Bihar
Bodh Gaya
The place of the Buddha’s enlightenment, with living monasteries and time for prayer and reflection.
Mahabodhi Temple, Bodhi Tree, Great Buddha Statue
Include in my journeyDESTINATIONS / INDIA & NEPAL
Sacred places.
A wider world to discover.
Explore the major Buddhist sites of India and Nepal, from the sacred plains to Himalayan monasteries. Add cultural cities, lakes and quiet hill retreats to make the journey your own.
EXPLORE INDIA
India
From the places of the Buddha’s life to ancient cave temples and living Himalayan monasteries.
The sacred circuit
Pilgrimage places across Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.
Bihar
Rajgir
A landscape of hills and sacred places closely connected with the Buddha’s teaching years.
Vulture Peak, Venuvan, Vishwa Shanti Stupa
Include in my journeyBihar
Nalanda
Explore the remains of one of the ancient world’s great centres of Buddhist learning.
Nalanda Mahavihara ruins, archaeological museum
Include in my journeyBihar
Vaishali
An important stop in the Buddhist circuit, with archaeological remains and traditions linked to the Buddha’s visits.
Ashokan pillar, relic stupa, Kolhua
Include in my journeyBihar
Kesariya
A monumental brick stupa that can be included when travelling between the Vaishali region and Kushinagar.
Kesariya Buddhist Stupa
Include in my journeyUttar Pradesh
Kushinagar
A place for quiet contemplation, traditionally associated with the Buddha’s Mahaparinirvana.
Mahaparinirvana Temple, Ramabhar Stupa
Include in my journeyUttar Pradesh
Sarnath
Near Varanasi, discover the sacred setting associated with the Buddha’s first teaching.
Dhamek Stupa, Chaukhandi Stupa, Mulagandha Kuti Vihar
Include in my journeyUttar Pradesh
Shravasti
Walk through a major setting of the Buddha’s teaching life and the remains of an ancient monastic community.
Jetavana, Sahet-Mahet
Include in my journeyUttar Pradesh
Sankisa
A traditional Buddhist pilgrimage destination associated with the Buddha’s descent from the heavenly realm.
Sankasya pilgrimage site, Ashokan remains
Include in my journeyUttar Pradesh
Kaushambi
Discover an ancient city and monastic setting associated with the Buddha’s visits and teachings.
Ghositarama monastery ruins, archaeological remains
Include in my journeyUttar Pradesh
Kapilvastu: Piprahwa & Ganwaria
Explore archaeological sites associated with the Shakya heritage near the India-Nepal border.
Piprahwa stupa, Ganwaria excavations
Include in my journeyBihar
Vikramshila
A heritage extension to another major historic centre of Buddhist scholarship in eastern India.
Ancient mahavihara ruins near Bhagalpur
Include in my journeyAncient art & Buddhist heritage
Stupas, cave monasteries and the legacy of Buddhist learning.
Madhya Pradesh
Sanchi
Discover a remarkable Buddhist monument complex and its richly carved stone gateways.
Great Stupa, carved gateways, monastery remains
Include in my journeyMaharashtra
Ajanta Caves
Step into rock-cut monasteries and prayer halls celebrated for their paintings and sculptural art.
Buddhist cave temples, murals, sculpture
Include in my journeyMaharashtra
Ellora Caves
Explore the Buddhist caves within a larger monument complex shared with Hindu and Jain traditions.
Buddhist caves, rock-cut monasteries
Include in my journeyMaharashtra
Kanheri Caves
A historic monastic complex set in the forested surroundings of Sanjay Gandhi National Park in Mumbai.
Rock-cut cells, prayer hall, Buddhist sculpture
Include in my journeyMaharashtra
Karla & Bhaja Caves
Discover two important rock-cut Buddhist cave groups near Lonavala.
Chaitya halls, early cave architecture
Include in my journeyMaharashtra
Deekshabhoomi, Nagpur
A significant destination in modern Indian Buddhism, associated with Dr B. R. Ambedkar’s conversion to Buddhism.
Deekshabhoomi stupa and memorial grounds
Include in my journeyOdisha
Dhauli
Visit the Peace Pagoda and the landscape associated with Ashoka’s legacy in Odisha.
Shanti Stupa, Ashokan rock edicts
Include in my journeyOdisha
Ratnagiri, Udayagiri & Lalitgiri
Explore three major excavated Buddhist complexes that form Odisha’s Diamond Triangle.
Diamond Triangle monasteries, stupas, sculpture
Include in my journeyAndhra Pradesh
Amaravati
Discover a celebrated centre of Buddhist art and heritage beside the Krishna River.
Ancient stupa remains, archaeological museum
Include in my journeyAndhra Pradesh
Nagarjunakonda
A heritage visit that brings together Buddhist remains and the history of the Krishna Valley.
Island museum, Buddhist archaeological heritage
Include in my journeyHimalayan monasteries & living traditions
Extend the pilgrimage into mountain landscapes and monastic communities.
Himachal Pradesh
Dharamshala & McLeod Ganj
Experience an important centre of Tibetan Buddhist life in the foothills of the Himalayas.
Tsuglagkhang, Namgyal Monastery, Tibetan culture
Include in my journeyHimachal Pradesh
Rewalsar
A lakeside pilgrimage town with strong connections to Guru Padmasambhava traditions.
Sacred lake, monasteries, Padmasambhava traditions
Include in my journeyHimachal Pradesh
Spiti Valley
Discover historic monasteries and living Buddhist traditions in a high-altitude Himalayan landscape.
Tabo, Key and Dhankar monasteries
Include in my journeyLadakh
Ladakh
A wider monastery journey through mountain valleys, distinctive architecture and Buddhist art.
