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Buddhist Train Destinations

Delhi

Delhi, The of

The capital of India, almost explodes with cultural splendour as well as heritage and a powerful history. Add to it the monuments, museums and other attractions that Delhi has and what you get as a result is the travel nerve centre of India.

How to reach Delhi?

Delhi is the gate that opens the rest of India to you. All the major countries are connected to Delhi by regular flights with the India Gandhi International Airport of Delhi. Plan early if you want to reach Delhi in the tourist season. Even within the country Delhi is pretty well connected with the rest of the major cities of India.

Delhi Destinations

India Gate - The India Gate was constructed as a memorial for the soldiers who laid down their lives during World War I. It is located at Rajpath and is often used as a picnic spot by the people and as a place to relax during the summer evenings. India Gate was designed and constructed by Edwin Lutyens who is considered the main planner of Delhi. Another memorial called Amar Jawan Jyoti was added much later in the memory of soldiers who laid down their lives in the 1971 India Pakistan war.

Lotus - It is a modern structure in Delhi which is a place of worship for the Baha'i people. The Baha'i faith considers that all religions lead to the same destination and it regards all the human beings equally therefore people of all faiths are allowed in here. It is located in the Kalkaji locality of South Delhi and is shaped like a lotus and that explains the name that has been given to it. It is made of marble, cement, dolomite and sand.

Rajghat - The Rajghat is located on the banks of river Yamuna and it is a memorial for the father of the nation Mahatma Gandhi. The memorial is built of black stones with his last words Hey Ram inscribed on it. A large number of visitors are attracted towards the site regularly.

Red Fort - The Red Fort of Delhi is octagonal in shape and was built during the reign of Shahjahan. It is an imposing structure the walls of which cover a perimeter of about 2.41 km. It is surrounded by moats on all sides that were once connected with river Yamuna. The major gates of the Red Fort are Lahori Gate, Hathi Pol and the major attractions of the Red Fort are Mumtaz Mahal, Rang Mahal, Khas Mahal, Diwan-e-Aam, Diwan-e-Khas and the Shah Burz.

Birla Temple - The place is also known as the Lakshmi Narayan Temple and though it is not part of the Delhi that was designed by Edwin Lutyens yet it came along and became very much a part of it. It is a Hindu temple built by the industrial family of the Birlas. It is located just off Connaught Place and is dedicated to Lord Vishnu.

Old Fort - It is said that Humayun wanted to construct his new capital at the site where the ancient city of Indraprastha existed. Humayun was a learned scholar and it can be said that the site was chosen deliberately. Most of it was destroyed by Sher Shah who overthrew Humayun who later built his own city instead. However, when Humayun wrested the city back from Sher Shah's son, he did not destroy the buildings built by Sher Shah. Rather he completed the unfinished work of his predecessor.

Jama Masjid - It is the biggest in India and is only about half a km away from the Red Fort of India. Its construction was started by Shahjahan in 1650 and was completed after six years. The structure of the mosque is huge and is awe inspiring to the lesser mortals. It is constructed in Sandstone and white marble, and you can enter it from both the directions.

Departure From Delhi

It is definitely going to join the list of the most luxurious trains of the world. It leaves from the Safdarjung Railway station in Delhi for Gaya and the dinner will be served on board the train.

Agra

This is the city which can be declared to be the most authoritative centre of tourism in India. Agra is known all over the world for the legendary monument Taj Mahal which is also one of the seven wonders of the world. The Lodhi ruler Sikandar Lodhi made Agra his capital some time in the sixteenth century. Later Agra went into the hands of Mughals and it was the time when some of the most stunning monuments of the human history came up in the city.

Agra is an important destination on the tourism scene of the world and this city alone accounts for three heritage monuments. These are - Taj Mahal, Red Fort and Fatehpur Sikri. Not very many cities of the world can match the history and heritage of Agra.

