Buddhist Pilgrimage Map: Sacred Sites of India & Nepal by Sector
This Buddhist pilgrimage map shows 49 sacred sites in India and Nepal, grouped into 6 sectors. Use it to see where each site is, which places sit close together, and how to join them into one pilgrimage.
Quick answer: The four main Buddhist pilgrimage sites are Lumbini (birth, Nepal), Bodh Gaya (enlightenment, Bihar), Sarnath (first teaching, near Varanasi) and Kushinagar (Mahaparinirvana, Uttar Pradesh). Together with Rajgir, Vaishali, Shravasti and Sankisa they make the eight great places. Most of them lie in a 600 km belt across Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and southern Nepal.
Buddhist pilgrimage map of India and Nepal (all sectors)
The first map shows one key site from each of the 6 sectors. The core circuit of the Buddha’s life is the dense group in the north-east: Nepal, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.
Route of the eight great places
Nepal sector: Lumbini and Kapilavastu
The birthplace of the Buddha and his childhood kingdom. All seven sites lie within about 60 km of Lumbini, which is 22 km from Gautam Buddha International Airport (Bhairahawa) and 170 km from Kushinagar.
- Maya Devi Temple, Lumbini birthplace of the Buddha
- Tilaurakot (Kapilavastu) palace of King Suddhodana
- Devdaha home of Queen Maya Devi
- Ramagrama Stupa original relic stupa
- Gotihawa Krakuchhanda Buddha site
- Niglihawa Ashoka Pillar Ashokan inscription
- Araurakot Kanakamuni Buddha site
Distances between places in the Nepal sector
| From | To | Approx. road distance | Drive time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bhairahawa airport | Lumbini (Maya Devi Temple) | 22 km | 40 min |
| Lumbini | Tilaurakot (Kapilavastu) | 27 km | 45 min |
| Tilaurakot | Araurakot | 6 km | 15 min |
| Tilaurakot | Niglihawa Ashoka Pillar | 7 km | 20 min |
| Tilaurakot | Gotihawa | 5 km | 15 min |
| Lumbini | Ramagrama Stupa | 45 km | 1.5 hrs |
| Lumbini | Devdaha | 57 km | 1.5–2 hrs |
| Ramagrama | Devdaha | 30 km | 1 hr |
| Lumbini | Kushinagar (India) | 170 km | 4–5 hrs |
Tip: Visit Tilaurakot, Araurakot, Niglihawa and Gotihawa in one half-day loop from Lumbini. Ramagrama and Devdaha make a second half-day trip to the east.
Bihar sector: Bodh Gaya, Rajgir, Nalanda and Vaishali
Where the Buddha became enlightened and taught for many years. Bodh Gaya is 13 km from Gaya airport, with direct flights from Bangkok.
- Mahabodhi Temple, Bodh Gaya enlightenment, UNESCO site
- Rajgir Vulture’s Peak, First Council
- Nalanda Ruins ancient university, UNESCO
- Patna (Pataliputra) Ashoka’s capital, Third Council
- Vaishali last sermon, Ashoka pillar
- Kesaria Stupa one of the tallest stupas
- Lauriya Nandangarh lion pillar and stupa
- Vikramshila Pala-era monastic university
Distances between places in the Bihar sector
| From | To | Approx. road distance | Drive time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gaya airport | Bodh Gaya (Mahabodhi Temple) | 13 km | 30 min |
| Bodh Gaya | Rajgir | 80 km | 2 hrs |
| Rajgir | Nalanda | 15 km | 30 min |
| Nalanda | Patna | 90 km | 2.5 hrs |
| Patna | Vaishali | 55 km | 1.5 hrs |
| Vaishali | Kesaria Stupa | 55 km | 1.5 hrs |
| Kesaria | Lauriya Nandangarh | 95 km | 2.5 hrs |
| Kesaria | Kushinagar (Uttar Pradesh) | 110 km | 3 hrs |
| Rajgir | Vikramshila | 190 km | 5 hrs |
Tip: Rajgir and Nalanda fit in one day from Bodh Gaya. Vaishali and Kesaria fit on the drive north from Patna to Kushinagar.
Uttar Pradesh sector: Sarnath, Kushinagar and Shravasti
The first sermon, the Mahaparinirvana and the longest rains retreats. Our office is in Varanasi, 10 km from Sarnath.
