Kushinagar

Kushinagar, (Kushinara of Yore), is a revered place for Buddhist pilgrims, 55 kms away from Gorakhpur. It was here that the Tathagata, the reciter of truth, breathed his last with the last words, "behold now, brethren, I exhort you, saying , decay is inherent in all component things ! Work out your salvation with diligence !". A temple dedicated to the event - the Mahaparinirvana temple today stands amidst a serene 'sal' grove... as if still reminiscing the great demise. The huge statue of the Reclining Buddha, excavated in 1876 at the temple, is one of the most momentous of all sights for the devout. It was brought from Mathura by a devout monk, Haribala, during the reign of King Kumara Gupta in the 5th Century A.D. The whole of Kushinagar, since the Mahaparinirvana of Gautam Buddha, was turned into a memorial site with stupas including the relic stupa-Mukutbandhana and Gupta period Chaitayas and Viharas, built by the devout kings. The Chinese travelers Fa Hien, Hieun Tsang and T. Ising. Visited Kushinagar during different centuries and recorded a graphic account of the place which later fell to bad times, due to lack of patronage. These recordings provided the vital clues for excavations done centuries later by Sir Alexander Cunningham.

The visiting sites of Kushinagar fall in three categories : The Mahaparinirvana Temple, commemorating the place of the great decease with a reclining statue of Lord Buddha, Mata Kunwar Shrine contains a 10th Century blue schist image of Buddha and; Rambhar Stupa, which is supposedly the spot where Lord Buddha was cremated and his relics divided into eight equal parts. Apart from this, a Chinese Temple, a Buddhist Temple, a Tibetan Temple and the Indo-Japan-Srilanka Buddhist Center hold significant religious value for pilgrims.

From October to April

Nirvana Stupa
This huge brickwork stupa, exposed by Carlleyl in 1867, stands at a height of 2.74 meter. A copper vessel was unearthed at this site. It bore an inscription in ancient Brahmi, which stated that Lord Buddha's remains had been deposited here. The Stupa is located in the east of the main Nirvana Temple.
Visiting Hours : Sunrise to Sunset

Nirvana Temple
This houses the over 6 meters 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.

The temple stands on the same plinth as the Stupa behind it. As mentioned above the ruins of this temple and the reclining Nirvana statue inside were discovered by Carlleyl in 1876. By sinking a vertical trench at the centre of its mound he first discovered the great statue in a much-shattered condition lying on a broken pedestal.

Mathakuar Shrine
This Shrine lies about 400 yards form 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.

More than a furlong south-west of the Main Site, by the side of the road, is the Matha-kuar shrine, wherein is installed a colossal statue of Buddha, locally called Matha-kuar. The possible significance of its name has already been referred to. The statue measures 3.05 m in height and is carved out of one block of the blue stone of the Gaya region to represent Buddha seated under the Bodhi tree in a pose known as the bhumisparsa-mudra ('earth-touching attitude'), which symbolically expresses the supreme moment in Buddha's life just before his Enlightenment, when he called upon the Earth to bear witness to the pieties performed by him in his previous births.

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. Alias THE CREMATION STUPA Less than 1.61 km to the east of the Matha-kuar shrine stands a mound facing the road from Kasia to Deoria. There is a sheet of water, called Ramabhar Jhil or pond, close to it, which dries up in summer. Whether the name Ramabhar originally belonged to the pond or to the mound it is difficult to say; nor can it be satisfactorily derived or its relation to the events of Buddha's death easily explained.

Japanese Temple
A beautiful Ashta Dhatu (eight metlas) statue of Lord Buddha, which came from Japan, can be seen here. Built by the Atago Isshin World Buddhist Cultural Association, it consists of a single circular chamber, housing a golden image of Buddha, softly lit through small, stained-glass window.
Visiting Hours : Sunrise to Sunset

Kushinagar Museum
The Buddha Museum contains finds from excavations at the site. The museum has 248 precious antiques related to coins, statues and sculptures, architectural remains & bronze statues.