Agra Destinations

Taj Mahal -It takes just one and half hours to reach the city of Taj Mahal from Delhi by an express train. It is among the most well preserved architectural wonder of the world. It is quite a feat to stand out among the flood of monuments and the Taj Mahal manages to do exactly that. It is located on the banks of river Yamuna. Although the Red Fort is also located on the banks of the river but the river is not known for that. The Taj is said to be sheer poetry in marble which took 22 years to complete.

Agra Fort - Its construction was begun by Emperor Akbar which was continued by the later generations. Shahjahan replaced many of the Akbar's creations with his own creations made of marble. The main buildings inside the fort are Jehangir Mahal, Jodha Bai's Palace, Anguri Bagh etc.

Itmad-Ud-Daula - This tomb was built by empress Noor Jehan in the memory of her father. The monument also has the cenotaph of Nurjehan's mother. The tomb sometimes is also referred to as baby Taj.

Chini Ka Rauza - The monument is named so because of the profusion of the decorations in the form of carvings. It is the mausoleum of Mulla Shukrulla Shirazi and it was built by himself. He was the prime minister of Shahjahan. The main tomb is pretty simple in plan and lacks architectural grandeur.

Fatehpur Sikri - The place is only 37 km away from Agra and is a complete city built in Red Sandstone. The town was built by Mughal Emperor Akbar as his capital but had to be abandoned due to shortage of water. The city still retains many of its old structures due to the efforts of the Archaeological Department. Fatehpur Sikri is an excellent example of the Mughal Architecture at its peak.

Fatehpur Sikri Destinations

Diwan-e-Aam - It is the hall of public audience which was used for celebrations and mass prayers. In the western side there is a pavilion with a throne of the emperor.

Diwan-e-Khas - It is the hall of private audience where in one chamber it is believed that emperor Akbar used to sit on the throne with the ministers sitting on the four corners.

Buland Darwaza - The massive gate was constructed to commemorate Akbar's victory over Deccan.

Gaya

Arrival In Gaya Upon your arrival in the city of Gaya, you'll be transferred to the hotel where you'll freshen up for the day. In the meantime your breakfast is ready because your day ahead is going to be a busy one as you'll soon be off to some of the best known religious destinations of India in Bodhgaya.

Gaya, The Religious City Gaya anyway is associated with the word in India as Hindus from all over the world congregate here to pay homage to their departed forefathers so that their souls may rest in peace. The services of thepriests are also available for the purpose. Gaya and the nearby Bodhgaya have some of the most sacred Buddhist and Hindu shrines situated here.

Bodhgaya, The Place of Enlightenment Bodhgaya is only 14 km away from the city of Gaya. This is the place where Siddharatha, prince of Kapilvastu, meditated under a peepal tree on the bank of Niranjana river for 49 days after which he attained enlightenment. Later on the place came to be known as Bodhgaya and the river was known as Phalgu. The peepal tree later came to be known as . It is said that emperor Asoka also visited the place several times. The tourist inflow especially increases during the anniversary of Lord in May when the place turns into a festive city.

Bodhgaya

Mahabodhi Temple The most striking thing about the is the vast image of Buddha which is installed here. The Mahabodhi temple is shaped like a pyramid which has a prayer on the first floor. The temple entrance is built in the South Indian style and there are four towers on the four corners of the temple. It is believed that the temple was first built by Asoka which was renovated later by Burmese Buddhists, General Cunninghum etc. The temple was renovated in recent times as well.

Tibetan It is a two storeyed structure which is located to the west of the temple. It has been built with attractive ornamentation and Lord Buddha is the presiding deity here. Surya Temple, Deo - It is about 20 km away from Gaya and is famous for being the site of Puja in November.

Parasnath Hill It is about 40 km away from, these are believed to be the earliest Buddhist rock cut caves. It is among the most sacred centres for the Jains.

Bodhi Sarovar This is a pond which is located to the west of Bodhi temple. It is believed that before going for his meditation Lord Buddha took bath in the pond which later came to be known as Bodhi Sarovar.

Bodhi Tree It was under this tree that Lord Buddha attained enlightenment. It is considered very sacred for all the Buddhists of the world.

