Devdaha


Birth Place of Mother Maya Devi, mother of Siddhartha Gautam

Devdaha is the ancient capital of the Koliya kingdom and is 54 km east of Lumbini across the Rohini River. It is close to the East-West Highway that passes from Narayanghat to Butwal.

It is the maternal hometown of Queen Maya Devi, Prajapati Gotami (Siddhartha’s stepmother), and Princess Yashodhara (his consort). Seven years after his Enlightenment, Lord Buddha is believed to have visited Devdaha and ordained followers of Jain Sadhu Nirgrantha Nathputra. There are several other sites around Devdaha including Kumarbarti, Khayardanda, Bairimai/Kanyamai, Bhabanipur/Devidamar, and Matthagadi (ancient weapons). On the occasion of Buddha Jayanti, a huge colourful procession takes place from Lumbini to Devdaha. 

Accessibility

It is on the way from Narayanghat to Butwal near Parasi. One can reach there in one hour from Butwal. Similarly, it takes three hours from Narayanghat and two hours from Bhairahawa.

Itinerary

Locations on Buddhist Circuit

Buddhist Circuit , Nepal

Ancient Kapilvastu

Ancient Kapilvastu

Historically, Kapilvastu is believed to be named after Saint Kapil. The Buddha visited Kapilvastu a few times during his life. It is also said that the first nunnery in Buddhist history was established in Kapilvastu by Buddha’s stepmother, Mahaprajapati Gotami.

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Devdaha

Devdaha

Devdaha is the ancient capital of the Koliya kingdom and is 54 km east of Lumbini across the Rohini River. It is close to the East-West Highway that passes from Narayanghat to Butwal.

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Ramagrama

Ramagrama

Ramagrama is a brick mound on the banks of the Jharahi River. It is a seven-meter high brick stupa containing one of the Astha Dhatu (relics) of Lord Buddha. The King of Ramagrama, the eighth king to obtain the Buddha's relics is said to have built the stupa.

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Lumbini Sacred Garden

Lumbini Sacred Garden

Lumbini is the birthplace of Prince Siddhartha Gautam who later became Lord Buddha. It is believed that he took his first seven steps right after birth and uttered an epoch-making message to the suffering humanity. This happened in a beautiful sal grove, which is now the focal point of the Lumbini Garden area.

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Mayadevi Temple

Mayadevi Temple

Maya Devi Temple is the heart of all monuments at this holy site. The temple complex bears testimony of several phases of construction over the centuries. It was fully restored and reopened in 2003 during the celebration of the 2,547th auspicious birth anniversary of Lord Buddha. Inside the temple, there are remains of structures of the early Maya Devi Temple that dates back from the 3rd century B.C. to 7th century A.D. The upper floor remains open for meditation.

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Namo Buddha

Namo Buddha

The pilgrimage site of Namo Buddha is about 40 km from Boudhanath Stupa. Located on slightly elevated land, it is a pleasant and out-of-the-way place. The landscape below resembles an eight-petalled lotus, and the sky above has the form of a wheel with nine spokes. In the summertime, southern winds bring coolness; in wintertime, the warm, gentle sun is like the clear and radiant face of youth. The flowers bloom bright and are multi-coloured.

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Swayambhu

Swayambhu

As per a popular myth, when Bodisatwo Manjushree, who hailed from Mount Wutaishan in China but lived in Lhasa, was traveling toward the south via the high ridges of Shivapuri, Kakani, Nagarjun, and Chandragiri of present-day Kathmandu, he saw a constant light radiating from a lotus in the big lake in the valley down below.

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Bouddha Stupa

Bouddha Stupa

The Bouddhanath Stupa is one of the largest stupas in the world and is the centre of Tibetan Buddhism in the valley. It is located 6 km east of the main city centre of Kathmandu. It is also included in the list of UNESCO’s World Heritage of mankind monuments.

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Kapan Monastery

Kapan Monastery

It is situated in a hillock north of Bouddhanath and is one of the most famous monasteries in Nepal. It belongs to Gelukpa (yellow hat) order of Tibetan Buddhism. There is a huge statue of Tsnokhapa inside the monastery. The Dalai Lama belongs to Gelukpa order.

