In footsteps of Buddha

The greatest impetus to (the)Buddha’s teachings came from the Indian (emperor) Ashoka who went on a great pilgrimage visiting the important sites that are directly associated with his life – in the footsteps of Lord Buddha.

– Buddhist Heartland brochure [break]

Still today, to embark on a journey following his footsteps on his path of Enlightenment would appeal to both pilgrims and tourists.

Buddhist Circuits, a tourism venture of Himalaya Expeditions, has the historical impetus and the present-day appeal as its foundation. The circuit takes visitors through the most important holy sites of Buddhism: where Lord Buddha was born, attained Enlightenment, preached his first Sermon, and reached Mahaparinirvana.

“The primary four pilgrimage places associated with Buddha’s life and teachings are Lumbini in Nepal, and Bodhgaya, Sarnath, and Kushinagar in India. I want to uniquely promote this circuit as the ultimate Four Dhams of Buddhism,” says Vikram Pandey, President of Himalaya Expeditions.

Pandey has been researching and promoting the circuit within the country and abroad for four years now. Either the beginning or end of October this year will see a trial run of the circuit, but the official launch is scheduled for January 2011, coinciding with the Nepal Tourism Year.

Their tour buses are pertinently named Enlightenment Express. The main itinerary of the Express starts from Lord Buddha’s birthplace, Lumbini, and tours around, making stops at Sravasti, Sarnath, Varanasi, Bodhgaya, Rajgir, Nalanda, Patna, Vaishali, Kushinagar and back again to conclude at Lumbini. But in general, the circuit has four gateways starting from Lumbini, Varanasi, Bodhgaya or Kolkata, adhering to the same circular route.

In Lumbini, where Queen Mayadevi gave birth to Prince Siddhartha Gautam, visitors can take a tour of the sacred garden which contains the site of the birth, the Mayadevi Temple, the Pushkarni Pond and the Ashokan Pillar. The Sacred Garden of Lumbini, a supreme pilgrimage site and a symbol of world peace, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site with monasteries from many Buddhist nations.

The primary points of homage in Bodhgaya where Prince Siddhartha found Enlightenment are the Mahabodhi Temple, the Vajraasana Throne, the holy Bodhi Tree, the Animeshlochana Chaitya, The Ratnachankramana, the Ratnaghara and Rajayatna tree.

The splendid Dhamekha Stupa, originally erected by Emperor Ashoka, and the famous lion capital pillar, now the proud symbol of India, are the major attractions at Sarnath, the place where the Buddha delivered his first sermon after achieving enlightenment.

At Kushinagar in eastern Uttar Pradesh in India, the Buddha fell ill and left this world. Important places to see here are the Mukatanabandhana Stupa and the Gupta-period Reclining Budhha statue in red sandstone.

“There are some tour packages of the holy Buddhist sites through India but they rarely promote Nepali tourism and economy,” shares Pandey and adds, “With the Buddhist circuit, we want to change that and place Nepal in the highest prominence amongst the Buddhist pilgrimage sites.”

Once officially launched, the circuit will enable travelers to savor the great appeal of Buddhism and a wealth of symbolic and religious art forms, archaeology and architecture.

From the moment of the Budhha’s birth, his teachings, spiritual struggles, attainment of enlightenment, great meditations, and message of peace and non-violence are as relevant to our life and times as it was in his day, says the Buddhist Heartland brochure.

And amidst the maddening modernity of our society, it surely will be worth following in His footsteps for an enriching spiritual experience.