The most important places in Buddhism are located in the Indo-Gangetic Plain of southern Nepal and northern India. This is the area where Gautama Buddha was born, lived, and taught, and the main sites connected to his life are now important places of pilgrimage for both Buddhists and Hindus. Many countries that are or were predominantly Buddhist have shrines and places which can be visited as a pilgrimage.
Gautama Buddha himself had identified the following four sites most worthy of pilgrimage for his followers, observing that these would produce a feeling of spiritual urgency:[1]
In addition the four sites mentioned earlier (Lumbini, Bodh Gaya, Sarnath and Kushinagar), the Buddhist texts later written by Buddha's followers also mention four more sacred sites where a certain miraculous event is reported to have occurred, thus completing the list of "Attha-mahathanani" (Pali for "The Eight Great Places") in India:[2]
Place of the subduing of Nalagiri, the angry elephant, through friendliness. Rajgir was another major city of ancient India, with Nalanda nearby (14 km), a major center of Mahayana Buddhist learning.
Place of receiving an offering of honey from a monkey. Vaishali was the capital of the Vajjian Republic of ancient India.
Place of the Twin Miracle, showing his supernatural abilities in performance of miracles. Sravasti is also the place where Buddha spent the largest amount of time, being a major city in ancient India.
Place of the descending to earth from Tavatimsa heaven (after a stay of 3 months teaching his mother the Abhidhamma).
See main article: Buddhist pilgrimage sites in India.
Some other pilgrimage places in India and Nepal connected to the life of Gautama Buddha are mostly located in the Gangetic plain.
Please help expand this incomplete list.
In the order of places traveled by Buddha. Please help expand this incomplete list.
Other famous places for Buddhist pilgrimage in various countries include:
Punakha Dzong, Chimi Lhakhang Temple, Kyichu Lhakhang, Kurje Lhakhang, Gangtey Monastery, Gomphu Kora, Chagri Dorjeden Monastery, Dzongdrakha Monastery, Phajoding Monastery
Wat Botum, Wat Ounalom, Silver Pagoda, Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom
Yungang Grottoes, Longmen Grottoes. The Four Sacred Mountains namely Wǔtái Shān(五台山), Éméi Shān(峨嵋山), Jiǔhuá Shān(九华山).
Sanchi, Nalanda, Ellora, Ajanta, also see Buddhist pilgrimage sites in India
Kyoto, Nara, Shikoku Pilgrimage, Kansai Kannon Pilgrimage
Kek Lok Si, Buddhist Maha Vihara, Brickfields
Shwedagon Pagoda, Mahamuni Buddha Temple, Kyaiktiyo Pagoda, Bagan, Sagaing Hill, Mandalay Hill
Erdene Zuu Monastery, Gandantegchinlen Monastery, Zayiin Gegeen Monastery, Gandantegchinlen Khiid Monastery, Amarbayasgalant Khiid, Shankh Monastery
Maya Devi Temple, Boudhanath, Swayambhunath, Kapilavastu
Gandhara, most notably Taxila and Swat.
Anuradhapura (the Atamasthana or 'eight places'), Mihintale, Polonnaruwa, the Temple of the Tooth (Kandy), Sri Pada (the Solosmasthana Lewenth places'),
Wat Phra Kaew, Wat Pho, Wat Doi Suthep, Phra Pathom Chedi, Sukhothai, Ayutthaya, Wat Phra Phutthabat, Wat Phra Thaen Dong Rang (Buddha Death bed), Chedi Phukhao Thong, Phra Pathommachedi
Pǔtuó Shān(普陀山), Potala Palace, Mount Kailash, Lake Manasarovar, Lake Nam-tso.
Dâu Pagoda, Hương Pagoda, Mount Yen Tu