GAUTAMA BUDDHA -born in NEPAL not in INDIA

Buddhist Tourism in Nepal



The Himalayan Kingdom, Nepal is located in South East Asia and is bordered by Tibet in the north and India in the south, east and west. With an area of 147, 181 sq km, Nepal happens to be the 93rd largest country in the world.


A majority of population in Nepal are the followers of Hinduism and only 11% of them adhere to the philosophy of Buddhism. Despite this low percentage, Nepal figures high on the list of Buddhist tourists. The reason for this is that the country is home to Lumbini, the birth place of Lord Gautam Buddha himself. Lumbini is counted amongst the top four holy sites for Buddhists. Apart from this, Buddhist tourists will also find a number of other worthvisiting destinations, temples, monasteries and stupas in the country.


If, as a Buddhist tourist, you have not paid a visit to this country till now, start planning a trip right away for you are missing out something really significant. Relevant information that will help you plan out your trip in a detailed manner is provided in this section. Here, you will find information on specific Buddhist attractions that are worth visiting in Nepal. You will know in detail about the location, history, legend and highlights of each of these attractions. Additional information, like the one on hotels will assist you further in making your trip completely hasslefree.


So, do not delay. Set out on one of the most memorable Buddhist sojourn of your life. The section is here to guide you at every step.


Kapilvastu






Kapilvastu, also known as modern Piprahwa in the Lumbini Zone of Nepal, is one of the most holy Buddhist centres globally. The capital city of the Shakya clan, and one of the earliest Republics in the world, Kapilvastu witnessed the childhood and early family life of the Buddha in the royal palace. It was at Kapilvastu, the prince saw sorrow, pain, disease and death, the four sights which disturbed Him and He abandoned His life in search of the reality of life, and became the Buddha. Twelve years later after He attained enlightenment, the son of the city came back to His home, but not as a prince but rather as the Buddha, who preached His sermons over here.
Major Buddhist Places :
· Eastern Stupa Complex : The main archaeological site of Kapilvastu excavated in 1973-74, the Stupa complex is a major source to go back to the Buddhist glorious past. The seals and inscriptions found from this place refers to the golden age of Buddhism owing to the patronage provided by an Indian ruler, Kanishka. One of the inscriptions mentioned on the lid of a pot states: 'Om Deoputra Vihare Kapilvastu Bhikschu Mahasanghasa', which refers Kanishka as 'Deoputra', who built the biggest Vihara at Kapilvastu and renovated the main stupa, which contained bone relics of the Buddha.
· The Royal Palace : The 1973-74 excavations unearthed the ruins of the palace of King Shuddhodhana, the father of Prince Gautam. It was at this place, where the Shakya prince Siddhartha Gautama had spent 29 years of His life before leaving home to become the Buddha.
· Sri Lankan Monastery : There is a small Sri Lankan monastery in Kapilvastu, which has a statue of the Buddha and offers meditation and other Buddhist practices.
· Mahinda Mahavihara : A small monastery which offers the Buddhist practices and a 'math' for the Buddhists, is on the name of prince Mahindra, the son of Indian emperor Ashoka.


Nearby Buddhist Attractions:
· Lumbini : The birthplace of Lord Buddha, then a small, but beautiful garden, is at a distance of 27 km from Kapilvastu and one of the major holy places for the Buddhists around the world.
How To Reach
By Air - Kapilvastu can be reached by two ways. One can either take a flight to Kathmandu, Nepal, which is 262 kilometers from Kapilvastu, or can opt for a shorter route by taking a flight for Gorakhpur, India, 110 Kilometers from the destination. Gorakhpur is also near to other major Buddhist sites such as Sarnath and Kushinagar. The Gorakhpur airport entertains all major domestic and international flights, from where one can take up roadway or railway to reach Kapilvastu.


Br Train - The nearest rail head in Naugarh, 20 Kilometers from Kapilvastu which is connected to the cities of Uttar Pradesh, India on the Gorakhpur-Gonda loop line. From Naugarh, one can take the road journey to Kapilvastu.


