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Some of the important tourist sites in Kushinagar are:
Kushinagar is one of the four holiest pilgrim centres of Buddhist faith after Lumbini, Bodhgaya and Sarnath.
The Mahaparinirvana temple (also the Nirvana temple) is the main attraction of Kushinagar. It is a single-room structure, which is raised on a platform and is topped by a superstructure, which conforms to the traditional Buddhist style of architecture. The Mahaparinirvana temple houses the world famous 6-m-long (19.68 ft) statue of the reclining Buddha.
The Nirvana stupa is located behind the Mahaparinirvana temple. Some British archaeologists discovered this brick structure during the excavation carried out in 1876. Subsequent excavations carried out by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) unearthed a copper vessel, which contained the remains of Lord Buddha, apart from precious stones, cowries and a gold coin belonging to the Gupta period. The copper vessel bore the inscription that the ashes of Lord Buddha had been interred here.
The Ramabhar Stupa (also Mukutabandhana stupa) is a 14.9-m-tall (49 ft) brick stupa, which is located at a distance of 1 km from the Mahaparinirvana temple. This stupa is built on the spot where Lord Buddha was cremated in 483 BC. Ancient Buddhist scriptures refer this stupa as the Mukutabandhana stupa. It is said that the Malla rulers, who ruled Kushinagar during the death of Buddha, built the Ramabhar stupa.
The Mathakuar Shrine is an interesting place to visit in Kushinagar. It is located near the Nirvana stupa. A statue of Buddha made out of black stone was found here. The statue shows Buddha in the bhumi sparsha mudra (pose in which Buddha touches the earth with his fingers). It is believed that Lord Buddha preached his last sermon here.
The Kushinagar Museum (Archaeological Museum) is located near the Indo-Japan-Sri Lankan Buddhist Centre. The museum has a collection of artefacts including statues and carved panels excavated from various stupas and monasteries in Kushinagar and places around it.
Thousands of Buddhist pilgrims and tourists visit this small town throughout the year to the see the place where Lord Buddha preached his last sermon, “All things must pass. Decay is inherent in all things” before renouncing the world forever. The annual Buddha Poornima festival is held on a large scale in Kushinagar to celebrate the birthday of Lord Buddha.
Further ahead of Kushinagar you may visit Gorakhpur that is famous for the Gorakhnath temple, an important place of pilgrimage revered equally by Indian and Nepalese Hindus, Geeta Press, Indira Children’s Park and the shopping centre of Golghar.
So all set for the trip to Kushinagar? As an experienced travel agent for Kushinagar we can take care of your entire trip from tour planning, air booking, railway reservation to car rentals and hotel bookings.
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