Madhya Pradesh, a state occupying the central part of India is often adoringly referred to as ‘Hindustan ka dil’ as it lies in the heart of the country. It is the largest of all states in the country rimmed by the states of Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan in the different directions. The state of Madhya Pradesh covers a huge area of about 308, 144 sq km. Bhopal is the capital city and Indore is the largest city in the state. There are plenty of awesome surprises in store for all those setting out for a tour of Madhya Pradesh. The state thrives on all the things that a tourist may find fascinating. Cultural heritage, scenic beauty, rapid modern progress all combine together to impart the state with a character quite unique to itself. Buddhist Tourism intrigued by this strange amalgamation make a beeline to the state in order to explore it thoroughly. Now let’s talk about Buddhism Tourism in Madhya Pradesh.

Buddhism in Madhya Pradesh

The history of Madhya Pradesh dates back to the Mauryan times, more precisely, to the times of Emperor Asoka. Asoka is one of the most famous rulers of Indian history who decided to opt for the paths of righteousness by renouncing the paths of violence. This transformation in him was brought about by the deep impact that the principles of Buddhism had on his mind. He made Buddhism and propagation of Buddhism the sole goal of his life. At the inception of his career asking Ashoka had functioned as viceroy of Mauryan empire’s western province and was posted at Ujjain; the then ‘Ujjaini’. After Buddhism had taken a center stage in his life, he took the initiative of setting up many Stupas all through his kingdom. In other words, during the ruling period of Ashoka, Buddhism flourished like anything in Madhya Pradesh but post his death and decline of Mauryan Empire, the status of Buddhism as a religion too declined to some extent. Today Hindus make a major part of Madhya Pradesh’s population and those belonging to the religion of Buddhism constitute a minority only. However, the past legacies prove as a reminiscence of the era when Buddhism had been at the pinnacle of success and popularity as a religion in the state of Madhya Pradesh.

Important Buddhist Monuments Places in Madhya Pradesh

Sanchi in Madhya Pradesh is an important Buddhist pilgrimage destination dotted with a vast array of Buddhist architecture such as Chaityas, Temples, Stupas, and Monasteries. Interestingly enough, Sanchi had never been visited by Lord Buddha during his lifetime. The monuments in Sanchi belong to an era dating between 3rd century BC and 12th century AD. Among the various Buddhist monuments doting Sanchi, Stupas 1, 2, 3, Four Gateways, Temple 18, Ashokan Pillar are the most renowned ones. Apart from Buddhist monuments, there are Viharas as well as a museum at Sanchi. At Sanchi, whatever representation of the lord is found, comes in the form of symbols and not figures. This had been a tradition observed in the earlier Hinayana Buddhism sect. They actually regarded Buddha a man from the human world and not God.

Bharhut Stupa

Bharhut is famed enough as a Buddhist destination in the state of Madhya Pradesh. Bharhut falls within Madhya Pradesh’s Satna district. The stupa of Bharhut is a famed one. It dates back to 3rd century BC and was set up by Emperor Ashoka. This stupa too uses symbols such as Bodhi tree, wheel of dharma, empty seat, and footprints to portray Buddha.

Attractions

Khajuraho

Khajuraho is a must-visit destination in case you are embarking on a tour of Madhya Pradesh. The Khajuraho temples may be grouped as temples of East, temples of West, temples of South. The temple walls feature striking erotic carvings. The time period between 950 AD and 1050 AD saw the emergence of Khajuraho temples under the initiative of Chandela rulers. The 10 day spanned dance festival; in the Khajuraho dance festival held in March pulls a huge crowd of tourists from far and wide each year.

Bhopal

Though Bhopal, the capital city, cannot boast much of historic monuments and architectural splendor yet it has a culture quite unique to itself. The culture of Bhopal shows a curious fusion of the Islamic and Hindu cultures. At Bhopal, you could set out on a sightseeing of the old Bhopal city and explore its many mosques. Van Vihar national park, Bharat Bhavan complex are the two other places to visit.