By Road - Another ption to reach Kapilvastu is by road, as it is connected to all other major places of India and Nepal - Lumbini(27 km), Kathmandu (262 km), Gorakhpur(110 km), Kushinagar(148 km), Varanasi(312 km), Sravasti(147 km)and Lucknow(308 km). Kapilvastu can be reached by taking a coach, bus or a private taxi.


Kathmandu



The capital city of Nepal, Kathmandu lies right in the heart of the Kathmandu valley which is surrounded by verdant agricultural hills. Two other important destinations in Nepal, Patan and Bhaktapur lie close to Kathmandu in the Kathmandu valley itself. Almost all the ethnic group that form the population of Nepal are found in Kathmandu which has a population of around half a million people.


For first time tourists, Kathmandu presents a wonderful amalgamation of a modern and a traditional city. A number of tourists attractions dot the land and there is also an opportunity to shop around for a host of items.
Buddhism in Kathmandu
Legends say that the area where Kathmandu is located was once submerged under a lake. It was Buddhist god Manjushri who cut open a hill to the south and enabled the water to flow out thereby making the region habitable.


Today, Kathmandu is the best place to explore Buddhism in Nepal. This is because it is home to all the ethnic groups of Nepal. Also, quiet a few famous Buddhist shrines and colleges make it a wonderful destination for any Buddhist tourist.




Buddhist Attractions
· Boudhnath Stupa : At a distance of around 7 km from Kathmandu stands the largest stupa of Nepal, Boudhanath Stupa. Also known as the Khasti Chitya, the stupa is considered one of the oldest one in Nepal. The stupa rises to a height of 36 metres and has the eyes of Buddha painted on all four sides. The stupa is constructed in the form of a mandala, a symbol of the universe quiet often used in Buddhist meditations. The stupa is also symbolic of the five elements - the base stands for earth; the dome for water; the spire for fire; the crescent atop the spire for light; and the flame shape topping the spire for ether. The stupa ground is entered by passing through a colourfully painted gateway which leads to a buzzing market. The gate leading to the stupa lies tight opposite the main gate of the ground. You should remember to walk clockwise around the stupa.
· Swayambhunath : The second most important Buddhist shrine in Kathmandu, the Swayambhunath stupa is located at a hilltop. The stupa is extremely important for the Vajrayana Buddhists of Northern Nepal and Tibet, but it is the Newari Buddhists who hold the stupa in the highest reverence. The stirs that lead to the stupa complex has 6 statues of Buddha as well as the bearers of Five Dhyani Buddha. The stupa itself is a white dome crowned with a gilded spire. Four eyes on the four sides of stupa represent the eyes of Buddha guarding the four directions. Between two eyes is a figure that denotes number 1 in Nepali. The figure is symbolic of the sole way of attaining enlightenment, that is, through Buddha's teachings. The best time to pay a visit to the stupa is in the morning.
· Chabahil - Stupa : Located 1.5 km west of the Boudhnath Stupa, this stupa is not as well maintained as the former. In design, the Chabahil stupa reminds you of the Boudhnath Stupa. The hemisphere is plain and sits on a low platform while the shrines of the Dhyani Buddhas facing the four points of the compass. Reliefs depicting events from the life of Buddha appear below the shrine. Around the stupa are a number of chaityas, some of which date back to the Licchavi period. Each of these chaiteyas has a stupa of its own. The stupa compound also has what is considered one of the finest sculptures of the valley - a metre high free standing statue of Buddha Shakyamuni dating back to 6th century.
· Gorakhnath Cave and Ashura Cave : The cave is named after saint Gorakhnath who meditated in the cave and also left back his footprints on the rock that lie infront of it. A number of temples and monasteries are located around it including the one that is dedicated to Guru Rinpoche who introduced Buddhism in Tibet.


The Ashura Caves, as per Buddhist beliefs, is the entrance to the kingdom of demons.
· The National Museum : Nepal's National Museum is located in Chhauni, near Swayambunath and is open on all days except Tuesday from 10.30 am to 4 pm. On Friday, it is open only till 2.30 pm. The museum is segragted into three buildings exhibiting three different collection. The Buddhist exhibits are in the building at the back of the museum compound. On display are the religious objects of Buddhism that help you to understand the highly complex iconography of Nepal's form of Buddhism. The only problem here is that being the newest section of the museum, this section is not very well organised.
How To Reach
By Air -The only international airport of Nepal is located in Kathmandu. It receives flights from international destination, mostly via Delhi or Bangkok. There are daily flights from Delhi, India, operated by airlines like Jet Airways, Air India and Sahara Air. Taxis are available from airport to transfer you to your hotel.


