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Kushinagar
Area : 6.0 sq km
Population : 13,860 (1991)
Altitude : 400 m above sea level
Languages : Hindi and English
Best time to visit : October to April
STD Code : 05563
Once in Kushinagar, it appears that time has come to a complete
halt. This sleepy town, with its serenity and unassuming beauty,
absorbs visitors into a contemplative mood. It is this place
that the Buddha had chosen to free himself from the cycles
of death and life and, therefore, it occupies a very special
space in the heart of every Buddhist.
Kushinagar is situated in the north Indian state of Uttar
Pradesh, 51 km off Gorakhpur. The place, which is famous for
the Mahaparinirvana (death) of Lord Buddha, has been included
in the famous Buddhist trail encompassing Bihar, Uttar Pradesh,
and Nepal.
Like other places in the Gangetic plain, the climate of Kushinagar
is hot and humid in the summers (mid-April–mid-September)
with maximum temperature touching 40–45°C. Winters are mild
and minimum temperature in December can go down to around
5°C. Monsoon reaches this region in June and remains here
till September.
Places of Interest
The Mahaparinirvana Temple, with its world famous reclining
statue of Buddha, is an important site to visit. The 20-feet-long
statue is seated on a brick platform. Ruins of as many as
eight monasteries are around the main site. These monasteries
have witnessed the rise and fall of a number of dynasties
and the spread of Buddhism. Ruins of two monasteries—Mahaparinirvana
Vihara and Makutabandhara Vihara—are especially famous. The
Makutabandhara Vihara is believed to have been built by Malla
kings to preserve the relics of the Buddha. Through the centuries,
monuments and shrines of various types grew around these ancient
sites.
Then there is the wonderful mini-city of Wat Thai Kusinara
developed by the Thais. Built on an area of about 10 acres,
it houses small huts, a school, a library, and hospitals.
In the miniature gardens, lotus ponds and nurseries, all in
typical oriental style, residents learn to love nature—the
true gospel of Buddhism. Hundreds of Thai people come down
every year to perform various kinds of services. The rich
and poor alike, with clean-shaved heads and dressed in saffron
clothes, live in modest huts and eat from banana leaves.
All holy sites are along one straight road. Towards the east,
several temples of various Buddhist countries have come up.
The procession organized by the Burmese temple every year
on Buddha Poornima day is attended by thousands of people.
Other attractions are the Indo-Japanese-Sri Lankan Center
for Cultural Association, meditation center, and archeological
museum. Nature lovers can take a strip to the Tamkuhi forest
area, which also has a forest rest house for staying overnight.
SITES NEARBY
Fifty-one kilometers off Kushinagar is Gorakhpur, an
important city of eastern Uttar Pradesh. At Gorakhpur is the
Rahul Sanskrityayan Museum, which has an excellent collection
of Thanka paintings and relics of the Buddha. The water sports
complex at Ramgarh Tal Planetarium and the Gorakhnath Temple
in the city are also worth a visit.
Kapilavastu (Piprahwa) is situated 148 km from Kushinagar
and is an important Buddhist pilgrimage. Kapilavastu was the
ancient capital of the Sakya clan ruled by Gautama Buddha’s
father.
Situated in Nepal at a distance of 122 km from Gorakhpur,
Lumbini is the birthplace of Lord Buddha. There are
regular buses to the Nepalese border, from where the remaining
26 km has to be covered by private vehicles.
ACCOMMODATION
With the increasing popularity of Kushinagar as a major Buddhist
attraction, several standard and budget hotels have opened
up. Another option is to stay in the dharamshalas, which are
cheap and provide good basic services.
HOW TO REACH
By Air
The nearest airhead is located at Varanasi from where one
can take flights to Delhi, Calcutta, Lucknow, and Patna.
By Rail
Kushinagar does not have a railway station. The nearest railway
station is at Gorakhpur (51 km), which is the headquarters
of Northeastern Railways and linked to important destinations.
Some important trains to Gorakhpur are Bombay–Gorakhpur–Bandra
Express, New Delhi–Barauni–Vaishali Express, Cochin–Gorakhpur
Express, Shaheed Express, Amarnath Express, and Kathgodam
Express.
By Road
Kushinagar is well connected to other parts of the state of
Uttar Pradesh by bus. There are regular buses to Gorakhpur
(51 km), Lumbini (173 km), Kapilavastu (148 km), Sravasti
(254 km), and Sarnath (266 km), and Agra (680 km).
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