Gwalior

Gwalior had been a very important place in terms of Indian history. Many dynasties have ruled over the place from time to time such as the ladies, Huns, Tomaras, Marathas, and Mughals etc. The Gwalior fort is the prime tourist attraction of Gwalior. Shivpuri, Orchha, Chanderi are the other worth visiting places around Gwalior.

Wildlife Sanctuaries

Kanha National Park, Bandhavgarh National Park is the two famed wildlife sanctuaries in Madhya Pradesh which you shouldn’t miss. Kanha is that same wildlife sanctuary that Rudyard Kipling had used as an inspiration for his famed Jungle Book. Kanha is famous for its ‘big cat’ population. Bandhavgarh fauna includes various types of Chinkara, Wild boar, tiger etc.

Climate

The three seasons that the state experiences are summer [March-May], winter [October-February] and Monsoons [July-September]. The ideal time for Madhya Pradesh tour is between months October and March.

How to Reach

You could reach Buddhist Tourism in Madhya Pradesh by the following three ways-
By Air: – By Air, you can reach Madhya Pradesh easily. Numerous airports dot the state, the major ones being the airports of Indore, Bhopal, Gwalior, Jabalpur, and Khajuraho. Flights taking off from these airports connect the state to all other major cities of our country.
By Rail: – Trains to Bhopal railway station are frequent and regular. Thus, you may take a train to Bhopal railway station in order to embark on a tour of Madhya Pradesh. The other stations that can be reached by train in order to set out on a tour of Madhya Pradesh are Jabalpur, Jhansi, Ujjain, and Indore.
By Road: – An intricate network of both state highways and national highways characterize the state. These roads connect the various cities of Madhya Pradesh to one another. Buses are available from and to Bhopal, Indore, Khajuraho, Sanchi etc.

Known to be the playground of Gods, Uttar Pradesh boasts of a unique heritage and divine culture. There are many wonderful places here which have been drawing tourists and spiritual seekers for a long time. Though mostly known for Hindu temples and mysticism Uttar Pradesh has a deep connection to Buddhism. Sarnath and Kushinagar have an abiding link to the life of Gautama Buddha. Buddhist and seekers of religion have visited Uttar Pradesh since the ancient ages to visit Varanasi along with Sarnath and Kushinagar. The latter two places are quite close to the Nepal border and thus draw a lot of tourists from cross-border areas.

Buddhist in Uttar Pradesh

It is well known that Bihar was the seat of Gautam Buddha’s realization of the divine truth and many of its areas have different significant meanings for the Buddhists. It’s said that after attaining Nirvana…Lord Buddha meditated for seven whole weeks in the same spot and then began his journey towards Uttar Pradesh in quest of his fellow seekers. As soon his companions saw him they were struck by the glowing divinity on the face of Buddha. The Lord Buddha convinced his companions about the path of Knowledge and his famous concept of the middle path of life. His companions gained enlightenment and this first sermon laid the solid foundation of the Buddhist in Uttar Pradesh. The subsequent 45 years of the life of Gautam Buddha till the event of his Mahanirvana were spent in different areas of Uttar Pradesh.

It should be noted that numerous Indian rulers like Ashoka and Gupta (they belonged to the Mauryan clan) promoted Buddhism fully. Ashoka who used to be a valiant and fierce warrior was deeply influenced by the teachings of Buddha and reincarnated himself as a saint and seeker of peace after his conversion to Buddhism. Emperor Ashoka was responsible for erecting the Dharma inscriptions of Buddhism on the pillars and rocks on various areas of U.P. He also built stupas and temples but many of these were destroyed by the Turks and Arabs who invaded these lands in the 12th century. In the 19th century to 20th century Buddhism, as a religion was again revived in India and Uttar Pradesh, was made a prominent spiritual destination.

