Ancient history
In ancient times, it was known as Kushavati (Jatakas). It finds mention in epic Ramayan as the city of Kusha the son of Ram, the famous king of Ayodhya. Kushinagar was a celebrated center of the Malla kingdom of ancient India. Later, it would be known as Kushinara, one of the most important four holy sites for Buddhists. At this location, near the Hiranyavati River, Gautama Buddha attained Parinirvana (or 'Final Nirvana') after falling ill from eating a meal of a species of mushroom, or possibly pork.
Many of the ruined stupas and viharas here date back to 3rd century BCE - 5th century CE when prosperity was at its peak. The Mauryan emperor Ashoka is known to have contributed to significant construction at this site.
Visits by the Buddha to Kushinagar
At the time of the Buddha, Kushinagar was the capital of the Mallas, and the scene of the Buddha's death. It was twenty-five yojanas from Rajagaha, it was twenty-four yojanas from Kapilavatthu) and lay on the high road from Alaka to Rájagaha, the road taken by Bávarí's disciples. At that time it was a small city, "a branch-township with wattle-and-daub houses in the midst of the jungle," and Ananda was, at first, disappointed that the Buddha should have chosen it for his Parinibbana. But the Buddha, by preaching the Maha-Sudassana Sutta, pointed out to him that in ancient times it had been Kusavati, the royal city of Maha-Sudassana.It is said that the Buddha had three reasons for coming to Kusinárá to die:
Because it was the proper venue for the preaching of the Mahá-Sudassana Sutta;
Because Subhadda would visit him there and, after listening to his sermon, would develop meditation and become an arahant while the Buddha was still alive; and
Because the brahman Doha would be there, after the Buddha's death, to solve the problem of the distribution of his relics.
Between Kusinara and Pava, three gavutas away from where the Buddha came to Kusinára on his last journey from Rajagaha, stopping at various places - lay the stream of Kakuttha on the banks of which was the Ambavana; beyond that was the Hiraññavati river, and near the city, in a south-westerly direction, lay the Upavattana, the Sala-grove of the Mallas, which the Buddha made his last resting-place.
After the Buddha's death his body was carried into the city by the southern gate and out of the city by the eastern gate; to the east of the city was Makutabandhana, the shrine of the Mallas, and there the body was cremated. For seven days those assembled at the ceremony held a festival in honour of the relics.
As the scene of his death, Kusinara became one of the four holy places declared by the Buddha (in the Mahaparinibbana Sutta to be fit places of pilgrimage for the pious, the other three being Kapilavatthu (near Lumbini), Buddhagaya (Bodh Gaya), and Isipatana (Sarnath).
Mention is made of other visits paid to Kusinárá by the Buddha, prior to that when his death took place. Thus, once he went there from Ápana and having spent some time at Kusinárá, proceeded to Átumá. The Mallas of Kusinárá were always great admirers of the Buddha, even though not all of them were his followers, and on the occasion of this visit they decided that any inhabitant of Kusinárá who failed to go and meet the Buddha and escort him to the city, would be fined five hundred. It was on this occasion that Roja the Mallan was converted and gave to the Buddha and the monks a supply of green vegetables and pastries. During some of these visits the Buddha stayed in a wood called Baliharana, and there he preached two of the Kusinárá Suttas and the "Kinti" Sutta. A third Kusinárá Sutta he preached while staying at Upavattana.
According to a late tradition, one-eighth of the Buddha's relics were deposited in a cairn in Kusinárá and honoured by the Mallas.
In Hiouen Thsang's day there still existed towers and Sarighárámas erected to mark the spots connected with the Buddha's last days and obsequies at Kusinárá. According to his account Kusinárá was nineteen yojanas from Vesáli. A copper plate belonging to the thúpa erected at the site of the Buddha's death has recently been discovered .
