Kushinagar Travel Guide
Once in
Kushinagar, it appears that time has come to a complete halt. This
sleepy town, with its serenity and unassuming beauty, absorbs visitors
into a contemplative mood. It is this place that the Buddha had chosen
to free himself from the cycles of death and life and, therefore, it
occupies a very special space in the heart of every Buddhist.
Kushinagar is situated in the north Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, 51
km off Gorakhpur. The place, which is famous for the Mahaparinirvana
(death) of Lord Buddha, has been included in the famous Buddhist trail
encompassing Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and Nepal.
Getting There:
By Air
The nearest airhead is located at Gorakhpur, at 51 km, where one can
take flights to Delhi, Calcutta, Lucknow, and Patna.
By Rail
Kushinagar does not have a railway station. The nearest railway station
is at Gorakhpur (51 km), which is the headquarters of Northeastern
Railways and linked to important destinations. Some important trains to
Gorakhpur are Bombay–Gorakhpur–Bandra Express, New Delhi–Barauni–Vaishali
Express, Cochin–Gorakhpur Express, Shaheed Express, Amarnath
Express, and Kathgodam Express.
By Road
Kushinagar is well connected to other parts of the state of Uttar
Pradesh by bus. There are regular buses to Gorakhpur (51 km), Lumbini
(173 km), Kapilavastu (148 km), Sravasti (254 km), and Sarnath (266 km),
and Agra (680 km).
Tourist Attractions
Ramabhar Stupa
About 1 km away, this large stupa rises to a height of 49 ft. It marks
the site where the Lord Buddha was cremated. In ancient Buddhist texts
this stupa has been referred to as Mukut-Bandhan Vihar.
Nirvana Temple
This houses the over 6 mtrs long statue of reclining Buddha. The image
was unearthed during the excavations of 1876. Carved from Chunar
sandstone, the statue represents the dying Buddha reclining on his right
side. An inscription below dates the statue to the fifth century AD.
Mathakuar Temple
This shrine lies about 400 yards from the Parinirvana stupa. A black
stone image of the Buddha in the bhumi sparsha mudra was recovered here.
The last sermon by Lord Buddha was given here.
The Mahaparinirvana Temple
The Mahaparinirvana Temple, with its world famous reclining statue of
Buddha, is an important site to visit. The 20-feet-long statue is seated
on a brick platform. Ruins of as many as eight monasteries are around
the main site. These monasteries have witnessed the rise and fall of a
number of dynasties and the spread of Buddhism. Ruins of two monasteriesMahaparinirvana
Vihara and Makutabandhara Viharaare especially famous. The
Makutabandhara Vihara is believed to have been built by Malla kings to
preserve the relics of the Buddha. Through the centuries, monuments and
shrines of various types grew around these ancient sites.
