Kushinagar was earlier known by the name Kushawati which holds its importance as one of the holy places of Buddhism. This is the place where Gautam Buddha had surrendered his last breath as the founder and the deity of Buddhist Religion. This whole pilgrimage was known as complete Nirvana or termed as Mahaparinirvana.Located 55 km away from Gorakhpur in the state of Uttar Pradesh, the Holy pilgrimage of Buddha to Kushinagar is indeed an experience. Lord Buddha has preached his entire experience to his devotees and followers at this holy place in 543 B.C. The most important aspect of this place is the cremation of Lord Buddha in Rambhar, which is also situated at Kushinagar.
Buddhism started flourishing in India with the excavations leading to the discovery of several places at kushinagar, making it an important centre of learning Buddhism. This also led to the emergence of several Buddhist pilgrims during the medieval period. Being an important and Holy Buddhist nerve centre, Pawanagar holds its importance of this place, when Buddha joined the threads to Jainism after attaining the Enlightenment.
King Ashoka as an ardent devotee of Lord Buddha, visited this place and had built several Buddhist shrines and Temples which were later excavated by the British Archeologist Cunningham.
Major Buddhist Attractions at Kushinagar
The Buddhist sites to visit at Kushinagar are Watt Thai Kushinara, a mini Thailand developed by the Thais. The people from all over the world, mainly the Thais had come down to settle here. They have their own schools, hospitals, library, sprawling throughout acres of land. The people here believed their typical way of living, considering lotus as the symbol of Thailand. These people had settled down to these places mainly for different kinds of services.Another place to visit is Muktabandhana Stupa, which is believed to have been built by the Mallas just after the demise of Buddha. It is said that Ramabhar Stupa which is about 50 ft tall, was built as the place of cremation of Lord Buddha.
Mahaparinirvana Temple
The magnificent reclining statue of Buddha is being displayed in this place seated on a brick platform. After various excavations carried by several archaeologists, have discovered ruins of many monasteries around this temple.It is believed that one of the greatest Buddhist site is Makutabandhara Vihara, a monastery which was built by the Malla kings. He had built this particular
Monastery to preserve the relics of Lord Buddha and has witnessed the rise and fall of several dynasties at the time of flourishment of Buddhism as a religion.
