As the birthplace of Buddhism, India has an important role in the history of the religion. It is still practised in the country and you can find many historic monuments and relics associated with the religion, such as the Parinirvana Stupa, arguably the most famous and important stupa of Buddha.
Located in Kushinagar, UP, where Lord Budhha attained Nirvana, the Parinirvana Stupa is an important site of interest to pilgrims and tourists curious about the history of Buddhism.
IRCTC’s Buddhist Circuit Tourist Train allows you to explore this tranquil and spiritually imbibed temple along with other significant Buddhist pilgrimage destinations associated with the life of Lord Buddha and the history of Buddhism. The features and amenities offered add comfort and peace to the journey.
Significance Of Parinirvana Stupa
The famous Buddhist stupa is the most important tourist attraction of Kushinagar, one of the four most important sites of pilgrimage for Buddhists and a significant archaeological site. This is the city where Lord Buddha attained the supreme state of salvation after falling ill after a meal served by a devotee. It is the city where the founder of Buddhism left the earthly realm and was cremated.
The main stupa and the shrine are built upon a single platform measuring 2.74 metres in height.
The temple houses the statue of the Buddha in the reclining position on his right side, representing his demise. The 6.1-metre stature is a monolithic structure carved out of a single block of Chunar sandstone. The statue faces west, again indicating the sunset of the Buddha’s life. His right hand is positioned under his head as a cushion. The statue is mounted on a pedestal with engravings of three human figures on the west side. An inscription recovered from the site reveals that the statue was a religious gift from Haribal.
The main stupa is 19.81 metres in height and is raised upon a circular base. It is crowned with a dome on the top.
An excavation of the site during 1876-77 led by A.C.L. Carlleyle yielded the remains of the main stupa and the statue. The modern form of the temple and stupa came to be in 1956 during the 2500th anniversary of Buddha Jayanti.
Further excavations in 1910 recovered copper coins of Jai Gupta and a copper vessel with a copper plate. Another vessel with Kumar Gupta’s silver coins was also discovered.
As such, it is no surprise that Parinirvana Stupa is one of the most famous Buddhist stupas in India from both religious and historic perspectives. Surrounded by farmlands, the site encompasses all who visit in peace and tranquillity.
Why Visit With IRCTC’s Buddhist Circuit Tourist Train?
The Buddhist train covers some of the most significant places Buddha visited during his life, specifically Lumbini where he was born, Bodhgaya where he attained enlightenment, Sarnath where he first taught the Dhamma and Kushinagar where he attained Nirvana. The Parinirvana Stupa is obviously included in the itinerary alongside various stupas, temples and monuments associated with the life and teachings of Buddha. Embarking on this journey gives you a firsthand experience of his self-disciplined and legendary life. You get to cover the otherwise widespread destinations in one journey.
The amenities afforded to the passengers also make the journey smooth and comfortable. These include deluxe coaches for accommodation, two multi-cuisine restaurants, a separate seating area, a mini-library, a state-of-the-art kitchen and a foot massager onboard. We often include offers which tend to attract more tourists to join the tour.
You can visit the official website of www.irctcbuddhisttrain.com to find the information for such offers, current tours, prices, dates, etc. or book a journey and see the stupa of Buddha.