Rajgir

The literal meaning of the word means 'house of the king' which is apt for the place considering the fact that it was the capital of the Kings until 5th century BC. In fact, the place was the first recorded capital of India which was a political as well as spiritual nerve centre of the region. Situated in the rocky hills, it is about 46 km away from Bodhgaya and the place has many attractions which are important to both Buddhists as well as Jains.

The place is important for the Buddhists as Lord Buddha spend 12 invaluable years here in this place. The first Buddhist council after Buddha was held in the Saptaparni caves near Rajgir. The Mauryan King was converted by Lord Buddha at the Griddhakut Hill. At this place, Lord Buddha delivered many of his sermons as well.

Rajgir is just 10 km south of and it was here that some of the famous sermons of Lord Buddha were delivered. Once it was a great city whereas now the place has turned into a village, though the remnants of its glorious past still remain.

Rajgir Destinations

Pipali Cave The Pipali cave finds mention in the literature because the place was often used by Lord Buddha for meditation after his mid day meal. It is located a little up in the Vaibhara hill from the top of which one could see the panoramic views of the surrounding areas and lush fields. The cave was so named because there was a sacred pipal tree at the entrance of the cave where Lord Buddha used to meditate occasionally.

Jarasandh Ki Baithak Just follow the foot track on the Vaibhara hill and you'll reach the place known as Jarasandh ki Baithak. The historians say that the place used to be a military out post whereas there is an another nearby attraction as well which is pretty well known as Jarasandh ka Akhada.

Amravan or Jivaka Mango Garden - The place was the site for the dispensary of Jivaka, the royal physician. It was here that he got to dress the wounds of Lord Buddha when he was injured. Buddha lived in this Amravan for sometime where Ajatshatru used to come here to meet him for spiritual guidance. The place was gifted to the Buddhist order by Jivaka.

Topada, the hot water springs Topada are the hot water springs of Rajgir which also find a mention in the Mahabharata. Even today the place is famous for the hot water springs at the base of the Vaibhara hills which attract the tourists and alike. The sick and infirm also throng the place in the belief that they would be cured by the waters of the springs.

Nalanda

Nalanda is well known around the world for the ancient International monastic university that existed here. The university was established in the 5th century BC by the emperors, and later it became a famous learning centre in the course of time. It is said that Lord Buddha and Lord have also taught here. There were about 9 million volumes in the library of the university. Even today the remains of the university can be found in the area of about 14 hectares. The university could accommodate about 10,000 students and 2,000 teachers in its complex.

Nalanda Destinations Nalanda University Archaeological Complex - The university was built in the Kushana style of architecture. You could find here huge gardens, bronze statues as well as red brick edifices. Out of all the , the temple number 3 is most interesting as it has statues of Buddha in various poses.

Nalanda Archaeological Museum The museum was established in 1971 and has a rich aggregation of bronze statues of Buddha, Hindu Gods as well as Goddesses. That's not all as the place has rare manuscripts, copper plates, stone inscriptions etc. These articles were found in the excavation of the university site. The museum remains closed on the Fridays.

Nava Nalanda Set up in 1951, it is the new study centre for and Pali literauture. Here research work on Buddhism and is also carried out.

Huen Tsang Memorial Hall Huen Tsang was the world renowned Chinese traveller who came to India in 5th century AD to study the society of India. He spent 12 years in the university as a teacher as well as a student. The existence of the memorial stands testimony to his contributions to the university. is located 25 km east of the municipality of Kapilavastu, the place where the Buddha grew up and lived up to the age of 29. Kapilvastu is the name of place as well as the neighbouring district. Lumbini has various Buddhist temples including the Mayadevi temple. There is also the Puskarini pond and remains of Kapilvastu palace in Lumbini. There are other sites near Lumbini where, according to Buddhist tradition, previous Buddhas were born and achieved enlightenment and died.

Varanasi

It is said that the holy city of was created by Lord , the cosmic Lord. Varanasi has always been a popular centre for learning and civilization, and the place is specially sacred for the Hindus. Because of the heritage attached to the city, Varanasi has become a popular tourism destination and therefore it boasts of presence of large variety of cuisines as well as a good range of handicrafts, specially silk.

