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Buddhist Temples in India
Maha Bodhi Temple, Bihar
Lord Gautam Buddha,
when tried unsuccessfully all major means to dip deep in the reality of life,
reached Bodh Gaya, denounced asceticism and attained enlightenment under the Bodhi
tree. |
Maha Bodhi Tree, Bihar
The Bodhi tree, the fifth
generation plant of the original ficus tree under which Lord Budhha attained enlightenment
in 528 BCE after nine years of ascetic life, is one of the most revered sacred
places for the Buddhists. |
Sanchi Stupa, Madhya Pradesh
The Sanchi stupa,
built in and around 283 BCE by Ashoka, the famous Indian emperor who converted
to Buddhism, is better known for its scriptures. The second largest stupa in India
after that of Amravati, the Sanchi stupa is surrounded by a railing with four
carved gateways facing towards all four directions. |
Amravati
Stupa, Andhra Pradesh
The Amravati stupa, which
is also known as Mahachaitya Stupa, has the privilege of being the largest stupa(95
feet high) in India - the birthplace of Buddhism. Built during the 2nd century
BCE, the stupa was discovered by a British archaeologist, Colonel Colin Mackenzie
in 1797. |
Barhut Stupa, Madhya Pradesh
The Barhut Stupa,
which was established by the great Indian emperor Ashoka, who had turned a Buddhist
in the later years of his life, symbolises the relation of classical Mauryan architecture
with that of Buddhism. Built in the 3rd century BCE, later the stupa was renovated
by the Sunga rulers, who also added to its work of art in the 2nd century BCE. |
Kushan Sites : Taxila, Harwan
The Kushanas,
who originally hailed from China, conquered the flourishing city of Taxila including
the whole of the Gandhar region in the later period of the 4th century BCE and
continued with their regime till 230 BCE. |
Rock-cut carvings, Bhagalpur region
The rock
cut carvings, which dates back to the fine Gupta period (5th-7th Century CE) depict
a variety of deities - not only the Buddha but several Hindu and Jain deities
as well. These artistic etchings have been excavated from Sultanganj and Kahalgaon
in the Bhagalpur region of Bihar. |
Pithalkhora, Maharashtra
Pithalkhora, located
in Gautala sanctuary on the Satmala hills, has numerous Buddhist caves, which
dates back from the 2nd century BCE to 1st century CE. Situated at a distance
of 40 kilometers northwest of Ellora caves and 78 kilometers from Aurangabad,
the Pithalkhora caves are a unique combination of temples and monasteries. |
Sirpur Temple, Chattisgarh
he Buddhsit monastery at
Sirpur, which dates back to the 8th century CE, is one of the largest and most
important Buddhist monasteries in India, perhaps even more important than that
of Nalanda. The site comprises the remains of 100 Buddha Viharas, 4 Jain Vihara,
200 mounds and more than 100 Shiva temples. |
Hirapur Temple, Orissa
A home to 64 Yogini or
Mahamaya temple, Hirapur is situated on the outskirts(15 kilometer southeast)
of Bhubaneshwar, Orissa's capital. The 64 yogini temple, which is also known as
the Mahamaya temple, marks the mystic character of the female deities. |
Langudi Temple, Orissa
The Langudi Buddhsit
sites, situated in and around the Langudi hills in the Jajpur district of Orissa
is considered as one of the most important Buddhist sites of Orissa, the state
which marked a new Buddhist era by changing the imperialistic Ashoka into the
patron of Buddhism.
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Itanagar Buddhist Temple
The Itanagar Buddhist
temple, located on top of the hill in Arunachal Pradesh, is one of the latest
Budhist temples in India. A yellow-roofed shrine, the temple reflects an extensive
Tibetan influence. |
Animeshlocan Chaiyata Temple, Bihar
Animeshlochan
Chaitya in Bodh Gaya is the holy place close to the Bodhi tree where the Buddha
stood after receiving enlightenment, looking at the Bodhi tree in gratitude while
thanking it for sitting under it had been fruitful for Him. The spot is more of
a prayer hall for the devotees today.
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Ratnagar Temple, Bihar
Ratnagar is a small shrine
nearby the MahaBodi temple and the Bodhi tree in Bodh Gaya. It is believed that
the Buddha spent one week here, while five colours coming out of His body. A home
to numerous temples and monasteries, the place is a sacred place for the Buddhists
from all over the world. |
Archaeological Nalanda Museum, Bihar
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. |
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.
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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. |
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. |
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. | |
