Established in 1971, the Nalanda archeological museum is situated in front of the ruins of the famous ancient learning centre of Nalanda. The archaeological museum of Nalanda(Bihar) possesses the treasures of Buddhism in the form of stuffs related to the Buddha. The museum has a rare and beautiful collection of Buddha's bronze statues, copper plates, manuscripts, stone inscriptions, pottery, coins and images of Hindu Gods and Goddesses. With two terra cotta jars or pots (1st century CE) standing just behind the museum, the place also owns unique samples of burnt rice, which dates back to the 12th century CE. The museum remains closed on Fridays, while on other days the visitors are allowed to view the museum from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Nalanda
Nalanda, which literally means, 'insatiable in giving'(A name of the Buddha) is a major Buddhist pilgrimage. Nalanda, situated 93 Kilometers southeast of Patna, the capital of Bihar, is famous for the ancient learning centre of the monastic university. Established in the 5th century BCE, the university was the pillar of Buddhism in India, and its fall in the 12th century CE brought the decline of Buddhism in India.

Location and Accessibility
Located in the southern Bihar, Nalanda is an easily accessible place. The nearest airport is in Patna, 93 kilometers from Nalanda. The Patna airport entertains both domestic and international flights. From Patna, one can take either road or rail route to reach Nalanda. The nearest railway station from Nalanda is Bakhtiyarpur, 38 kilometers away, though the loop lines also connects Nalanda and Bakhtiyarpur. Lastly, if one wants to opt for the road route, Well maintained Highways connect Nalanda to Patna, BodhGaya and other major tourist places.

Best Time To Visit
The best time to visit this place is from October to March.

Dhamek Stupa, Uttar Pradesh

The seat of the holy Buddha or Dhamekha stupa has the privilege of being one of the largest and holiest Buddhiat structure ion not only SArnath but the entire world as well. Standing as high as 31.3 meters along with a diameter of 28.3, the Dhamekha stupa is the spot where Lord Buddha sat and delivered His first sermon to His first five disciples, who had earlier accompanied Him while He was leading an ascetic life.

Sarnath
The holy place of Sarnath is considered as a landmark in the history of Buddhism, as the site was the first one to listen to the first sermon of Lord Buddha in 528 BCE. The Buddha's teachings at Sarnath further led to the establishment of the Buddhist sangha. Sarnath today is a major Buddhist pilgrimage and attracts the people of other faiths also with its archaeological museum, temples and monasteries.

Location and Accessibility
Dhamekha stupa, which is situated in Sarnath, is easily accessible. The nearest airport to reach the destination is at Babatpur in Varanasi, which is just 20 minutes away from Sarnath. From Babatpur, you can hire either a taxi or auto - rickshaw or can ride a bus to reach Sarnath. If you want to go to the place by train, the nearest railway station is at Varanasi, 10 kilometers away, a small distance that can be covered by road. Roadways is another major way to reach Sarnath, as it is well connected to Varanasi(10 km) and Gorakhpur by National Highway number 29.

Best Time To Visit
October to February.

Dharmarajika Stupa, Uttar Pradesh

The Dharmarajika stupa, built by the emperor Ashoka to enshrine the Buddha's relics, is situated at a short distance of Dhamek stupa(the spot where Buddha gave first sermon) in Sarnath, Uttar Pradesh. Standing high on a circular base, the original stupa was enlarged during the Gupta's period, which again when destroyed by repeated foreign invasions of India, got reconstructed in the British era. Having faced several ups and downs with a passage of time, today the Dhararajika stupa is one of the one of the holiest structures venerated by the Buddhists.

Sarnath
Sarnath, the place chosen by the Buddha to deliver His first teachings on middle path, is located in the north eastern part of Uttar Pradesh, India. The source of the wheel of Dharma propounded by Lord Buddha, Sarnath is privileged to be one of the four major holy Buddhist sites, the others being Lumbini, Bodh Gaya and Kushinagar.

Location and Accessibility
Sarnath, 10 kilometers away from Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh, is easily accessible by air, road or rail route. The nearest airport from Sarnath is at Varanasi(Babatpur), from where one can hire a taxi or auto-rickshaw or can ride a bus to cover a short journey of 20 minutes to reach Sarnath. One can take a train to Varanasi which is linked to all major cities of India by rail networks. On the other hand, taking up roadways is another major way to reach Sarnath, as it is well connected to Varanasi(10 km) and Gorakhpur by National Highway number 29.

Best Time To Visit
The best months to visit the place would be from October to February, while the months of April to July should be avoided due to the extensive heat in Summers.