Important Buddhist Pilgrimage Spots

Sarnath: – Very close to the Hindu holy destination Varanasi, Sarnath is on the must visit the list of most Buddhists over the world. Sarnath is the seat of the Dharmachakra Pravartan that’s the first sermon of Buddha. As mentioned earlier this sermon contained advice on following the middle path. The trinity jewels of Buddhism i.e. Buddham Saranam Gachchami, Dharmam Saranam Gacchami, and Sangham Saranam Gacchami have all originated from this first sermon. The holy Dhamekha Stupa, Ashoka Pillar and many other monasteries and stupas add to the list of attractions in Sarnath.

Kushinagar: – Ever since the 5th century when Buddha attained the state of Mahaparinirvana in Kushinagar nears the river of Hiranyavati in Uttar Pradesh, Kushinagar has been one of the most sought-after destinations for Buddhists. Post the demise of Gautama Buddha the whole village was turned into a memorial ground filled with Buddhist imagery, holy relics, and writings of the Buddha. There was once a towering statue of Buddha in Kushinagar which was excavated in the year 1876 Ancient texts says that this statue was built to mark the earthly farewell of Buddha.

Sankassa: – Located in the heart of Uttar Pradesh near the famous Farrukhabad Sankassa is the area where Indra and Brahma descended on earth after Gautama Buddha was seen delivering sermons to his mother. A famous Pillar of Ashoka and a beautiful Buddha temple is situated at Sankassa.

Kaushambi: – The ancient Kaushambi city is now mostly in ruins but it was once a prominent seat of Buddhism…especially in the 6th and 9th year of the Buddha’s enlightenment. Many sermons were preached by the Buddha here and the common folks of Sravasti used to congregate here a large number of them converted to Buddhism subsequently. Kaushambi is now a site that’s recognized by the archaeological survey of India as an important site. The ruined treasures like Ashokan pillar, ancient fortress and Ghasitaram monastery are a reminder of the glorious past of Kaushambi.

Sravasti: – The small town of Sravasti was home to Buddha for nearly 24 years. This town has the Jetavana Garden the famous dwelling place of the Lord Buddha. The town also witnessed many miracles performed by the Buddha and has the Ananda Bodhi tree, sacred Jetavana Garden, ruins of holy huts and stupas which were blessed by the Buddha.

Famous Monuments of Buddhism in Uttar Pradesh

Stupa of Dhamekha, Sarnath: – Also referred to as the holy seat of the Buddha the Dhamekha stupa is the structure where Gautama Buddha delivered his first ever sermon to his disciples.

Pillar of Ashoka, Sarnath: – This is a testament to the first visit of Ashoka to Sarnath. The pillar has the gorgeous lion emblem which is now recognized as the official emblem of India.

Dharmarajika Stupa, Sarnath: – One of the most sacred structures recognized by Buddhists the Dharmarajika stupa was built by Ashoka to immortalized the remains of Lord Buddha.

Mahaparinirvana Temple, Kushinagar: – The serene temple of Mahaparinirvana sits inside a luxuriant Sal grove and is dedicated to the attainment of Mahaparinirvana of the Lord Buddha. The temple has a huge 6 meters statue that shows the Lord Buddha in his last moments on earth. The lord is shown reclining on his right side with his face facing the west.

Stupa of Nirvana Kushinagar: – The stupa of Nirvana is also called the Ramabhar Stupa. It’s a gigantic brick structure that’s about 2.74 meters and it’s made on the exact spot where Buddha was cremated.

Ruins of Kaushambi, Kaushambi: – The old ruins of Kaushambi in Uttar Pradesh showed the presence of a big Buddhist site that’s full of stupas, sculptures, pillars, and monasteries. It is said that Lord Buddha visited this site twice and also preached many sermons here.

Jetavana Vihara, Sravasti: – The famous Jetavana Vihara in Sravasti is one of the most famous Buddhist sites in Uttar Pradesh this was the chosen dwelling place of Buddha who spent 24 years here.

Famous Tourist Attractions in Uttar Pradesh

Agra: – Well known as the seat of the famous Taj Mahal, Agra is a city steeped in rich history. There are forts, cemeteries, and tombs here which are reminiscent of the Mughal architectural style. A huge number of tourists travel to Uttar Pradesh to view its architectural marvels and shop for leather footwear.