- Dhamek Stupa, Sarnath first sermon
- Varanasi gateway to Sarnath
- Kushinagar Mahaparinirvana
- Shravasti (Jetavana) 24 rains retreats
- Kaushambi Ghositarama monastery
- Sankisa descent from Tavatimsa heaven
Distances between places in the Uttar Pradesh sector
| From | To | Approx. road distance | Drive time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Varanasi airport | Sarnath | 30 km | 1 hr |
| Varanasi city | Sarnath (Dhamek Stupa) | 10 km | 30 min |
| Sarnath | Kushinagar | 260 km | 6–7 hrs |
| Kushinagar | Shravasti | 250 km | 6 hrs |
| Shravasti | Lucknow airport | 170 km | 4 hrs |
| Varanasi | Kaushambi | 180 km | 4 hrs |
| Agra | Sankisa | 175 km | 4 hrs |
Tip: Start in Varanasi for Sarnath, then drive to Kushinagar. Shravasti fits best between Lumbini and Lucknow.
Central India & Maharashtra sector: Sanchi, Ajanta and Ellora
Great stupas and rock-cut caves from the 3rd century BCE to the 8th century CE. Best joined as a 7-day heritage tour.
- Sanchi Stupa Ashoka’s Great Stupa, UNESCO
- Vidisha home of Ashoka’s queen Devi
- Bharhut Stupa early Jataka carvings
- Bagh Caves Gupta-era murals
- Ajanta Caves painted caves, UNESCO
- Ellora Buddhist Caves caves 1–12, UNESCO
- Pandav Leni (Nashik) Hinayana viharas
- Kanheri Caves 109 caves in Mumbai
- Karla Caves largest chaitya hall
- Bhaja Caves 2nd century BCE chaitya
Distances between places in the Central India & Maharashtra sector
| From | To | Approx. road distance | Drive time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bhopal | Sanchi Stupa | 46 km | 1 hr |
| Sanchi | Vidisha | 10 km | 20 min |
| Satna | Bharhut Stupa | 16 km | 30 min |
| Indore | Bagh Caves | 150 km | 3.5 hrs |
| Aurangabad (Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar) | Ellora Caves | 30 km | 45 min |
| Aurangabad | Ajanta Caves | 105 km | 2.5 hrs |
| Aurangabad | Pandav Leni (Nashik) | 190 km | 4 hrs |
| Nashik | Kanheri Caves (Mumbai) | 165 km | 4 hrs |
| Mumbai | Karla Caves | 95 km | 2 hrs |
| Karla Caves | Bhaja Caves | 8 km | 20 min |
Tip: Stay in Aurangabad for Ajanta and Ellora (one day each). Karla and Bhaja fit in a half day on the Mumbai–Pune road.
Odisha & South India sector: Diamond Triangle and Amaravati
Ashoka’s Kalinga, the Odisha Diamond Triangle and the great stupas of the Krishna valley.
- Dhauli Shanti Stupa Kalinga war, Ashoka edict
- Ratnagiri Diamond Triangle
- Udayagiri Diamond Triangle
- Lalitgiri relic casket found
- Amaravati Mahachaitya stupa
- Nagarjunakonda island museum
- Sannati (Kanaganahalli) Ashoka portrait panel
- Maski Ashoka Edict edict naming “Ashoka”
- Kanchipuram home of Bodhidharma
Distances between places in the Odisha & South India sector
| From | To | Approx. road distance | Drive time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bhubaneswar | Dhauli Shanti Stupa | 8 km | 20 min |
| Bhubaneswar | Lalitgiri | 90 km | 2 hrs |
| Lalitgiri | Udayagiri | 8 km | 20 min |
| Udayagiri | Ratnagiri | 10 km | 20 min |
| Vijayawada | Amaravati | 35 km | 1 hr |
| Amaravati | Nagarjunakonda (via Nagarjuna Sagar) | 160 km + boat | 4 hrs + 1 hr boat |
| Kalaburagi | Sannati (Kanaganahalli) | 60 km | 1.5 hrs |
| Sannati | Maski | 200 km | 4.5 hrs |
| Chennai | Kanchipuram | 75 km | 2 hrs |
Tip: Dhauli and the Diamond Triangle (Lalitgiri, Udayagiri, Ratnagiri) fit in one long day from Bhubaneswar.