Archaeological Museum of Sarnath, Uttar Pradesh

The Sarnath museum is an asset to the holy destination Sarnath, where the Buddha delivered his first sermon in 528 BCE. The museum presents an excellent collection of the artifacts related to the Maurayan, Guptan and Kushana era. Besides, the earliest image of the Buddha, found at Sarnath and images of several Hindu Gods and Goddesses are other belongings of the museum.

But the crown of the complex lies in the Ashokan lion capital, which has the four symbols of back-to-back lions. At the bottom of the 2.31 meter high capital are representations of a lion, an elephant, horse and a bull. The lion symbolises bravery, the elephant - dream, seen by the Buddha's mother before His birth, and horse - the Buddha's abandonment of family life on a horse. Once used as a mark of the place of the Buddha's first sermon, the capital is now the proud state emblem of India.

The archaeological museum of Sarnath is open every day for the visitors from 10 a.m. to 4.30 a.m., but remains closed on the Fridays.

Sarnath
Sarnath is one of the major sacred places for the Buddists all around the world as the Lord Buddha, after attaining the divine light of enlightenment, preached His first sermon here in 528 BCE. 10 kilometers from the holy city of Varanasi, Sarnath is also important for the Buddhist world for its Buddhist learning centres.

Location and Accessibility
Sarnath, which is 10 kilometers away from Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh is easily accessible by air, road or rail route. The nearest airport from Sarnath is at Varanasi(Babatpur) from where one can hire a taxi or auto-rickshaw or can ride a bus to cover a short journey of 20 minutes to reach Sarnath. One can take a train to Varanasi which is linked to all major cities of India by rail networks. On the other hand, taking up roadways is another major way to reach Sarnath, as it is well connected to Varanasi(10 km) and Gorakhpur by National Highway number 29.

Best Time To Visit
October to February.

Shanti Stupa, Jammu & Kashmir

With an intention to honour the 2500 years of Buddhism and to promote world peace, the Japanese Buddhist organisaton constructed the Shanti Stupa in the year 1985. His Highness, the Dalai Lama himself inaugurated this monument of peace.

The stupa is located at Changspa on a hill top and is an awesome white domed structure. Steep steps lead to the stupa which is surrounded by a platform. The views of the surrounding from here is quiet impressive. Almost the entire Leh valley lays open before you to admire and enjoy. The high and dry deserts provide a striking contrast to the soothing verdant irrigated valley of Leh. The best scenes unwind before you during sun rise and sun set.

Tourists are allowed to visit the stupa between 5 a.m.-9 p.m. There is a tea shop at the top as well to provide tourists with some refreshments.

Leh
The capital of the Ladakh division of the state of Jammu and Kashmir, Leh is a real treat for tourists, specially if Buddhism and Buddhist monasteries are what they intend to explore and enjoy. Being such an important tourists destination, it is but quiet obvious that Leh has a number of places to stay as well eat. Every second house in the city of Leh has been converted into a guest house to allow incoming tourists to have a number of options to choose from. Cuisine on offer in the hotel include a wide range, from Tibetan to Europen, Kashmiri and Israeli.

How to Reach
By Air - Leh has an airport which is connected to Delhi by daily Jet Airways flights. Indian Airlines and Alliance Air operate flights to and from Chandigarh, Srinagar and Jammu.

By Rail - Jammu Tawi, at a distance of 680 km, is the nearest railway station from Leh. From Jammu Tawi, you need to reach Srinagar by a bus or a taxi and thereafter proceed towards Leh which is 434 km away.

By Road - Ladakh is linked to Delhi via two routes, the Srinagar-Zoji La pass and Manali-Rohtang-Baralacha La. Both these routes are open during specific season extending from June to October. Buses run from Manali as well as Delhi.

Buddhist Temples in India

Maha Bodhi Temple, Bihar | Maha Bodhi Tree, Bihar | Sanchi Stupa, Madhya Pradesh Amravati Stupa, Andhra Pradesh | Barhut Stupa, Madhya Pradesh Kushan Sites : Taxila, Harwan | Rock- Cut Carvings, Bhagalpur region Pithalkhora, Maharashtra | Sirpur Temple, Chattisgarh Hirapur Temple, Orissa | Langudi Temple, Orissa | Itanagar Buddhist Temple Animeshlocan Chaiyata Temple, Bihar | Ratnagar Temple, Bihar Archaeological Nalanda Museum, Bihar | Dhamek Stupa, Uttar Pradesh Dharmarajika Stupa, Uttar Pradesh | Archaeological Museum of Sarnath, Uttar Pradesh Shanti Stupa, Jammu & Kashmir