The river Ganga is the most important attraction of Varanasi and the on the southern bank of it attract the most of the crowds including the devotees as well as the tourists. The devotees perform their holy rituals on the Ghats in the belief that they'd get eternal salvation. You can either choose to mingle with the crowds on these Ghats or alternatively go on a cruise to get a panoramic of what's happening on the Ghats.

Varanasi Destinations Kashi Vishwaanath Temple - This temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is also called the Golden Temple because of the Gold plating done on the spire of the temple which was donated by Maharaja Ranjit Singh. It was destroyed in various invasions and was renovated by Rani Ahilyabai of Indore.

The Ghats of Varanasi - The ancient city of Varanasi's main attractions are the Ghats situated on the banks of river Ganga. People come here every day in large numbers to take bath in the holy waters and to worship in the temples built on the banks of the river. People also worship the rising sun which is an ancient tradition.

Banaras Hindu University - It is one of the oldest educational institutions in India and is an internationally reputed University. It was founded by Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya in the year 1916. The university played an important role in the independence movement of India.

Sarnath

Sarnath is among the most sacred of places for the Buddhists from across the world. It is said that Lord Buddha delivered his first sermon after attaining enlightenment here in Sarnath. The buildings and monuments of Sarnath were built by the emperor . It was Ashoka who spread the message of Buddhism all across the world and Sarnath held a special place for him. In its glorious days it used to be a major centre of learning for the Buddhists.

Sarnath Destinations Chowkhandi - You can see this monument even from a distance and it is squarish in structure. The Chowkhandi Stupa stands on a small hillock. It was here that the first five disciples of Buddha had first welcomed him.

Dhamek Stupa - This stupa is built in stones in the lower portions whereas bricks have been used in the upper portion. The architecture and of the stupa is of excellent quality.

Ashok Pillar - It is a 20 meter high structure though the condition of it has deteriorated with time. There are four lions on the Ashok Chakra which is situated on top of the pillar out of which only three are visible at a time. It has now become the national symbol of India.

Gorakhpur

Gorakhpur is located in the north-eastern part of the state of . It is a small city which is mostly known for its proximity to . It is located on the banks of rivers Rapti and Rohini and the place got its name from the name of famous Saint Gorakhnath who blessed the people of the region with his teachings. Today, the city is known for its handloom products.

Gorakhpur Destinations

Gorakhnath Temple - This temple is dedicated in the memory of Saint Gorakhnath, after whose name the city has got its name. There are many temples in the vast temple complex. The seat from where he used to preach has been turned into the shrine. The architecture of the temple has to be seen to be believed.

Gita Press - Gita press is known everywhere for its publications, though its building is as good as its publications are. The press publishes religious books of the Hindu religion. The building is designed to make it look like a temple.

Arogya Mandir - It is known as a naturopathy centre which was established in 1940. See the place for its attractive building as well as for its lush green surroundings.

Kushinagar

Kushinagar is a small hamlet situated about 53 km away from Gorakhpur. The site is revered by the Buddhists for this is the place where Lord Buddha attained Maha Parinirvan, by which, it is believed that he attained freedom from the cycles of death and .

Earlier the place was known as Kushinara and was a small town in the Kingdom of Malllas. The place was almost forgotten till it was rediscovered by the archaeologists in the later part of the nineteenth century. Today Kushinagar is fast becoming a centre for International Buddhism as the place has become a home to many including Tibetan and a Burmese viharas as well as temples from China and Japan.

Kushinagar Destinations

Nirvana Stupa - This is a huge brickwork stupa which was discovered by Carlyl in 1876 and is about 2.74 meter high. A copper vessel was also discovered at this site. There was an inscription on it in which stated that Lord Buddha's remains were deposited here.

Nirvana Temple - This temple is renowned for having the statue of reclining Buddha which is about 6 meters long. It was discovered in the excavations of 1876. The statue has been prepared from Chunar sandstone, and it actually depicts dying Buddha reclining on his right side.