Himalayan sector: Ladakh, Spiti, Dharamshala, Sikkim and Tawang
Living Vajrayana monasteries. Best visited May to September (Ladakh, Spiti) or March to May and October to November (Sikkim, Tawang).
- Hemis Monastery Ladakh, Hemis festival
- Thiksey Monastery Ladakh, Maitreya statue
- Diskit Monastery Nubra Valley
- Alchi Monastery 11th century murals
- Key Monastery Spiti Valley
- Tabo Monastery founded 996 CE
- Dharamshala (McLeod Ganj) seat of the Dalai Lama
- Rumtek Monastery Sikkim, Karma Kagyu
- Tawang Monastery largest in India
Distances between places in the Himalayan sector
| From | To | Approx. road distance | Drive time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leh | Thiksey Monastery | 19 km | 30 min |
| Thiksey | Hemis Monastery | 26 km | 40 min |
| Leh | Alchi Monastery | 65 km | 1.5 hrs |
| Leh | Diskit (via Khardung La) | 120 km | 4 hrs |
| Kaza | Key Monastery | 14 km | 30 min |
| Kaza | Tabo Monastery | 47 km | 1.5 hrs |
| Dharamshala airport (Gaggal) | McLeod Ganj | 22 km | 45 min |
| Gangtok | Rumtek Monastery | 24 km | 1 hr |
| Tezpur | Tawang Monastery | 320 km | 10–11 hrs |
Tip: These are five separate regions. Plan each one (Ladakh, Spiti, Dharamshala, Sikkim, Tawang) as its own trip, and allow a day to adjust to the altitude in Leh and Kaza.
Distances on the Buddhist circuit map
| From | To | Approx. road distance | Drive time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gaya airport | Bodh Gaya | 13 km | 30 min |
| Bodh Gaya | Rajgir / Nalanda | 80 km | 2.5 hrs |
| Bodh Gaya | Varanasi / Sarnath | 250 km | 5–6 hrs |
| Varanasi | Kushinagar | 260 km | 6–7 hrs |
| Kushinagar | Lumbini (Nepal) | 170 km | 4–5 hrs |
| Lumbini | Shravasti | 250 km | 6–7 hrs |
Pilgrimage tours that follow this map
- Buddhist Circuit Tour from Bangkok – Bodh Gaya, Sarnath, Kushinagar, Lumbini
- Complete Buddhist Circuit India & Nepal (10 Days)
- Varanasi, Sarnath & Bodh Gaya (5 Days)
- Ajanta, Ellora & Sanchi Heritage Tour (7 Days)
- Monk-Led Retreat, Bodh Gaya (8 Days) – meditation with a resident monk
Buddhist pilgrimage map FAQ
Where are the main Buddhist pilgrimage sites in India?
The main sites are Bodh Gaya, Rajgir, Nalanda and Vaishali in Bihar, and Sarnath, Kushinagar, Shravasti and Sankisa in Uttar Pradesh. Lumbini, the birthplace, is just across the border in Nepal.
What are the 4 holy places of Buddhism?
Lumbini (birth), Bodh Gaya (enlightenment), Sarnath (first sermon) and Kushinagar (Mahaparinirvana). The Buddha himself named these four places for pilgrims to visit.
How many days do I need for the Buddhist circuit?
8 to 10 days covers the four holy places plus Rajgir, Nalanda and Vaishali. 12 days lets you add Shravasti and Kapilavastu at a calm pace.
What is the best time to visit Buddhist pilgrimage sites?
October to March is best for Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Lumbini: cool, dry weather and the main festival season in Bodh Gaya. Visit Ladakh and Spiti from May to September.
Which airport is closest to Bodh Gaya?
Gaya International Airport, 13 km away. It has seasonal direct flights from Bangkok, Yangon and Colombo, and daily flights from Delhi and Kolkata.
Can I start the Buddhist circuit from Varanasi?
Yes. Varanasi airport has flights from all major Indian cities, Sarnath is 10 km away, and Bodh Gaya and Kushinagar are each a day’s drive. Prime Value Tours is based in Varanasi.