Kushinagar, Buddhist pilgrimage town in Uttar Pradesh, India
Kushinagar is a Buddhist pilgrimage town in Kushinagar district, in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, where several important temples and memorials stand close together. The town center sits around the main temple, with smaller roads extending through fields and tree groves toward other religious sites.
Archaeological work starting in 1861 confirmed the town as one of the four sacred sites linked to Buddha's life, mentioned in scriptures after 483 BCE. The site faded from view over centuries before British and Indian researchers rediscovered pillars and foundations in the 19th century.
The town's name comes from Kusa, a type of grass that once covered the land and appears in old religious stories. Pilgrims from Myanmar, Thailand, Japan and Sri Lanka gather here, filling temples with chanting while monks in orange robes walk through the lanes.
The center is easy to explore on foot, as key temples and memorials lie close together with clear signage. The best time to visit falls between October and March, when cooler weather makes outdoor areas more comfortable to walk through.
A large tree beside the temple is said to be a direct descendant of the tree under which the historical moment is believed to have taken place. Many visitors settle at the base of the trunk to meditate or simply sit and feel the quiet.
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