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Kudan

Kudan

Kudan, which is the ancient site of Nyigrodharama, is another important historical site related to Buddha. It is about 6 km (3.5 miles) from Tilaurakot.

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Niglihawa (Niglisagar)

Niglihawa (Niglisagar)

Niglihawa is identified as the holy place where Kanakamuni Buddha, one of the four Primordial Buddhas, was born. It is about 7 km northeast of Taulihawa. Emperor Ashoka visited the site in 249 B.C. and erected a stone pillar with an inscription on it.

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Gotihawa

Gotihawa

It is believed that Gotihawa is the place of one of the four Primordial Buddhas known as Krakuchhanda. It is located about 5 km southwest of Taulihawa. Gotihawa is identified as the holy native place of Krakuchhanda Buddha.

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Sagarhawa

Sagarhawa

Sagarhawa is the forest site where the ruins of an ancient pond were excavated in 1895. Sagarhawa is located about 12 km north of Taulihawa. Archaeologists have identified this site as the ‘Palace of the Massacre of the Shakyas’ by King Virudhaka the son of Prasenajita of the kingdom of Koshala. The ruins of the ancient site lie on the west and south banks of the large rectangular pond, which is locally known as Lumbu Sagar or long pond in then Niglihawa village.

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Buddhist Circuit , India

Bodhgaya: Site of Enlightenment

Bodhgaya: Site of Enlightenment

Bodh means wisdom, knowledge, revelation and Buddha means the one who has comprehended, perceived and known the truth. Buddha was born as the son of the king of Kapilvastu. He left behind his princely life at the age of 29 and wandered for six years in the northern plains of India in search of truth.

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Sarnath

Sarnath

After his enlightenment, Buddha moved around the Bodhi tree (Bodhgaya) and devoted himself to his own personal perfection. Buddhist literature tells us that Buddha was reluctant to preach the Dhamma, most likely because the finding was so very profound and difficult to grasp.

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Rajagriha

Rajagriha

Rajagriha was the capital of the Magadha Empire for centuries. According to the Purana (ancient Indian scriptures), before King Bimbisara made Rajagriha his capital in 6th BCE, more than 35 kings had already ruled from there.

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Vaishali

Vaishali

In the times of Buddha, Vaishali was the capital of Vaj Republic. Vaj was one of the 16 Mahajanapadas (great republics) that existed at the time. Several clans lived in the state of Vaj of which the Licchavi and the Videha were dominant.

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Shravasti

Shravasti

According to Buddhist literature, Shravasti was the capital town of Kosala and one of the six great Indian cities during the lifetime of the Buddha. Buddha first visited Shravasti on the invitation of Anathapindika (born Sudatta), a rich merchant from Shravasti. Anathapindika wished to make an offering of a monastery to Buddha at his hometown Shravasti.

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Sankashya

Sankashya

Sankasya (also Sankisa, Sankassa) is one of the ‘Eight Great Places’ of the Buddhist pilgrimage. It was here that Buddha performed the miracle of the ‘Descent from the Heavens, accompanied by Indra and Brahma’.

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Kushinagara

Kushinagara

As mentioned in the Mahaparinirvana Sutta, the last journey of the Buddha to attain Mahaparinirvana at Kushinagara began at Griddhakuta, Rajagriha. Moving in stages, the Buddha and Sangha reached Vaishali, where the Buddha announced his impending parinirvana to the sangha.

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Atthamahathanani

Atthamahathanani

According to the Mahaparinirvana Sutra (the sutra of the Great Demise), in the last discourse of the Buddha (6th BCE), he spoke about the sacredness of certain places associated with his life. These were: (i) Lumbini: the place where he was born; (ii) Bodhgaya: the place where he attained Enlightenment; (iii) Sarnath:

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Griddhakuta -Vulture’s Peak

Griddhakuta -Vulture’s Peak

During his visits to Rajagriha, Buddha used to stay at Veluvana and after having his only meal for the day, he would pace the path up to Griddhakuta. Buddha was drawn to the solitude of Griddhakuta.

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