Discovery and Identification
The remains of the Parinirvana Stupa and Parinirvana Temple, when rediscovered, were covered in a 40 foot high mound of bricks surrounded by a dense thorny forest. After E. Buchanan, an officer of the East India Company, arrived in Kasia in the course of his survey-work, H. H. Wilson, in 1854, made the suggestion that ancient Kushinagar and Kasia were the same. Work resumed around 1861–1862 when Alexander Cunningham, the founder of the Archaeological Survey of India suggested the site to be that of Gautama Buddha's decease. A British officer named Mr. A. C. L. Carlleyle followed suit. Excavations began in the early twentieth century under J. Ph. Vogel. He conducted archaeological campaigns in 1904-5, 1905-6 and 1906-7, uncovering a wealth of Buddhist materials. Although no decisive evidence was found to prove Cunningham’s supposition that the site known at Māthā kūār kā Koṭ was Kushinārā, a series of monastic seals with the Sanskrit legend mahāparinirvāne cāturdiśo bhikṣusaṃghaḥ were taken to show that by the late Gupta period the site was understood to be that of the Buddha's final passing.Mahaparinirvan Temple & Nirvana Stupa
| Location | About 500 mts. from entrance gate on Buddha Marg, Kushinagar, in the District of the same name, U.P., India |
| Ideal time | Oct.- April, Auspicious occasion Buddha Purnima Festival (April-May)- Buddha Smriti Day |
| Timings | Sunrise-sunset, opens on all days |
| Attractions | Historical & Religious |
| How to reach | Hire a cycle rickshaw/ hired taxi/on foot from the bus stand |
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| Mahaparinirvan Temple Kushinagar |
The statue rests on the brick pedestal covered with stone slabs. The western face of the pedestal has a sculpture panel depicting the inscriptions of 5th century AD. The statue represents the very last moment of Buddha. The temple and vihar were built by Swami Haribala, a Buddhist follower. The structure was unearthed during the excavation started by General A. Cunningham, the first Archaeological Surveyor of India, in 1876, who found it in a much shattered condition lying on broken pedestal and the same was later restored by A.C.L. Carlleyle in 1876.
This stupa is located just behind the Mahaparinirvana Temple (east of the Mahaparinirvana Temple) on the same platform. The stupa with its cylindrical base and dome is 15.81mts. high from the ground level. A copper plate with text of Nidan Sukta inscribed on it was found during excavations possibly deposited by Haribala in Nirvana Chaitya. Massive statue of Buddha in the front portion of the temple had also been installed by Haribala. Some silver coins in the copper vessels were also excavated. These coins apparently belong to Kumar Gupta (Emperor of Gupta Dynasty) in 8th century AD.
Nirvana Chaitya was restored completely with its ceremonious closure of chamber in the presence of Buddhist priests on 18th march, 1927. Several inscriptions in the form of gold, silver and copper plates were deposited along with the records of the circumstances of the discovery & identification of the monument which were excavated by Carlleyle in the year 1876.The walls of the stupa were destroyed by storm in 1965. Indian Archaeological Department restored it in 1980-1985.
Near the Nirvana Temple a park, called Meditation Park has been developed recently. Raised platforms have been built for meditation. The park having the greenery & mediation platforms provide complete Buddhist ambience.
Rambhar Stupa
| Location | About 1.5 km east of Nirvana Temple on the extreme eastern end Buddha Marg, Kushinagar, in the District of the same name, U.P., India |
| Ideal time | Oct-April, Auspicious Occasion Buddha Festival on Buddha Purnima (April-May) |
| Timings | Sunset to sunrise, opens on all days |
| Attractions | Religious & Historical |
| How to reach | Hire a peddled cycle rickshaw/hired taxi/on foot from the bus stand |
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| Rambhar Stupa Kushinagar |
The stupa was excavated by Pandit Hiranand Shastri in 1910-11 AD, revealing remains of brick floor & corners of the walls in the centre and part of circular drum. The entire basement was exposed in 1956 AD. The stupa is 49 mts. high, resting on a circular plinth with a huge circular drum having a diameter of 34.14mts. at the top and 47.24 mts. at the base with two or more terraces. It is an oblong mound crowned by a brick of stupa and surrounded by the garden. Some ruins of the Chaitya have been excavated in the south-east of the stupa. The stupa was renovated later by Ashoka, the Great. The main stupa is surrounded by subsidiary structures besides votive stupas. A good number of clay seals, ornamental bricks etc. have been recovered in the excavations.
