First Place Visited by Buddha – Vaishali

Vaishali is a place located in Bihar, India. The name of the place is derived from the King Vaishala, a popular ruler in the ancient times. It is the first place that was visited by Siddhartha Gautama in India, after leaving home. Also, the Lord Buddha preached his last sermons over there before attaining the enlightenment. The place is jeweled with stupas, monasteries, temples, etc. and is frequently visited by number of pilgrims of Buddhists and Mahavira.

Lord Buddha

Now-a-days, Vaishali is a small village which is surrounded by banana and mango trees. But, shoveling in the area gives rise to an impressive historical past behind it. The Lord Buddha visited this place intermittently and very close to this place. The sites available there were built by Lichchvis and popular emperor Ashoka. To commemorate this place, emperor Ashoka made iron pillar there. Two stupas were erected there by Lichchvi to remember this event.

Vaishali is also popular in terms of the Jainism pilgrimage site as it is the birthplace of Mahavira. So, Jainism also has its origins in Vaishali. Lord Mahavira lived in this place till 22 years old. It shows that Vaishali is a twin blessed place as it has the remains of both Buddhism and Jainism. Pilgrims related to both the religions go there in a large number throughout the year. Some of the major destinations or places to see in Vaishali are as follows:-

Vaishali Museum

This museum encloses some of the archaeological remains of both the religions that discovered from this place. Near the museum, there is a shaded stupa which housed the casket relic with the ashes of Buddha.

Ashokan Pillar

Ashokan Pillar

The name of the pillar suggests itself that it was built by emperor Ashoka. This lion pillar is located at Kolhua. This pillar is highly polished and made of a single piece of red sandstone. It is surmounted by a bell shaped capital which is 18.3 m high. A unique figure of a lion is placed on top of the pillar. Besides the pillar, a brick stupa is located at Kolhua that commemorates the Buddha’s last sermon location.

Bawan Pokhar Temple

It is an old temple which built in the Pala period and enshrines the elegant images of several Hindu gods. It is visited by many tourists to get the blessings of lords.

Buddha Stupa- I

Buddha Stupa 1, vaishali

Buddha Stupa- I, Vaishali

The exterior side of the stupa which is now in battered condition has a plain surface. 1/8^th of the sacred ashes of the Lord Buddha enshrined there in a stone casket.

Buddha Stupa-II

Buddha Stupa-II, Vaishali

This site has been excavated in 1958 and led to the discovery of another casket containing the ashes of the Lord Buddha.

Abhishek Pushkarn

Abhishek Pushkarn (coronation tank )

This is also known as coronation tank as it contains water which is believed to be sacred in the old days. All the Vaishali’s elected representative was bathed in this tank before taking the oath. The famous Lichchavi stupa is also located near this tank. Also, on the south bank of the coronation tank, shanty stupa is located which was built by Buddha Vihar Society.

So, the place is full of sacred places and Buddhist lovers winds there perfectly. Pilgrims from different states and countries go there to take the blessings of Buddha and Mahavira.

Buddhism and Jainism Place – Rajgir

Rajgir is a city located in Bihar, India. It was the first capital of Magadha kingdom. This area is popular as it is one of the favorite places of Gautama Buddha. “Atanatiya” conference was also held there on the Vulture’s Peak Mountain. The name of the place come from the Rajgriha, i.e. royal house or house of the king. It is a sacred place and provides the memories of the founders of both the religions Buddhism and Jainism that means the place is associated historically with both Buddha and Mahavira.

Vulture’s peak mountain, Rajgir

Vulture’s peak mountain view, Rajgir

The place where was the “Atanatiya” conference held

This place is famous in many terms like Gautama Buddha spent several months there in meditation, preaching and in delivering sermons. Similarly, Lord Mahavira spent fourteen years of his life over there and in Nalanda. So, the place has great historical importance for Buddhists as well as Jains.  Many numbers of people belonging to Buddhism and Jainism come to this place.
The climate of the city is very cozy as the place is surrounded by seven hills namely Vaibhara, Ratna, Saila, Sona, Udaya, Chhatha, and Vipula. Natural and cool  air can be felt by anyone. Now-a-days, it has also developed as a healthy and a winter water area due to its warm water ponds. It is said that the water has some medical significance and help in the cure of many skin diseases.

Vishwa Shanti Stupa (Peace Pagoda)

Other attractions of the region are Vishwa Shanti Stupa (Peace Pagoda), Makhdoom Kund and Monasteries. These are the worth visiting sites. Tourist attractions of this place are Bimbisar’s Jail, Ajatshatru’s fort, Venuvana Vihara, Cyclopean Wall, Jain temples, Swarna Bhandar, Amaravana Mango Garden, Griddhakuta Peak,  and Jarasandh’s Akhara. Rajgir Heritage Museum is also a great place of interest as it contains all the historical sculptures and paintings belonging to Buddhism and Jainism.

Madhubani paintings

Madhubani paintings, handicraft materials are the most popular items that can be purchased from there to remember the trip in your whole life. The best time to travel to this place is between October and March as the weather is quite pleasant. So, visiting this place makes anyone pleasant. A large number of pilgrims go there every year to provide rituals and prayers to their Lords.