Hemis, Thiksey, Alchi and Lamayuru monasteries
Include in my journeyArunachal Pradesh
Tawang
Explore one of India’s most prominent Himalayan monasteries and the cultural landscape around it.
Tawang Monastery, monastic culture
Include in my journeySikkim
Gangtok & Rumtek
An introduction to Sikkim’s monastic traditions, combining Gangtok with nearby Buddhist sites.
Rumtek Monastery, Enchey Monastery
Include in my journeySikkim
Pelling & West Sikkim
Bring together monasteries and sacred landscapes in the hills of western Sikkim.
Pemayangtse, Tashiding, Khecheopalri Lake
Include in my journeyWest Bengal
Darjeeling & Kalimpong
Explore Buddhist monasteries alongside the cultural landscapes of these Himalayan hill towns.
Ghoom, Dali and Zang Dhok Palri monasteries
Include in my journeyKarnataka
Bylakuppe
A southern extension to a major Tibetan Buddhist monastic community near Kushalnagar.
Namdroling Monastery, Golden Temple
Include in my journey
EXPLORE NEPAL
Nepal
The Buddha’s birthplace, the great stupas of Kathmandu Valley, and space to discover the Himalayas.
The birthplace & surrounding sacred sites
The Lumbini region and the wider Shakya heritage.
Lumbini Province
Lumbini
Begin at the Buddha’s birthplace and explore the surrounding monastic zone.
Maya Devi Temple, Ashoka Pillar, Sacred Garden
Include in my journeyLumbini Province
Tilaurakot / Kapilvastu
Explore the archaeological landscape associated with the childhood home of Siddhartha Gautama.
Ancient city remains, Shakya heritage
Include in my journeyLumbini Province
Ramagrama
A revered stupa traditionally associated with relics of the Buddha, visited as an extension from Lumbini.
Ramagrama Stupa
Include in my journeyLumbini Province
Devdaha
A pilgrimage extension traditionally associated with the maternal family of the Buddha.
Koliya heritage, sacred landscape
Include in my journeyKathmandu Valley & Buddhist traditions
Great stupas, monastic communities and Newar Buddhist heritage.
Bagmati Province
Kathmandu
A cultural gateway for exploring the valley’s Buddhist and wider religious heritage.
Historic city, stupas, monastery visits
Include in my journeyKathmandu Valley
Boudhanath
Join the flow of pilgrims around a great stupa at the heart of a living Buddhist neighbourhood.
Boudha Stupa, surrounding monasteries
Include in my journeyKathmandu Valley
Swayambhunath
Discover an ancient sacred complex and its prominent place in the Kathmandu Valley’s Buddhist traditions.
Hilltop stupa, shrines, valley views
Include in my journeyKavrepalanchok
Namo Buddha
A hilltop pilgrimage place associated with the compassionate offering of the Buddha in a former life.
Sacred stupa, Thrangu Tashi Yangtse Monastery
Include in my journeyKathmandu Valley
Patan / Lalitpur
Explore Newar Buddhist traditions, historic courtyards and the craftsmanship of Patan.
Golden Temple, Buddhist courtyards, Durbar Square
Include in my journeyKathmandu Valley
Kopan Monastery
Ask about a visit to this Tibetan Buddhist monastery, with access arranged around its programme.
Monastery grounds, Buddhist study tradition
Include in my journeyKathmandu Valley
Pharping
A pilgrimage area especially associated with Guru Padmasambhava and Vajrayana Buddhist traditions.
Asura Cave, Yanglesho, monastery visits
Include in my journeyHimalayan pilgrimage extensions
Mountain journeys that call for additional time and preparation.
Koshi Province
Tengboche Monastery
A Himalayan monastery on the Everest trekking route, reached as part of a carefully planned mountain journey.
Tengboche, Khumbu, Sherpa Buddhist traditions
Include in my journeyGandaki Province
Muktinath
A high-altitude pilgrimage destination revered in both Buddhist and Hindu traditions.
Muktinath / Chumig Gyatsa, Mustang landscape
Include in my journeyGandaki Province
Upper Mustang
Explore a distinctive Himalayan cultural landscape with historic Buddhist monasteries; access arrangements require advance planning.
Lo Manthang, historic monasteries, Tibetan heritage
Include in my journeyScenic & cultural extensions
Add lakes, hill towns and cultural discoveries to your Nepal journey.
Gandaki Province
Pokhara
Combine a visit to the Peace Pagoda with lakeside time and views of the Annapurna region.
World Peace Pagoda, Phewa Lake, mountain views
Include in my journeyBagmati Province
Nagarkot
A scenic hill retreat for a quieter interlude near Kathmandu; mountain visibility depends on the weather.
Sunrise viewpoints, Himalayan panoramas
Include in my journeyKathmandu Valley
Bhaktapur
A cultural extension through a historic Newar city known for its architecture and craftsmanship.
Durbar Square, traditional streets, local crafts
Include in my journeyBagmati Province
Dhulikhel
A hill-town stop that pairs cultural walks and mountain views with nearby pilgrimage visits.
Old town, hill views, access towards Namo Buddha
Include in my journeyBUILD A JOURNEY THAT CONNECTS
Choose the places.
We’ll help with the path.
These destinations span several regions. Tell us your priorities and available time so we can suggest a practical route, including transfers and rest days.
Himalayan travel and cross-border extensions need their own planning for season, access and individual travel requirements.
Explore our ready-to-plan itineraries ↗Destination reading & heritage references
Explore further with IRCTC’s Buddhist destinations, UNESCO: Sanchi, UNESCO: Ajanta, UNESCO: Ellora, Odisha Tourism’s Buddhist sites, UNESCO: Kathmandu Valley, Nepal Tourism Board’s pilgrimage sites, and its guides to Pokhara and Nagarkot.
A journey that feels like yours
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