Rambhar Stupa - Rambhar Stupa lies about 1.5 km south east from Nirvana Temple and is surrounded by rice, wheat and cane fields.

Lumbini

Lumbini is renowned the world over for being the birth place of Gautam Buddha where Lord Buddha was born in 623 BC. The place is located in Terai plains and is at about 250 km south west of Kathmandu which is near Nepal India border in the north of Gorakhpur. It is a sacred place where Lord Buddha was born as a Shakya Prince and it is marked by a pillar which was erected by emperor Ashoka of India.

This holy site today is being developed with international support and the aim is to position this place as the supreme pilgrimage for the Buddhists from all over the world as well as a symbol of peace. Since the shrines are being built by many countries, therefore the architectural traditions of these countries are giving this place an international feel thus giving us a message of universal friendship.

There is a village called Tilaurakot which is about 30 km away from Lumbini. This village is believed to be the place where the Kapilvastu Royal Palace was situated when Prince Siddharth was born, though at the age of 29 he renounced all this in search of enlightenment.

Lumbini Destinations

Sacred Garden - This is one of the significant places of Lumbini and it is sprawled over an area of 8 sq km. The garden has many of the treasures of the historic times of Buddha. The International Monastery Zone is also located near the Sacred Garden. So far the construction works that have been finished are Myanmar Temple, International Gautami Nuns temple, China Temple, The Nepal Buddha Temple etc.

Ashoka Pillar - This pillar has an inscription on it that states that the holy site is the birth place of Lord Buddha. The pillar is located near the sacred garden. Mayadevi Temple - It is situated on a side of the Ashoka pillar. A recent excavation has uncovered a stone having a foot print upon it which, some say, indicates the exact place of birth of Buddha.

Pushkarni Pond - It is believed that Queen Mayadevi took bath here before giving birth to Prince Siddhartha.

The Lumbini Museum - It is located in the cultural zone and has among its collection, Mauryan and Kushana coins, religious manuscripts, terracotta fragments and stone and metal . The museum also has an extensive collection of stamps from various countries.

Kapilvastu Museum - It is located at the distance of about 27 km from Lumbini in the village of Tilaurakot. Here you'll find coins, pottery as well as toys that date between seventh century BC and fourth century AD. In its collection, you'll also come across jewelery and ornaments of the period.

Sravasti

Sravasti was the largest town in the Gangetic plains in the lifetime of Lord Buddha. The place was once the capital of the Kingdom and it is specially sacred to the Buddhists because it was here that Lord Buddha performed the most talked about of miracles when he created many images of himself that befuddled the Tirthika heretics. It is a very popular theme among the artists of Buddhist leanings. Buddhism was very much popular in Sravasti even in the lifetime of Lord Buddha.

Lord Buddha himself was present in the city in many of the summers in which he delivered some of his important sermons. In fact, the city hosted Lord Buddha for 25 years during the annual rain retreat as it was at this time that entire gathered at one place.

Sravasti is located in in eastern Uttar Pradesh. It was here that Lord Buddha turned the Kosala King Prosenjit into a believer although he used to be an atheist earlier. The past has gradually been obliterated from the region as well as minds of the people though efforts are on to restore the memory of era back again. The place also has two Buddhist temples that are built by the Chinese and the Burmese.

Sravasti Destinations

Maheth - It is a 400 acres large area where the remains of the city have been found. Here the massive gates as well as other structures of the city have been uncovered during excavations which confirm the fact that Sravasti used to be a very prosperous city. It is believed that Pakki Kuti and Kachchi Kuti were perhaps Buddhist shrines which were later converted into Brahmanical temples.

Saheth - This is an area of about 32 acres which lies to the south west of Maheth. The monastery existed here and the place later became a very important pilgrimage. The found here are of the Kushana period whereas temples are in Gupta style.

Devi Patan Temple - It is an important Shaktipeeth in the region and is revered by the Hindus.

Sobhanath Temple - It is believed that this place was the birth place of Jain Tirthankar Sambhavnath. The place is visited by mostly Jain devotees.