Bodh Gaya- An Enlightenment Place of Lord Buddha

Bodh Gaya is a religious place for pilgrims where Lord Buddha left his foot steps nearly 2500 years ago while traveling in the search of enlightenment. It is located near the river Phalgu, Bihar. People across the globe come here to visit this pilgrimage center. It is famous as this is the place where Gautama Buddha is said to have obtained Enlightenment on the full moon day of Wesak in 588 BC and is the most holy place on the earth for Buddhists . King Ashoka was the first to build a shrine at this sacred place.

For Buddhists, Bodh Gaya is the most important of the four main pilgrimage sites related to the life of Gautama Buddha, the other three are Kushinagar, Lumbini and Sarnath. Bodh Gaya is associated with the Mahabodhi Temple complex in Gaya District of Bihar, India.  The Diamond Throne of Buddha is also located between the Bodhi tree and the rear Wall of the temple. It marks the actual seat of Enlightenment.

Bodh Gaya was the place where under a banyan tree also known as the Bodhi Tree, Gautam attained supreme knowledge to become Buddha, the enlightened one. The serene atmosphere of the place arouses the subconscious soul of any visitor who visits this pilgrimage site as the Lord himself had chosen it for meditation.

Major attractions of this sacred place:-

Mahabodhi Temple : – This temple is a major attraction to the Buddhists and stands near the Maha Bodhi tree under which Tathagat, or Gautam attained enlightenment. The height of this popular temple is 170 ft. In 2002, this famous temple became a part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It has an architectural fusion of many centuries, cultures and heritages. While its architecture has an eloquent stamp of the Gupta era, it also has later age inscriptions describing visits of pilgrims from Sri Lanka, Myanmar and China between 7th and 10th century AD. It is perhaps still the same temple which was visited by Hieuen Tsang in the 7th century. The Shiva Lingam inside the temple was installed in the beginning of the 9th century. Pilgrims should visit the seven sacred places in the temple as they are associated with the Buddha’s stay at each place for seven days after Enlightenment.

Mahabodhi Temple, Bodhgaya

Mahabodhi Temple, BodhGaya

Mahabodhi Tree : – The tree has been considered as sacred since Lord Buddha acquired enlightenment under it, it is probably the fifth succession of the original tree. Anyone, who likes the climate of serene atmosphere can easily understand that the place is perfect for meditation.

Mahabodhi Tree, Bodhgaya

Vajrasana : – It is stone platform, where Lord Buddha sat in meditation while he attained enlightenment and is known as Vajrasana. The place is restricted for any tourist activity as it is a sacred one.

Vajrasana Stone Platform, Bodhgaya

80 Feet statue of Buddha : – This 80 Feet statue is another attraction for tourists. The statue is so high and beautiful that anyone dwell in it for some time. Established in 1989 by Daijokyo in Bodhgaya.

80 Feet Buddha Statue, Bodhgaya

At last, one can say that the Bodh Gaya is a perfect tourist as well as religious place. The placid environment of the place feels anyone that this is a perfect place for meditation as the Lord Buddha did.

Must Visit Destinations in Bihar

There is only single state in India whose splendid beauty, inherited charisma and rich cultural heritage spontaneously magnetizes tourist from abroad towards it, is the province of Bihar. Bihar tourism offers the tourist to watch the great amalgamation of Hindus, Sikhs and Buddhist’s temples all around. The state is situated on the bank of the holy river Ganga and due to the survival of several holy shrines over here; Bihar is considered one of the renowned holy places in India. Though most of the people of the state are quite illiterate, but their warm hospitality always holds a specific place in the heart of its visitors.

Where to travel during your trip to the province of Bihar? Below are some mostly visited places of the state:

Bodhgaya:

Buddha Statue, Bodh Gaya, Bihar

This is the prime attraction of the city. Wish to get in touch with the spirituality of the place. This is the place where Lord Buddha had taken his birth and from this place he became Mahatma. The place has several attractions, which include Bodhi Tree where Buddha became enlightenment and attained salvation, the great statue of Buddha, Mahabodhi temple and Dungeshwari Caves. Bodhgaya is located in the heart of state and near the Niranjana River, which takes half an hour from Gaya town.

Vaishali:

Ashoka Pillar, Vaishali, Bihar

The birthplace of Lord Mahavira; the founder of Jainism. This is the place where the world famous Ashoka Pillar is seated; built by ruler Ashoka. It has been constructed in a single piece of red sandstone and the top of the pillar is carved with a life size lion. Visiting Vaishali for the first time one can visit Vaishali museum, where several archaeological remains discovered. Near the museum there is a shaded stupa, which is believed to have housed the relic casket with the ashes of Buddha.

Nalanda:

Nalanda, Bihar

The renowned learning centre of Buddhist. Nalanda University came into existence in the last 5th century BC where thousands of scholars are lectured. But later the complex was destroyed by a Turkish Invader, Bakhtiar Khilji. Inside the ruined complex there is a museum where tourist can found some rare collections of the ancient time.

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