Buddhist travel destinations in India

Do you want to visit the places that are of high importance in Buddhism? If you feel like going to one state and visit multiple places related to Buddhism, then Bihar is the ultimate place to land on. Bihar is one famous destination out of many, which can be visited to experience the mysterious religion of Buddhism. Buddhists have many places of importance dotted all across the world – one famous destination is Bihar.

Buddhist tours are very commonly routed through various sites of Bihar. Let us take a look at the Bihar Buddhist travel destinations that hold a high position in Buddhism.

Bodhgaya

Bodhgaya, often written as Bodh gaya, is the most crucial place for Buddhists all over the world. Bodhgaya is the place where the Lord of Buddhism, Gautam Buddha (Childhood name ‘Prince Siddhartha’) reached in search of truth. This is the place where the famous Bodhi tree is situated- the tree under which Lord Buddha attained enlightenment. Bodhgaya is the place where Lord Buddha attained salvation or freedom from the circle of life and death.  There is no doubt about the sacred status of this place for it is the most sacred place in the world from a Buddhist point of view. The Mahabodhi Temple and the Bodhi tree are the key places to visit during your Bihar Buddhist travel to Bodhgaya. Buddhists from various nations like Thailand, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, China, Japan and Nepal among others have made their monasteries all around the Mahabodhi temple – an interesting site to cherish!

Mahabodhi-Temple

Patna

Patna is the capital city of Bihar. There is a museum in Patna that features many important manuscripts as well as many Buddhist sculptures inside the premises. Each year, people interested in the practice of Buddhism reach Bihar to nurture their lives with the knowledge and learning of Buddhism. There are several statues, monks and manuscripts that throw light on the Bodhisattva and enlighten you with its practices and beliefs. Buddhist tours to Patna are commonly availed by people across the globe for these very reasons.

Nalanda

Visiting Bihar without making it to Nalanda during your Buddhist tour is not a great idea. Nalanda is famous for the ruins of prestigious Nalanda University, where students of all nationalities and ages swarmed to capture a glimpse of Buddhist teachings and preaching. It was a much looked upon center for knowledge as well as wisdom since ancient times. Also, Lord Buddha spent a considerable time in Nalanda, which give a sacred tinge to its importance.

Nalanda is the name of an ancient center of higher learning in Bihar, India

Rajgiri

It is the most serene town in Nalanda. This is the place in Nalanda where Lord Buddha spent many months. Rajgiri holds importance for other religions like Hinduism and Jainism apart from Buddhism. Griddhkuta Hill is the spot here where Lord Buddha meditated and preached from many months in a row for attain Buddhahood. During their Buddhist tour to Bihar, tourists can enjoy visiting various other temples of Hinduism and Jainism located here. Each year hundreds and thousands tourists reach Bihar to taken a glimpse through the ancient history of Buddhism. As per the Chief Minister of Bihar, this state is experiencing an increasing footfall every year.

Bihar is enlisted among the top ten tourist interest destinations in India, where it has even over- shadowed the famous tourist destination – Goa. Bihar has hosted International Buddhist Conclave, which multiplied the attention the state gets from Buddhists all over the world. When this conclave was held in Bodhgaya, the Buddhist scenario that was witnessed was explicable, though many newspaper articles tried to portray it.

Griddhkuta Hill is very same one that was taken by Bimbisara several centuries ago

Vaishali

Vaishali holds a greater importance for the followers of Jainism. The twenty fourth teerthankara of Jainism, Vardhaman Mahaveer, was born in the district of Vaishali. It is one of the most auspicious places for Jains all over the world. As for Buddhists, Lord Buddha preached his last sermon in this area, which is why visiting Vaishali is of prime importance to every Buddhist. From a religious point of view, every place that existed at the time of their supreme God they believe in is auspicious. Every thing that God touched, every step that God had taken thousands of years ago, holds importance. Therefore, the place where these Mahaveer took birth and Buddha preached his last sermon, lived and meditated are of prime importance. Bihar has always held importance from a religions point of view. Being a secular state, there are religious places of Hinduism, Sikhism, Islam, Jainism as well as Buddhism.

Vishva-Shanti-Stupa-Vaishali

Bodhgaya, Rajgiri, Patna, Nalanda and Vaishali are a few key places to be marked in any Buddhist tour to Bihar. It is evident that Buddhism and Jainism have many similarities in their teachings and beliefs. It cannot be a mere co-incidence then that the Lords of two great religions spent a lifetime in the same cities – Bihar is thus remains to be a sacred land for religious followers across the globe. Many even believe in getting released from their cycle of sins when they visit this famous destinations of Bihar.

