India, the cradle of Buddhism, is home to many sacred shrines of Buddhism. Lumbini (in Nepal), Bodh Gaya in Bihar, Sarnath and Kusinagar in Uttar Pradesh, where the four key events of the Buddha’s life, namely birth, attainment of enlightenment, deliverance of the first sermon and death took place respectively, are looked upon with great reverence. To these are added four other places which were also intimately associated with the Buddha’s life. These are Shravasti, Sankasya, Rajagriha and Vaishali. These eight places have all along been considered as the eight holy places (ashtamahasthanas) and are well-known pilgrimage destinations.
With the decline of Buddhism, all the Buddhist shrines fell into neglect. They bore the burnt of invaders, and were either destroyed or plundered. The shrines in western India were however lucky. Being mostly in the shape of rock-cut caves, they were covered with natural growth and became out of the bounds for the destroyers. Most of the ancient shrines unearthed by the archaeologists and explorers have since been restored and developed as religious-cum-tourist centres.
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