important centres of
Buddhist learning, along with
Nalanda University, in India during
the rule of Pala dynasty. The
excavation of the remains of the
ancient university is underway,
which has revealed a square
monastery, stupas and a library.

19. Amaravati
Amaravati in Andhra Pradesh was the
site of a great Buddhist stupa built
during the reign of Emperor Ashoka The
Great. Built in 200 B.C., it is decorated
with carved panels and adorned with
standing Buddha figures which tell
stories of Buddha’s life.

20. Nagarjuna Konda
Nagarjuna Konda, or the Hill of
Nagarjuna, named after the Buddhist
scholar Acharya Nagarjuna, is a
historical Buddhist town located in the
Guntur district of Andhra Pradesh. It
was a religious centre promoting
Brahmanical and Buddhist faiths
attracting students from as far as
Bengal, China and Sri Lanka.

21. Bojjannakonda
Bojjannakonda along with
Lingalakonda are the two Buddhist
sites on adjacent hill near a village
called Sankaram in Andhra Pradesh.
Bojjannakonda is about 45 KMs from
Vishakhapatnam. Both these sites are
believed to be from 4th to 9th Century
when Buddhism flourished in this
region.

22. Photographic Attribution
• Thank you all for your contributions!
• Featured Image: https://www.flickr.com/photos/pentog/5826276207/
• Bodhgaya: www.flickr.com/photos/pentog/5826830186
• Sarnath: www.flickr.com/photos/travfotos/4474512749
• Kushinagar: www.flickr.com/photos/bodhithaj/361607091
• Rajgir: www.flickr.com/photos/anandajoti/9244852398
• Shravasti: www.flickr.com/photos/anandajoti/9237037673
• Sankashya: lotus.rongmotamhon.net/uni/z-photos_hh2004/11-Sankasya/18-Sankasya-B.jpg
• Vaishali: www.flickr.com/photos/hyougushi/31157518
• Nalanda: www.flickr.com/photos/madhatrk/558069104
• Sanchi: www.flickr.com/photos/jayamahesh/5029614718
• Kapilavastu: www.flickr.com/photos/anandajoti/9240004790
• Ajanta & Ellora Caves: www.flickr.com/photos/nozomiiqel/3408579920
• Pataliputra (Patna): en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Budhha-Memorial-Park-Patna.jpg
• Gaya: commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Gayasisa.jpg
• Kesariya: www.flickr.com/photos/anandajoti/9239704568
• Vikramshila: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vikrama%C5%9B%C4%ABla_University
• Amaravati: www.flickr.com/photos/rogueanthro/5426010026
• Nagarjuna Konda: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Buddhist_site_3rd_century_AD.jpg
• Bojjannakonda: www.flickr.com/photos/28772513@N07/8575201365