Lucknow: – Lucknow is the state capital of Uttar Pradesh and is sprawled on both sides of the beautiful Gomti River. The legends of the Nawabs, their music and arts, beautiful jewelry and the antique art of Lucknow Chikankari add to the charm of Lucknow. The etiquette of Lucknow and its royal cuisine are big crowd pullers tourists come here to imbibe the atmosphere of this place and tour its monuments, gardens, and relics of Nawabi splendor.

Varanasi/Benaras: – The Hindu temple town of Varanasi/Banaras has an aura of its own. Scores of temples line its beautiful yet direct ghats and its artisans make some of the most beautiful cloth in the world (the exquisitely embroidered Banarasi saree is world famous). The paan betel leaf concoction of Benaras is another claim to fame while music lovers all across the world refer to the Banaras Gharana as the epitome of fine practices of classical music.

Vrindavan & Mathura: – Both Mathura and Vrindavan are a part of the rich holy heritage of Hindus. While Mathura was the birthplace of Krishna (one of the avatars of Vishnu) it is also the epicenter of the Holy Braj Bhoomi. There are lovely ghats here which bear testimony to the innocent pranks of Krishna in his childhood and the ruins of the temples here are filled with eternal devotion to Krishna.

Vrindavan is just 15 km away from Mathura and is yet another important Hindu Pilgrimage center. Vrindavan is a romantic place filled with stories of the love between Radha and Krishna and their Raas Leela. Vrindavan is filled with Radha Krishna temples.

Famous Monuments of Uttar Pradesh

Taj Mahal, referred to as the symbol of love was built by Shah Jahan in his wife (Mumtaz’s) memory. It’s a huge tourist draw and attracts many foreign tourists the Taj is commonly referred to as the 8th wonder of the world.

Fatehpur Sikri was built by Akbar who wanted to honor Saint Sheikh Salim Chisti. The architecture here is interesting it combines the Hindu and Muslim elements. The month of Ramzan attracts many tourists who come here to seek the blessings of the saint.

Agra Fort, it’s a gigantic red sandstone fort that contains many palaces and halls. The lovely Yamuna flows nearby and adds to the grandeur of the fort.

Kashi Vishwanath Temple is an ode to Lord Shiva and is also referred to as the Golden temple. There is a Shivalinga inside the temple that’s known as one of the 12 holy jyotirlingas.

Ghats of Varanasi are stretched over 4 km along the Ganges and represent a cultural melting pot. The evening aarti here is divine with melodious songs sung to the Goddess Durga. It said that cremation of one’s body in Varanasi leads to the attainment of Nirvana.

The Bara Imambara of Lucknow is ancient it was built in 1784. It’s imposing structure and unique architecture attracts a lot of visitors.

Shri Krishna Janmabhoomi is one of the holiest places for Hindus in India. This represents the spot where Krishna was born in the womb of Devaki who was imprisoned by her brother the evil Kansa.

Weather in Uttar Pradesh

The climate here is tropical monsoon but there is a lot of altitude variation and so the weather varies too. Winters happened between mid-November to January and the temperature can dip to 4 degrees. The summers are quite hot with the temperature reaching 45 degrees in some spots. Monsoons are from July to September and the eastern area of Uttar Pradesh has heavier rainfall than the other zones.

October to march is an ideal period for visiting Uttar Pradesh.

How to Reach Uttar Pradesh

By Air: 4 major domestic airports exist here Lucknow, Agra, Kanpur, and Varanasi. All 4 airports are well connected with flights from all major Indian cities.

By Rail: major railway stations are in Mughalsarai, Varanasi, Allahabad, Gorakhpur, Kanpur, Agra etc and all of these are majorly well connected to other important stations in India.

By Road: NH 3, 7, 11, 19, 25 & 28 connect important parts of UP to different parts of India. The state enjoys good connections with Kanyakumari in south, Punjab in north, Patna in east and Bikaner in west.