4 years ago
Buddhist pilgrimage sites in Nepal
There are many pilgrimage sites of buddhists in Nepal, where buddhists pilgrims from all over the world come to visit once in their lifetime.
As these sites hold moral and spiritual significance binding with a person's beliefs and faith towards the religion where they believe to gain peace and positivity after visiting these religious sites. Here are few sacred sites where you can visit if you are in Nepal:
1.Lumbini- the Birthplace of the Lord Buddha
Siddhartha Gautama, the Lord Buddha, was born in 623 B.C. in Lumbini, which has now turned as a sacred place for pilgrimage all over the world.
Among the pilgrims was the Indian Mauryan Emperor Ashoka, who built one of his commemorative pillars (which is known as Ashoka Pillar) to mark an honour for the place where Buddha (enlightened one) was born.
The site is now being developed as a Buddhist pilgrimage centre, where the archaeological remains associated with the birth of the Lord Buddha are fundamental.
1.The inscription on the Ashoka pillar gives evidence that Lumibini is the birthplace of the Lord Buddha making it one of the most holy, sacred and significant places in the world for Buddhists followers from the world.
The archaeological remains of the Buddhist viharas and stupas from the 3rd century BC to the 15th century AD, is an important evidence that Buddhist pilgrimage centers were established from a very early period.
2.Swayambhunath
Swoyambhu is an ancient religious pilgrimage site at the top of a hill in the Kathmandu Valley. The Tibetan meaning for the site means 'Sublime Trees 'and the local Nepal Bhasa meaning for the Swayambhu means 'self-sprung' .
It is known as the most sacred among Buddhist pilgrimage sites where many Tibetans and followers of Tibetan Buddhism visit along with the hindu buddhists.
3.Ramagrama stupa
Ramagrama stupa is located in Ramgram Municipality, in the Parasi District of Nepal. The Buddhist pilgrimage site is believed to be constructed 2500 years ago which contains relics of Gautama Buddha.
The Ramagrama stupa is the only original stupa with relics of Lord Gautam Buddha. The stupa has been an object of great reverence and one of the pilgrimage sites for Buddhists monks and followers.
The stupa is 7 metre-high and has been buried under a mound of earth with its original construction where the research remains.
4.Boudhanath
Boudhanath also known as the Khāsa Chaitya, is one of the largest spherical stupas in Kathmandu, Nepal and also one of the largest stupas in the world which is located about 11 km from the center and northeastern periphery of Kathmandu valley. It is also one of the most popular tourist sites in Kathmandu.
5.Namo Buddha - (place where the Bodhisattva offered his body to a tigress.)
Namo Buddha is one of the most important Buddhist pilgrimage sites which is also one of the holiest Buddhist sites in the world located in Kavrepalanchok, 40 kilometers southeast from Kathmandu.
And on the other side of the hill stands the Thrangu Tashi Yangtse monastery constructed in 1976. This site has a myth with Buddhism where the Buddha came across a hungry tigress close to starving-death so poor and unable to feed her cubs.
Seeing all the sorrow and pain of tigress out of compassion, the buddha allowed the tigress to eat him and feed her cubs with his own flesh.
The place has a small shrine with just a few minutes’ walk uphill from the stupa, many pilgrims from Buddhists and hindus visit Namo Buddha.
6.Halesi-Maratika Caves ( Buddhist & Hindu pilgrimage)
The Halesi-Maratika Cave is also known as the Haleshi Mahadev temple, located next to the village of Mahadevasthan, in the Khotang District of eastern Nepal.
The cave and temple are about 185 km south west of Mount Everest. The temple is a pilgrimage site for both Hindus and Buddhists. Buddhist, believe the caves to be associated with Padmasambhava.
The cave is 67 feet below the surface with a half moon shaped entrance facing towards the east. It has a round shape, with a diameter of 193 feet, with another cave lying beneath.
The cave lies between the holy rivers Dudh Koshi and Sun Koshi which is also accessible by motorcycles and jeeps becoming one of the good tourist destinations.