Burmese Temple - Mahasukhamdada Chin Thargyi Pagoda
Buddhist Vihar
| Location | About 20 mts. ahead of Linh Son Chinese Temple & 70 mts. from entrance gate on Buddha Marg, Kushinagar in the District of the same name, U.P., India |
| Ideal time | Oct.- April, Auspicious Occasion Buddha Purnima Festival (April-May) |
| Phone | +91-9794625059,+91-8953584624 |
| Web | www.stupa.or.au |
| Timings | Sunrise-sunset, opens on all days |
| Attractions | Religious |
| How to reach | Hire a cycle rickshaw/ hired taxi/ on foot from the bus stand |
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Burmese Temple Kushinagar |
This huge Burmese Pagoda (Samridhi Chaitya Stupa) is also one of the new
attractions of Kushinagar. It has been built & managed by
Kushinagar Bhikshu Sangh. The construction began on 22nd May, 1997 and
was finally completed on 21st Feb. 2005. The Pagoda is 108 feet in
height and measures the same in diameter. There are four beautiful metal
idols of Buddha installed on four sides of Pagoda. One pond with a
Buddhist temple in the middle is located in front of the Pagoda.
Myanmar Buddhist Vihar is the first monastery in Kushinagar. It holds
the main charge for conducting daily & other prayers in
Mahaparinirvana Temple of the Kushinagar and is also the main organizer
of the Buddha Festival on Buddha Purnima, held here annually. A School,
Homeopathic Clinic, Govt. Ayurvedic Hospital, Dharmshala (Nepali
Dharmshala, Chandramani Guest House), run by the Monastery, are located
within the premises. Chief Monk A.B. Gyaneshwar resides in the Vihar.
Japanese Temple - Japan Sri Lankan Buddhist Centre
Indo-Japan-Srilanka temple
| Location | About 40 mts. east of Mathakaur Temple, about 1 km from Bus Stand, on Buddha Marg, Kushinagar in the District of the same name, U.P., India |
| Ideal time | Oct.- April, Auspicious Occasion Buddha Festival on Buddha Purnima (April-May), New Year Festival is also celebrated |
| Timings | Summer- 7:30am-6:30pm, Winter- 7:30am-5:30pm, opens on all days |
| Attractions | Religious |
| How to reach | Hire a cycle rickshaw/ hired taxi/on foot from the bus stand |
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Indo-Japan-Srilanka temple - Japanese Temple |
Wat Thai Temple - Wat Thai Kushinara Chalermaraj Temple
| Location | Situated near Hotel Royal Regency, About 50 mts. from Japan - Sri Lankan Buddhist Centre on Buddha Marg, Kushinagar in the District of the same name, U.P., India |
| Ideal time | Oct-April, Auspicious occasion Buddha Festival on Buddha Purnima (April-May) |
| Timings | 9am-11:30pm, 1:30pm-4pm, opens on all days |
| Tel | +91-5564-2271189 |
| Fax | +91-5564-2272089 |
| Attractions | Religious |
| How to reach | Hire a cycle rickshaw/ hired taxi/ on foot from the bus stand |
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Wat Thai Temple Kushinagar |
This beautiful temple was designed to be the forest monastery having innumerable trees. It is a true gospel of Buddhism with its oriental style of architecture, miniature gardens, lotus ponds & nurseries. The temple was constructed to commemorate the golden jubilee celebrations of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej's accession to the throne of Thailand. The temple was started in 1994, by the donation from
Thai devotees. Somdej Phra Yansangvara, His Holiness the Supreme Patriarch of the Kingdom of Thailand, performed the religious inauguration of this Temple on 21st February B.E. 2542 (1999 AD) and opened to the general public in the year 2001.
The temple is under the auspices of Wat Thai Bodhgaya, Bihar, Royal Thai Embassy, New Delhi and the Royal Thai Consulate General, Kolkata. Every year thousands of Thai people come down here, rich & poor alike to perform various kinds of services.
