Buddhist Pilgrimage
Since ancient past India has had an unbroken tradition of being the fountainhead of spiritual knowledge in the world. Great seers, masters and incarnations have been born here to spread the true knowledge from time to time. The Sanskrit word "Bodh" literally means knowledge. Buddha thus means "The one who has attained all knowledge"



The cessation of conflicts at both the internal the external levels is possible only when one is armed with the right knowledge. Once the conflicts recede, peace blooms and one attains bliss.

There are four principal Buddhist pilgrimage sites where most of the buddhist temples and shrines are located. The most important of these are located primarily in the Ganges Valley of India.

Festivals

Buddha Jayanti : The birth anniversary of the Buddha usually comes round on the full moon day of May. But nothing much happens on this day in terms of visual interest – Buddhists conduct their prayers and meditations in private. 

Birth of Padmasambhava : This festival celebrated at the Hemis Gompa in Ladakh and in Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh is a visual treat. Ritual mask dances are performed to the sound of huge drums, cymbals and hornpipes. The best thangkas depicting scenes from the life of the Buddha are taken out of the monasteries and displayed in the celebrations.

Drupka Teshi : Held in July-August, the festival marks the first teaching given by the Buddha.

Important Buddhist Sites
Some of the most important Buddhist sites are situated in India. Among them, Bodhgaya is the most sacred of all. Many monasteries, stupas and rock edicts have been found at Sanchi in Madhya Pradesh and Rajgir in Bihar. While the sylvan surroundings of Lahaul, Kangra and Spiti valleys are home to various monasteries, McLeodganj is the abode of the 14th Dalai Lama.



Bodhgaya, Bihar
The rallying point for Buddhists from all over the world. The chant 'May all beings be happy' rent the air of Bodhgaya, where the Four Noble Truths were gifted by the Buddha in the 5th century B.C.

Sanchi, Madhya Pradesh
Definitely worth a visit. It houses stupas, monasteries, pillars and temples – all masterpieces of Buddhist art.

Kangra Valley, Himachal Pradesh
This capital city of the Katoch dynasty is a destination par excellence. The Kangra Valley has a rich history and the Tashijong Monastery, which has links with the Kham region in Tibet, is well worth a visit.

Sarnath, Uttar Pradesh
A much frequented pilgrim centre, not only for the Buddhists, but for the Jains and the Hindus as well. This site has some famous stupas and Buddhist monasteries.

Mcleodganj, Himachal Pradesh
McLeodganj a colourful little town is a perennial favourite with tourists. It is steeped in Buddhist culture and is best known as the residence of the 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso.

Rajgir, Bihar
The place where the Buddha's teachings were first penned down, Rajgir is also the birthplace of various traditions that form a part of our everyday lives.

Sravasti, Uttar Pradesh
Once an important Buddhist town, it has the distinction of being the place where the Buddha preached most of his sermons. Sravasti is also the place where the Buddha is said to have levitated and performed many other miracles.

Spiti Valley
'World within a world ' and a 'place where the Gods live' – Spiti is a high-altitude cold desert dotted with numerous monasteries.