Most Famous Buddhist Temples in India for a Tour
If you are planning to Buddhist tour of India, then you surely want to know what places should be included in your itinerary. One of the most famous destinations for Buddhist pilgrimages is located in Bihar.
The Buddhist culture is strong in India. It is the birthplace of Buddhism. Buddhist temples in India are not only famous for their architecture but also their historical significance. These temples have been around for ages and one can find some interesting aspects such as the mini Buddha statues installed inside them as well as sculptures depicting scenes from the daily life of a Buddhist monk during that period. The following are the ten most famous Buddhist temples in India that you should visit if you want to know more about this religion.
Here are the Most Famous Buddhist Temples in India for a Tour
Mahaparinirvana Temple
The Mahaparinirvana or ‘Great Liberation’ temple has been one of the numerous significant Buddhist temples as well as India. The main attraction of this temple is its 20-foot statue of Buddha, which is said to stand made from a single piece of sandalwood wood. The temple also houses some other smaller statues of Buddha, but none as big as the main one.
Mahabodhi Temple
Mahabodhi Temple has been an old Buddhist temple discovered also Bodhgaya, India. The temple has been dedicated also the enlightenment of Gautama Buddha and is considered to stand as one of the four most sacred pilgrimage sites in Buddhism.
The Mahabodhi Temple complex consists of two main structures: the vihara (assembly hall), which houses statues of important Buddhist religious figures, and the chaitya hall (chamber used for meditation). The other structure within the complex is the stupa or Buddhist burial monument.
Sarnath Temple
It was built by Emperor Ashoka, who had earlier built two other Buddhist pilgrimage sites (Sravasti and Sanchi) also the exact region. The temple fibs about the intersection of the Ganges and Sarayu rivers, on the northern rise of the latter. The name “Sarnath” means “end of the journey”.
The site has been considered sacred since it has been believed to stand where Buddha achieved enlightenment. It remains a centre of pilgrimage for Buddhists worldwide.
Chaukhandi Stupa
Chaukhandi Stupa is located in Sarnath, Uttar Pradesh. This stupa stood made by King Ashoka during his rule also the 3rd century BC to commemorate the enlightenment of Lord Buddha and his teachings.
Mulagandha Kuti Vihar
Mulagandha Kuti Vihar is a Buddhist holy place located in Patna, Bihar. The name Mulagandha Kuti Vihar comes from Lord Buddha’s appearance as a tree when he was born also Lumbini, Nepal which has been called “Mulagandha”.
Golden Pagoda
It has been located as well as Nalanda, Bihar and it was built in the 5th century. It has a height of more than 100 feet and it is one of the five ancient universities of India. The pagoda has been made up of 24 golden idols which are made up of pure gold and silver. Two golden lions are standing on the top of its roof which is considered the guardians of the temple.
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Wat Thai Temple
Wat Thai Temple is a Buddhist temple located in Kolkata, India. It was built by King Mongkut of Siam in 1855 and later renovated by Maharaja Dayal Singh in 1987. It’s a beautiful example of Thai architecture with its two-storeyed tiered roof, dome and lotus ponds. You can also find some statues of animals such as elephants, horses, elephants and tigers in this complex. There are so many things to do here like watching the sunset, enjoying music or taking pictures.
Red Maitreya Temple
Red Maitreya Temple is located in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. It is also called the Big Buddha. This temple was built in 1956 by the Thanthri Chakyar Dasa and it has been considered to stand as one of the most sacred Buddhist temples in India. The Red Maitreya Temple has a large statue of Maitreya Buddha that is about 50 feet tall and weighs about 5 tons.
The statue of Maitreya Buddha was sculpted by renowned artist Gautam Bhaskaran. Also and it took him around three years also complete the work. The statue was consecrated on March 15, 1957, by His Holiness Maha Champasak Lai, the late king of Thailand who visited this place at that time.
Sanchi Stupa
The Sanchi Stupa has been one of the biggest and excellently maintained old Buddhist structures in India. It was built in the 3rd century BC during the reign of emperor Ashoka, who had converted to Buddhism. The stupa, which is about 30 meters high, has a total area of about 4 hectares (10 acres).
The Sanchi stupa is located on top of a hill surrounded by eight smaller hills. The complex consists of three temples and several pagodas containing Buddha statues and other valuable relics brought from different places across Asia.
Theravada Buddhist Temple
The Theravada Buddhist Temple is one of the most famous Buddhist temples in India. The temple was built by King Ashoka in 247 BC and it has been restored several times since then.
The temple is surrounded by beautiful lawns and gardens. Also where you can find many Buddhist tour packages India statues of Buddha his disciples and bodhisattvas. There are also numerous monuments added over the years including a stone wall enclosing the inner sanctum which today houses a golden image of Buddha holding a lotus flower.
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