Kushinagar

Kushinagar is a Buddhist pilgrimage town in eastern Uttar Pradesh, India, about 52 km from Gorakhpur and 1-1.25 hours away by road. It is regarded as the place where the Buddha attained parinirvana, and it is one of the four main sites of Buddhist pilgrimage. A taxi via NH27 costs about ₹1,800-2,800, and UPSRTC buses from Gorakhpur cost roughly ₹60-120. A taxi is the practical choice since sights are spread around the town. The Mahaparinirvana Temple houses a reclining Buddha statue about six metres long, dated to the 5th century CE, and a stupa stands behind it. The Ramabhar Stupa, a large brick mound about 1.5 km away, marks the traditional cremation site. Several modern temples built by Buddhist nations, including Thailand, Japan, China and Sri Lanka, sit in the town, and a small archaeological museum holds finds from the area. A suggested day arc is to leave Gorakhpur in the morning, see the Mahaparinirvana Temple and the adjacent stupa, walk or ride to the Ramabhar Stupa, break for lunch at a simple restaurant in town, and visit two or three of the national temples before returning in the afternoon. The grounds are quiet and green, and many visitors come in a contemplative mood, so respectful clothing and low voices are expected. Buddha Purnima in spring is the busiest date, with pilgrims from many countries. October to March has the most comfortable temperatures, and the monsoon brings humidity. Hours at individual temples vary and midday closures are common, so checking locally is helpful.