Buddha Museum
| Location | About 500 mts. from Mahaparinirvana Temple, 1 km from Bus Stand, Opposite Japan- Sri Lankan Buddhist Centre, on Buddha Marg Kushinagar, in the District of the same name, U.P., India |
| Ideal time | Throughout the year, preferably Oct.-March |
| Timings | 10 am to 4:30 pm, closed on Monday & second Sunday of every month |
| Phone | +91-5564-2273114 |
| Attractions | Historical & Archaeological |
| How to reach | Hire a cycle rickshaw/ hired taxi/on foot from the bus stand |
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| Buddha Museum Kushinagar |
At present four Art Galleries are open for the public. The first gallery named 'Art Gallery' displays sculptures related to Buddhism, Jainism and Hindu religion. Statues depicting various events of life of Lord Buddha have been displayed here. These statues represent Gandhara and Mathura School of Art. The Stucco statue of Lord Buddha in meditation posture, represent the superiority of Gandhara School of Art. Worshiping Stupa, Thangkas, Entrance of Buddha Temple, decorated bricks excavated from Kushinagar area, sculptures related to the life of Buddha are of particular interest.
In the second gallery- 'International Buddha Gallery', apart from some paintings, the model of 'the Great Stupa of Universal Compassion' being built near Bendigo in Southern Australia (Design and size of the Gyantse Stupa that was built in Tibet in the 15th Century) and would be the largest stupa in the western world, has also been displayed very artfully.
Third gallery 'Buddha in different postures' houses statue of Buddha built in Gandhara and Mathura school of arts. Buddha in various meditation postures are the major attractions of the gallery, where as the fourth gallery is dedicated to 'Various Forms of Art'.
Indo Japanese Cultural Centre, located near the entrance and adjacent to main building of museum, depicts Japanese Culture mainly through dolls of Japanese style and craft. A park has also been constructed in front of main museum building under Japanese supervision which has been developed as a rock garden.
Jain Temple Pawanagar /Pawapuri /Fazilnagar
| Location | Located at a distance of about 22 km south east of Kushinagar, 71 km from Gorakhpur, on NH-28,in Kushinagar district, U.P., India |
| Address | Near Sri Digamber Jain Siddhidatri, College Road, Fazilnagar |
| Ideal time to visit | On Mahaveer Jayanti & next day of Deepawali (Kartik Purnima) when Nirvana Mahotsava is celebrated. |
| Timings/opening | 6am-9am & 6:30pm-7pm, opens on all days |
| Phone | +91-5564-2266493 |
| How to reach | Can be accessed only by road. Buses are plying between Kushinagar-Tamkuhi or by pre-hired taxies. |
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| Jain Temple Pawanagar Kushinagar |
Fazilnagar has been identified with the ancient Pawa nagar. According to Jain & Buddhist literature Pawanagar is the place, associated with both Jains & Buddhists. It is famous, as the place where 24th (last) Jain Tirthankar Mahaveer attained Nirvana (laid down his mortal remains) in 543 BC. The temple houses four beautifully carved idols. It is also believed to be the place where Lord Buddha, while going to Kushinagar from Vaishali, stayed and accepted a meal from his disciple "Chund Kammara". He ate "Sukaramaddava" (mushrooms) after which he proceeded to Kushinara (modern Kushinagar), where he attained Mahaparinirvana.
Surya Mandir : Turkpatti
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| Surya Mandir Turkpatti Kushinagar |
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| God Sun, Surya Deo |
This temple is located on Kasia-Tamkuhi road at the place called
Turkpatti, which is about 17 km from Kushinagar. They were recovered
during excavations one of which is belonged to 4th - 5th Century A.D.
and another 8th - 9th Century A.D.
The site of the temple
is believed to be of Gupta Period.
The temple finds it mention in
Puranas, viz., Skand & Markandey Purana. The old temple has been
renovated and the construction of the new temple was completed on 30th
July 1981.
The statue of Sun God made of black stone (locally known as Neelmani stone), installed in the present temple was excavated from this site.
The Temple opens at 5am & closes at 8pm. Mondays, Fridays are considered auspicious and sixth day of Kartik month, 13th day of Falgun month & Janmashtami are celebrated here.
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