The proposal was mooted to found a museum for preserving the archaeological wealth from the region and the present building came into existence in 1992-93. it is located at about 1 km. Sough-East from the Kushinagar bus stop, ½ km. From the Mahaparinirvana temple and about 3 Km. From the Kasia bus stand. The nucleolus of the collection represents sculptures, terracottas particularly the Buddhist icons, architectural remains, bronzes, clay seals, banner paintings (Thankas) and a few coins. Besides , some Hindu and Jaina antiquities are also on view. The Stucco statue of Lord Buddha in the meditation posture is a superb specimen. It represents zenith of the Gandhara School of Art.

Japanese Garden
The Children park in the front of Buddha Museum is under construction. The park is initially under Japanese eye of construction and will be handed over to the UP Government on completion. The park can be partially viewed as a rock garden.
Visiting Hours : Sunrise to Sunset

Buddha Vihar
The Myanmar Buddha Vihar, first Monastry in Kushinagar, attracts the tourist with many of its Buddhist temples inside their monastery. The temples are equipped with beautiful metal statues of Lord Buddha and a rare collection of Excavated Bone & Metals (Asthidhatu) of Lords and followers. The Burmese Buddha Vihar also holds the main charge for conducting Prayers in Mahaparinirvana Temple.

A huge "Samridhi Chaitya" Stupa which will contain 5000 brass statues of Lord Buddha from all over the World is under construction and is likely to be inaugurated by 1st week of February 2001.

Wat Thai Temple
The one of its kind, this Buddhist temple can be seen with wide open eyes in Kushinagar. The temple flourishes on its greenery well spread and pleasant atmosphere. The beautiful Temple was designed to be the forest- monastery gathering innumerable kinds of trees as to commemorate the Golden Jubilee Celebrations of His Majesty King Bhumibol the Great's Accession to the Throne. The construction of the temple is compleated but the doors of the temple are likely to be opened by 2001 for general public.

Chinese Temple
The Lin Sun Chinese Temple is the another attraction of Kushinagar, The temple attracts the beautiful Chinese image of Lord Buddha. The exterior looks of the temple gives a mix view of Chinese and Vietnamese architecture. The temple also provides free stay facility to the Buddhist tourists.
Visiting Hours : Sunrise to Sunset

Meditation Park
Recently developed near the main Nirvana Temple, this park has artificial water bodies with raised lush-green platforms for meditationsurroundedd by sal- trees and other afforestations, representing a complete Buddhist-ambience.
Visiting Hours : Sunrise to Sunset

Birla Temple
Birla Hindu Temple, the shiva temple, is founded by Birla Group at the nirvana site of Gautama Buddha. At the main site a marble statue of lord Shiva sitting in an erect posture on tiger flash cushion. The 'dhyana posture' he is sitting in, is termed to be the position in which the communion of thou soul (Jivatma) to thy soul (parmatma) is possible.

The temple also provides accommodation for Hindu Buddhist tourist on very nominal rates. A dormitory is also specially made for Indian Buddhist tourists available at cheapest rates.
Visiting Hours : Sunrise to Sunset

International Buddha Trust
International Buddha Trust started in the year 1996 with the motive to perform the communion of the individual soul (Jivatman) with the universal soul or God (Parmatman). They believe that Yoga provides the perfect panacea & is also a complete system of self-transformation & self realization which are the ultimate goods of human existence. It acts as a bridge that unites the ephemeral & limited Human body with the divine, internal, infinite soul. The free classes are held for 10 days in a year which includes free lodging and fooding too , each day providing new sense to the life style of every individual .

Kushinagar is 55 km away from Gorakhpur. Gorakhpur is a district of Uttar Pradesh and well connected to all major cities by rail. One can also take the road, if so desired. Gorakhpur is connected to all major cities of Uttar Pradesh by road.

Pathik Nivas U.P. Government Tourist Bungalow, PWD Inspection Bungalow and LRP Inspection House. In Gorakhpur, Hotel President, Hotel Babino Hotel Ganges.

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