By Road - Kathmandu can be reached by bus from Varanasi and Lucknow in India as well as other parts within Nepal itself.


For getting around, motorised or bicycle driven rickshaws, buses and taxis are available.




Lumbini






Lumbini is the place where the founder of Buddhism and apostle of peace and enlightenment, Lord Buddha was born in 623 B.C.E. It is said that in the Parinibbana sutra, the Buddha had Himself declared the four places of future pilgrimage - His birthplace Lumbini along with the place of His enlightenment (Bodh Gaya), His first discourse (Sarnath) and His death (Kushinagar). Therefore, Lumbini, a small place in the South-Western Terai of Nepal, is the epicentre of holy sentiment for the Buddhists.


Major Buddhist Attractions
· Sanctum-Sanctorum of the Birthplace : The Sanctum Sanctorum is the most important place for the Buddhists as it is the exact spot of the of Lord Buddha's birth.
· Maya Devi Temple : The Maya Devi temple has been dedicated to the birth of the Lord Buddha and His mother, Maya Devi. Several Buddhist devotees have built beautiful shrines in the temple's premises, which was probably built on the Ashokan stupa.
· Puskarni : The Sacred Pool - The sacred pool, Pushkarni is situated in the south of the Ashokan Pillar. It is believed that Maya Devi, Siddhartha's(Buddha) mother, had taken a holy dip in Pushkarni before giving birth to the Buddha. Even the infant Siddhartha was given his first purification bath in the pool.
· The Ashokan Pillar : The Ashokan Pillar has the privilege of being the first epigraphic evidence related to the life history of Lord Buddha. The Asokan Pillar pays tribute to the Buddha and his birthplace, Lumbini in the Brahmi script.
· The Buddhist Temple : The Buddhist temple with a large image of the Buddha in the prayer hall is situated inside the surrounding complex of Lumbini.
· The China Temple : The China temple, which is also known as the Zhong Hua Buddhist monastery, is a complex of Pagodas, prayer rooms and meditation halls. The temple, built by the Buddhist Association of China, also owns a huge statue of the Buddha.
· Japan Peace Stupa : Built by the Nippon Jon Myohoji, the Japan peace stupa (41 meter high) is situated at the northern end of Lumbini. The stupa's dome consists of four different Buddha statues, with their faces in four different directions.
Nearby Buddhist Attractions
· Kapilavastu : Kapilavastu, a holy place related to the early life of the Siddharta Gautama, is located approximately 27 kilometers away from Lumbini.
· Aroarakot : Aroarkot is a rectangular fortified area related to the childhood of Siddhartha Gautama or Lord Buddha.
· Gotihawa : It is a small village which has an Ashokan pillar standing in a slab, though only the lower part of the pillar(3.5 meter high) is still intact, with upper portion broken and lost with the passage of time. Along with the pillar, there is a huge stupa made of successive rings of wedge-shaped Mauryan bricks.
· Niglihawa : The historical site of Niglihawa holds its importance in its archaeological treasures of the Buddha's life. The site includes a pillar inscription erected in Brahmi script which records Ashoka's visit to Niglihawa in the 14th year of his tenure.
· Kundan : Kundan is a small village having a huge structural ruin along with a cluster of four mounds, excavated in 1962 and a tank.
· Sagarhawa : Sagarhawa is a huge forest area, from where the ruins of a large rectangular tank, now known as Lumbusagar, was excavated in 1895 by an archaeologist Dr. Aslois A Fuhrer and his team.


How To Reach
Br Air - One can take a flight to Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal, which has an easy access to domestic as well as International flights. Again from Kathmandu, Bhairahawa can be reached by air, from where Lumbini is just 30 minutes drive away.


By Road - The capital of Nepal, Kathmandu is at a distance of 306 kilometers from Lumbini, and can easily be reached by road within 8 hours by a private taxi or a bus.