Buddhism is one of the most followed religions of all time. It signifies peace, harmony, non-violence, and even helps a person to be kind-hearted and never have a bad thought for another person.
Buddhist stupas are considered to be holy places that were built at the most visited places by Lord Buddha.
These places are not just religious but even give us an idea of the 3rd and the 4th century when most of the stupas were built.
Not many people are aware of their existence. Thus, we have brought to you the list of 12 Buddhist Stupas which should be visited at least once in your lifetime!!
1) Great Stupa, Sanchi, Madhya Pradesh
This is one of the oldest Buddhist stupas and was built in the reign of Mauryan Emperor Ashoka in the 3rd Century. It is one of the largest and is considered to be of great significance for the people following Buddhism.
It is said to be a shelter to the ashes of Buddha. The structure of the dome has elements that symbolize the daily life emotions of a person. This historical place is a must-visit to endeavour new qualities and a feeling of satisfaction.
2) Dhamek Stupa, Sarnath, Uttar Pradesh
The place is considered to be of great significance as people say that Lord Buddha performed meditation here. This stupa was originally built in 249 Bc and then was replaced in 500 Bc. This monument too was built under the rule of Mauryan Emperor Ashoka.
This Indian stupa is considered to be holy and is situated 13 km away from Varanasi. A beautiful portrayal of Buddhist art and architecture is visible here.
3) Bavikonda Stupa, Andhra Pradesh
The original year in which this Buddhist stupa was built is still unclear but the fact that is very clear is that all the elements which make Buddhism religion worth worshipping are found here. The stupa has more than 25 structures and is popular for its shrines, temples, and galleries. It is one of the oldest sacred sites in India.
4) Chaukhandi Stupa, Sarnath, Uttar Pradesh
Well, we are back to Sarnath to tell you about another Buddhist stupa situated there! It was originally built between the 4th and the 6th centuries and was later modified to make an octagonal structure. It is now maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India and was declared of “National Importance” in the year 2019.
5) Rambhar Stupa, Kushinagar, Uttar Pradesh
Also known as Mukutbandhan-Chaitya in ancient scriptures of Buddhism, Rambhar Stupa is the next one in our list of Buddhist stupas. This Buddhist stupa was built around 483BC and is located 1.5km away from the Nirvana Temple. It is said that this stupa was built just after the death of Lord Budhha.
6) Kesaria Stupa, Bihar
The Buddist Stupa was built in the 2nd century Bc and is considered to be a holy place. It was probably built under the rule of Emperor Ashoka of the Mauryan Dynasty. The place was discovered in the 19th century. It is in Champaran(east).
7) Animesh Lochan Stupa at Mahabodhi Temple, Bodh Gaya, Bihar
This is a place that is considered to be one of the prime places to connect with Lord Buddha to form a soul to soul connection. This Lord Buddha stupa was where he spent seven days without blinking his eyes for 7 days.
8) Anathapindika Stupa, Shravasti, Uttar Pradesh
A Buddhist Stupa located in the Plains of northern India, it was during the rule of King Prasenjit and continued till the Gupta dynasty period. The place is considered to be of great significance and is an important place for all the followers of Buddhism.
9) Angulimala Stupa, Shravasti, Uttar Pradesh
This stupa has a hidden story to it which is known by a lesser number of people and is one of the major monuments of Shravasti. The place is recognized as one of the famous disciples of Lord Buddha. The story of Angulimala teaches us about the great revolution in abolishing the caste system.
10) Adduru Buddhist Stupa, Andhra Pradesh
This popular Buddhist stupa was built under the reign of Emperor Ashoka and was called “Mahakshetram”. The place is famous for a foundation stone laid by Ashoka’s daughter who was also a Buddhist nun. The place consists of two up-stupas with a wheel-like structure.
11) Amaravati Stupa, Andhra Pradesh
The specific era of the foundation of the stupa is not known but is said to be built around the 3rd century under the rule of King Ashoka. The site was damaged and the archaeological remains of the site are now distributed to many Indian Museums. The place is now maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India.
12) Maha Stupa at Thotlakonda, Andhra Pradesh
There is something special about this stupa as it was found by our Indian Navy when they were trying to set a Base Camp!! When this Stupa came to light, the Maharashtra government conducted major Archaeological activities to find out the significance and the time of its construction. The foundations of this stupa were laid in the early 2nd century and it still stands strong!
13) Shanti Stupa at Dhauli Giri, Odisha
As the name suggests this place is famous for its peaceful environment and is a place visited by masses regularly. The scriptures, the parikrama hall, and the sayings of Lord Buddha made this place desirable and worth visiting.
14) Stupa at Deur Kothar, Madhya Pradesh
This Buddhist stupa was discovered in 1982 and was built in the times of Emperor Ashoka. The site was declared of national importance in the year 1988. The site has 4 stupas that have rock oil paintings painted on the old walls and scriptures written in the Brahmi Language.
15) Bharhut Stupa, Madhya Pradesh
The sculptures present at this Buddhist Stupa represent harmony, peace, and various other things related to Buddhist Art and Culture. Many of its remains are now placed in the National Museum of Kolkata. There is 1 total of 136 scriptures written on the wall with the names of the donors who helped in building the monument.
16) Shanti Stupa, Leh, Jammu and Kashmir
This is a beautiful stupa which was built in 1990 by a Japanese Monk and is painted white. The Stupa is one of the most visited Buddhist places in India because of its religious importance and the breathtaking view visible from the monument.
17) Dro-Dul Chorten Stupa, Sikkim
Situated in Gangtok, this Buddhist stupa was built in 1945 by the head Nigmya order of Tibetian Buddhism. There is a complete set of religious books and the stupa is surrounded by 108 prayer wheels which are even referred to as “Mani Lokhar”.
18) Namgyalam Stupa, Dharamshala, Uttar Pradesh
The stupa was built in the honour of the Tibetan Soldiers who lost their lives in the war for the freedom of Tibet. Gautam Budhha images and notes are crafted there, and the architectural structure resembles the monuments made in the 3rd century.
19) Clement Town Stupa, Dehradun, Uttarakhand
The place is a shelter to the world’s largest stupa and is a place that is often visited by tourists with enthusiasm. The stupa is believed to be painted by more than 50 artists, and it took 3 years to make its structure!
20) Gorsam Chorten, Arunachal Pradesh
Surrounded by India-China Border, this Buddhist stupa is a must-visit as it is just 85 km away from Tawang, and will replenish your soul to give you the best time of your life!!
We all often praise the beauty lying outside our country and fail to recognize the inner beauty of our Nation. The list of these stupas is not just for all the people who are followers of Buddhism but for those who believe in peace, harmony and want to explore their own country by capturing all the beautiful stupas in their phone’s memory!!
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