India is one of the few countries that have a rich population that follows Buddhist faith. This can be due to two reasons. The first reason is that Gautam Buddha was born in India, in the city of Lumbini somewhere in the Northern India. Some people say Lumbini is actually in Nepal but since there is not much documentation, it does not make any difference. Also, when in India, you can cross the border to Nepal without any requirement of special documents.
The second reason why there are so many followers of Buddhist faith in India is the presence of exiled Tibetan leader Dalai Lama. The honorable Lama is currently the head of main monastery in Tibet that is occupied by China. When Dalai Lama sought asylum in India, many of his followers came with him to India - bringing with them, the religious teachings of Buddhism. Since there is not much difference between the Hindu and Buddhism religion, you will find many Hindus following both faiths at the same time. Most of such people can be found in the sacred city of Sarnath, near Kashi (also known as Varanasi).
When it comes to Buddhist pilgrimage in India, there are many places that have been an attraction for not only the people of Buddhist faith but also for admirers of art and sculpture. Among the must visit places of Buddhist faith is Sarnath. When Lord Buddha got enlightenment about the realities of life and its problems, he went to Sarnath and shared his learnings there with fellow people who were seeking answers to the miseries of life. It is also said that when the king of Kashi came to know about Buddha, he donated a deer park to his monastery in Sarnath. The deer park stands till date and has been well kept.
You can also find medieval structures related to Kashi rulers in some parts of Sarnath. There is a monastery with a huge idol of Buddha. Sarnath was identified by the king turned Buddhist Ashoka who installed a Stupa there with the inscriptions related to Buddhist teachings. The image of four headed lion seen in Indian government's emblem is derived from the emblem on this Stupa. Sarnath also houses a museum with literature and artifacts on Buddha. Owing to all these features, Sarnath is a must visit place when on a Buddhist pilgrimage.
Another important place that you should not miss when on a Buddhist pilgrimage is the Buddhist caves or Ajanta caves as they are called. These are very old caves that contain paintings related to Jataka tales. It is believed that Lord Buddha took many more births before he came to earth as Buddha. The Jataka tales are related to his previous births and each tale carries one or more morals related to Buddhism. You might notice parts of paintings chopped off due to the constant exposure of these caves to winds etc.
Another not to miss place is Kushinagar. This is the place where Buddha attained nirvana and left for heavenly abode. Kushinagar tours are available with tour operators facilitating Buddhist pilgrimage. They can be separate tours or ones combined with other tours. For details, contact your tour provider.
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