Kushinagara

Kushinagara, also spelled Kushinagar, is a town and the administrative center of Kushinagar district in eastern Uttar Pradesh, India. It is best known as the site where the Buddha is believed to have attained Mahaparinirvana after his death in Kusinara. The location has long been a major Buddhist pilgrimage destination and hosts a number of important religious monuments and ruins.

Key sites within Kushinagara include the Mahaparinirvana Temple, which houses a reclining Buddha statue associated with the Buddha’s final journey; the Ramabhar Stupa, traditionally identified as the cremation mound of the Buddha; and various monasteries, monasteries, and stupas erected by Buddhist communities from different regions. Archaeological work at the site has revealed ancient Buddhist structures dating from early centuries CE, underscoring its enduring religious significance.

Kushinagara is considered part of the broader Buddhist circuit that includes Lumbini, Bodh Gaya, and Sarnath. It continues to attract domestic and international pilgrims, scholars, and visitors interested in Buddhist history and heritage. In recent years, transportation links have improved access to Kushinagara through road and rail networks, and an airport serving the region has enhanced travel possibilities for visitors, contributing to the growth of Buddhist tourism in the area.