Buddhist-Prayer

Bihar has been one of the important places in the world with great religious persona attached to it. Evidences of existence of Bihar more than 3000 ago have also been found. Consequently, one can comprehend that the culture and tradition of the Bhojpuri speaking natives of Bihar is centuries old. They have far much established traditions as compared to many other places in India.

When you plan a Buddhist tour to Bihar, do not forget to buy a specimen of Madhubani paintings. If you visit the state during the period of Chhath pooja, which is one of the most auspicious festival for every resident of Bihar, you ought to witness its procession. You will be amazed with the dedication and belief of the people of Bihar.

There are an umpteen number of travel and tour guides present all over the world to guide you through the ways to plan and reach the famous destinations of Bihar.There are many special packages that can take you through all the places that are important from the Buddhism point of view or any other religion’s point of view for that matter. All you need is to take some days off and call the people waiting to plan an amazing tour for you and you can set foot on your Buddhist tour with the blink of an eye. No matter how many times you have visited the place, you will love to relive serenity in the air of the state of Bihar!

Famous quotes by Gautam Buddha

• “All that we are is the result of what we have thought. The mind is everything. What we think we become.”
• “Peace comes from within. Do not seek it without.”
• “Thousands of candles can be lit from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared.”
• “You will not be punished for your anger, you will be punished by your anger.”
• “The mind is everything. What you think you become.”
• “You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection.”
• “Three things cannot be long hidden: the sun, the moon, and the truth.”
• “Those who are free of resentful thoughts surely find peace.”
• “To understand everything is to forgive everything”
• “We are shaped by our thoughts; we become what we think. When the mind is pure, joy follows like a shadow that never leaves.”
• “The only real failure in life is not to be true to the best one knows.”
• “You cannot travel the path until you have become the path itself”
• “An idea that is developed and put into action is more important than an idea that exists only as an idea.”
• “When you realize how perfect everything is you will tilt your head back and laugh at the sky”
• “However many holy words you read,However many you speak,What good will they do you If you do not act on upon them?”
• “A jug fills drop by drop.”
• “The tongue like a sharp knife... Kills without drawing blood.”
• “Believe nothing, no matter where you read it, or who said it, no matter if I have said it, unless it agrees with your own reason and your own common sense.”
• “Even death is not to be feared by one who has lived wisely.”
• “A dog is not considered a good dog because he is a good barker. A man is not considered a good man because he is a good talker.”
• “There is nothing more dreadful than the habit of doubt. Doubt separates people. It is a poison that disintegrates friendships and breaks up pleasant relations. It is a thorn that irritates and hurts; it is a sword that kills.”
• “The way is not in the sky. The way is in the heart.”
• “Have compassion for all beings, rich and poor alike; each has their suffering. Some suffer too much, others too little.”
• “Teach this triple truth to all: A generous heart, kind speech, and a life of service and compassion are the things which renew humanity.”
• “The whole secret of existence is to have no fear. Never fear what will become of you, depend on no one. Only the moment you reject all help are you freed.”
• “No one saves us but ourselves. No one can and no one may. We ourselves must walk the path.”
• “The secret of health for both mind and body is not to mourn for the past, worry about the future, or anticipate troubles, but to live in the present moment wisely and earnestly.”
• “Your work is to discover your work and then with all your heart to give yourself to it.”
• “Work out your own salvation. Do not depend on others.”
• “Do not believe in anything simply because you have heard it. Do not believe in anything simply because it is spoken and rumored by many. Do not believe in anything simply because it is found written in your religious books. Do not believe in anything merely on the authority of your teachers and elders. Do not believe in traditions because they have been handed down for many generations. But after observation and analysis, when you find that anything agrees with reason and is conducive to the good and benefit of one and all, then accept it and live up to it.”
• “What we think, we become.”
• “To conquer oneself is a greater task than conquering others”
• “Better than a thousand hollow words, is one word that brings peace.”
• “He who loves 50 people has 50 woes; he who loves no one has no woes.”
• “To keep the body in good health is a duty...otherwise we shall not be able to keep our mind strong and clear.”
• “There has to be evil so that good can prove its purity above it.”
• “Life is suffering.”
• “Hatred does not cease through hatred at any time. Hatred ceases through love. This is an unalterable law.”
• “Whatever words we utter should be chosen with care for people will hear them and be influenced by them for good or ill.”