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Exploring the Ancient Buddhist Monastery of Nalanda
How Nalanda Mahavihara in Bihar grew into a great monastic centre of learning, what its excavated ruins show, and why UNESCO inscribed the site in 2016.
India
Ancient Indian Centres
Nalanda, Rajgir, Sanchi, Sankassa and other historic sites.
Discovering the Ancient Charm of Nalanda: A Buddhist Learning Hub
What monks studied at Nalanda according to Chinese pilgrim accounts, which scholars tradition associates with it, and how the modern Nalanda University relates.
Discovering the Ancient Charm of Rajgir: A Buddhist Pilgrimage Site
Rajgir in Bihar: the ancient Magadhan capital, Vulture Peak, the bamboo grove and the traditional first council cave, with heat and walking cautions.
Discovering the Ancient Charm of Sanchi: A Buddhist Pilgrimage Site
The Great Stupa at Sanchi in Madhya Pradesh: its Ashokan origins as traditionally dated, the later stone casing, the four carved gateways and how to visit.
Exploring the Buddhist Heritage of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands
No ancient Buddhist sites are documented on the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. This article explains what is known, the islands' real history and travel cautions.
The Ancient Wisdom of the Mahavira Stupa
Mahavira was the Jain teacher, a contemporary of the Buddha, not a Buddhist figure. How Jain and Buddhist sacred places sit side by side in Bihar today.
The Sacred Land of Sankissa: Unveiling Its Ancient History
The tradition that the Buddha descended from the heaven of the thirty-three gods at Sankassa, and the Pali and Chinese pilgrim sources that record the story.
Visiting the Sacred Site of Sankasya: A Buddhist Pilgrimage
What visitors find at Sankisa in Uttar Pradesh today: the mound, the Ashokan elephant capital and modern temples, with advice on checking local conditions.
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Places of the Buddha Life Bodh Gaya, Sarnath, Kushinagar and the routes between them. Bodh Gaya and the Mahabodhi The place of the Buddha awakening, its temple, tree and surroundings. Sarnath and Varanasi The Deer Park of the first teaching and the river city beside it. Kushinagar, Sravasti and Sankassa Sites of the final passing, the long rains retreats and the descent legend. Nalanda and Vikramshila The great monastic universities of ancient Bihar. Rajgir The ancient Magadha capital, Vulture Peak and its surrounding hills. Sanchi and the Great Stupas Sanchi, Amaravati and other stupas of central and southern India. Planning an India Pilgrimage Overviews of Buddhist India and its great cave sites. Bodhi Tree and Vajrasana The Mahabodhi Temple, the Bodhi tree and the seat of awakening at Bodh Gaya. Visiting Bodh Gaya How pilgrims reach, explore and practise in and around Bodh Gaya. Nalanda Today The Nalanda ruins as a heritage site, its layout, ideas and modern revival. Sravasti The city of the Jetavana and many rainy season retreats in Buddhist tradition. Ganges and Shared Traditions The Ganges, the Kumbh Mela and Hindu temples, explained respectfully alongside Buddhism.