Get a peek into the history and culture of Buddhism by visiting these places

Follow the Buddha

Get a peek into the history and culture of Buddhism by visiting these places

Bodh Gaya, India Situated in Bihar, it has the Mahabodhi temple and the bodhi tree, a cousin of the original tree under which Shakyamuni is beleived to have attained enlightenment some 2,500 years ago. Bodh Gaya is among the most visited tourist sites in the country. The surrounding town is dusty and noisy, but for devout Buddhists, this hardly seems to matter. Mcleodganj, India Mcleodganj in Himachal Pradesh is a hill station and the seat of the Dalai Lama. The town is divided into two parts, Upper Dharamsala where the Dalai Lama resides and Lower Dharamsala (main town). Besides the opportunity to meet with the Dalai Lama, the library of Tibetan art works and archives is also a good place to visit. Lumbini, Nepal Situated in Nepal, Lumbini is the Buddha’s birthplace. Maya Devi temple and the stupas built by King Ashoka make the place worth a visit. Excursions to Kapilavastu — 27km away, where the Buddha lived as a prince before he sought the ascetic way — can also be organised on request. Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka Of the many Buddhist pilgrimage spots in Sri Lanka, Anuradhapura is one of the most important. The Sri Maha Bodhiya is the site where an ancient Bo tree sits, believed to be from the sapling that Emperor Asoka's daughter, Theri Sanghamitta, brought to Sri Lanka in 249BC. The Anuradhapura Maha Viharaya temple nearby, which is the centre for the Theravada Buddhism in Sri Lanka, is currently being rebuilt. East of Anuradhapura city is another major Buddhist pilgrimage site in the country, Mihintale, which is also worth a visit. Kamakura, Japan This is the centre for ancient Japanese Buddhism dating back to the 13th century and is filled with many landmark temples, several are worth visiting. There are 32 Nichiren sect temples here, 17 Zen temples and two Tendai sect temples, which form the core of Japanese Buddhism that still exists in contemporary Japan. Exotic and refurbished, they are especially beautiful in late March to early April, which is also the spectacular during cherry blossom season.