Kushinagar, Uttar Pradesh

How to reach there
Air: Gorakhpur –44 km and Kasia Airstrip –4 km.

Rail: Nearest railway station is Gorakhpur – 51 km away.

Road: Kushinagar is well connected with other parts of the state by road.

Accomodation

• Pathik Niwas

• Hotel Nekko Lotus

• International Guest House

• Hindu Birla Buddha Dharmshala

• Chandramani Bhikshu Dharamshala.

Kushinagar, one of the principal centres of buddhist pilgrimage.Lord Buddha left his corporeal self and attained Mahaparinirvana at Kushinagar.The monuments of Kushinagar are situated in three distinct groups comprising the main site of the Nirvana Temple, the central stupa and surrounding monasteries, the Mathakuarkot to the southwest, and the ramabhar Stupa a kilometer to the east.

What to see
Nirvana Stupa: This huge brickwork stupa, exposed by Carlyl in 1876, stands at a height of 2.74 mtrs. A copper vessel was unearthed at this site. It bore an inscription in ancient Brahmi, which stated that lord Buddha’s remains had been deposited here.

Nirvana Temple: This houses the over 6 mtrs long statue of the reclining Buddha. The image was unearthed during the excavations of 1876. Carved from Chunar sandstone, the statue represents the dying Buddha reclining on his right side. An inscription below dates the statue to the fifth century.

Ramabhar Stupa: is about 1 km away. It marks the site where the Lord Buddha was cremated. In ancient Buddhist text this stupa has been referred to as Mukut-Bandhan Vihar. This shrine lies about 400 yards from the Parinirvana stupa. A black stone image of the Buddha in the bhumi sparsha mudra was recovered here. The last sermon by Lord Buddha was given here.