Kushinagar, one of the principal center of Buddhist pilgrimage, is the place where Lord Buddha left his corporeal self and attained Mahapranirvana or the freedom from the cycle of birth and death. Kushinagar was previously known as Kushnara, which was the capital of Malla dynasty. It was one of the famous sixteen Mahajan padas of ancient India. The Chinese travelers Fa-Hien and Hieun-Tsang have also mentioned Kushinara in their travelogues.
The credit for bringing this ancient site to light goes to General A. Cuningham and C.L. Carlleyle who, after excavation, the site in 1861, established its antiquity for the first time. Later, between 1904 and 1912, several excavations conducted by the Archaeological Survey of India at Kushinagar confirmed its identity. The monuments of Kushinagar are clustered in the three distinct groups comprising the main site at the Nirvana Temple, the Central Stupa and surrounding monasteries, the Mathakuar Kot to the southwest and the Rambhar Stupa, a kilometer to the east.
Tourist Places In And Around Kushinagar
Most of the sights and attractions in Kushinagar are associated with Lord Buddha. Most of these sites mark the last days of Buddha. The Mahaparinirvana Temple houses the over 6 m long statue of the reclining Buddha. The Nirvana Stupa was unearthed in 1876. The Ramabhar Stupa marks the place where Buddha was cremated. The beautiful Meditation Park comprises artificial water bodies and magnificent landscaped gardens. The Kushinagar Museum houses relics found from the excavations carried out here. Being a major Buddhist pilgrimage destination, Kushinagar attracts devotees from across the globe, many of whom have set base here to study and research about the Buddhist faith. Many of these people have built their own temples here, for example, the Wat Thai Temple is dedicated to Buddha, but the architecture style is typical Thai and very distinct from the Indian style.
The Chinese Temple is also dedicated to Lord Buddha, and as the name suggests, the architectural style is distinctively Chinese. The Indo-Japanese temple flaunts an interesting blend of two unique architectural styles. Apart from the Buddhist landmarks, Kushinagar also houses the famous Sun Temple which was originally built during the Gupta period. However, the temple has undergone several renovations, the last of which was carried out in 1981. The temple draws huge crowds, especially during Janmasthmi. Then there are other places of interest such as Kuber Asthan dedicated to Lord Shiva, Devraha Asthan with statues of Jain Tirthankaras and Kurukulla Asthan, dedicated to a Hindu Goddess.
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