Think Buddhist circuit and you’ll come up with Bodhgaya, Nalanda, Sarnath and Sanchi. But often overlooked is Kushinagar, the Buddha’s final resting place. This humble town in eastern Uttar Pradesh was the capital of the ancient kingdom of Malla. It was a lost world for over 500 years before its chance rediscovery in the mid-19th century. Although several impressive new Buddhist temples have altered the town’s landscape, its main draws remain the historic stupas and viharas dating to the 3rd century BCE. Among these, the Mahaparinirvana Stupa and temple (the latter houses a stunning 1,500-year-old reclining Buddha) and the Muktabandhan Stupa (representing the Buddha’s cremation site) are the most spectacular. Gorakhpur, 52 km away, is a convenient railhead.
WHERE TO STAY AND EAT
There are a few good accommodation options in Kushinagar. Choose from The Imperial (Tel: 05564-273096/ 97; Tariff: ₹6,000-12,000), Lotus Nikko Hotel (Tel: 273026, Cell: 09935071868; Tariff: ₹4,500-10,500), The Royal Residency (Tel: 273011-14; Tariff: ₹6,500) or UP Tourism’s Rahi Pathik Niwas (Tel: 273045; Tariff: ₹800-2,000) located on Buddha Marg. All have restaurants.
When to go October-March Location Town and district in eastern UP Air Nearest airport: Gorakhpur Rail Nearest rail: Deoria Sadar
THE INFORMATION |
Tourist/ Wildlife Offices Department of Tourism UP Tourism Rajarshi Purshottam Das Tandon Paryatan Bhawan C-13, Vipin Khand Gomti Nagar Lucknow Tel: 0522-2308017, 2308916 W up-tourism.com |
Tourist Office UP Tourism 36, Chandralok Building, Janpath New Delhi Tel: 011-23350048, 23711296, 23322251 Sardhana |
Regional Tourist Office UP Tourism Vikas Bhawan, Meerut Tel: 0121-2656164 STD code 0121 Dudhwa NP |
Deputy Director Dudhwa Tiger Reserve Palia, Kheri Tel: 05871-233485 W dudhwatigerreserve. STD code 05871 Bateshwar |
Tourist Office UP Tourism 64, Taj Road, Agra Tel: 0562-2226431 STD code 0562 |
THE INFORMATION |
National Chambal Sanctuary Deputy Conservator of Forests Chambal Wildlife Division Agra Tel: 0562-2530091 |
Divisional Forest Officer Social Forestry Division Agra Tel: 2331297 STD code 0562 Chitrakoot |
Tourist Office UP Tourism Tourist Bungalow Campus Chitrakoot Dham. Tel: 05198-224218 STD code 05198 Kushinagar |
UPSTDC Pathik Niwas, Buddha Marg Kushinagar. Tel: 05564-273045 STD code 05564 |