Thursday, 31 July 2014
Bihar is where the Buddha began his journey to enlightenment and it's possible to follow in
his sacred footsteps. The most important Buddhist pilgrimage place (both in Bihar and
India) is Bodhgaya, where the Buddha became enlightened. The magnificent Maha Bodhi
Temple marks the spot.
Other places of significance are West Champaran, where the Buddha left his father's
kingdom; East Champaran, where the Buddha stayed at a hermitage and met his first
spiritual teacher; Rajgir, where you can take a cable car up the hill to Vishwashanti Stupa;
and Vaishali, also one of Buddha's favorite places. Other places of relevance to Buddhism
in Bihar are Nalanda and Bhagalpur with their Buddhist university ruins and museums
containing Buddhist artifacts, and the rock-cut caves built by Buddhist monks at
Jehanabad.
The Mahaparinirvan Express Buddhist Train includes visits to Bodhgaya, Rajgir and
nalanda.
