Pilak: Buddhist Pilgrimage Centre in Tripura

                                            Pilak Buddhist Stupa / Image Source

Pilak in South Tripura is an archeological site of immense significance to Buddhism which flourished here from the 8th to the 12th century AD. The excavations at the site have unearthed a fair amount of ancient Buddhist sculptures and artefacts including a stupa, statues of Buddha in meditation and Avalokiteśvara.

Located close to the Bangladesh border, Pilak is an extension of Buddhist sites of Bangladesh and Burma and formed part of the Samatat kingdom in ancient Bengal. The area has been referred to the Chinese pilgrim Hiuen Tsang who visited this area during 637-39 AD. 

Today Pilak attracts thousands of Buddhists from across the world and is fast emerging an important Buddhist pilgrimage site in India.

You can also find a colossal image of Hindu god Surya in a standing posture holding lotus in Pilak. 

How to Reach Pilak

Air: The nearest airport to Pilak is at Tripura's capital Agartala which is 100 km away. The Agartala airport is connected by air with major cities in India. 

Rail: The nearest major railhead is Agartala Railway station. Kanchenjunga Express and Tripura Sundari Express connect Agartala with Kolkata and Delhi respectively by rail. 

Road: Good motorable roads connect Pilak with other parts of Tripura including Agartala. 

Ancient Port City of Kaveripattinam

                                  Buddhist Monastery ruins, Poompuhar / Image Credit

40 km from Chidambram town in the state of Tamil Nadu, Kaveripattinam, now a fishing village in the Mayiladuthurai district, was a great city and the chief port of the Chola empire in ancient India. It had an artificial harbour which was built by soldiers captured by the great Chola ruler Karikala on a raid on Sri Lanka. The greatness of Kaveripattinam finds mention in the great ancient Tamil epics of Silappathikaram (Jewelled Anklet) and Manimekalai.

Manimekalai was written by the poet Seethalai Saathanar, who was a Buddhist. The heroine of Manimekalai, Manimegalai, is the daughter of Kovalan, the son of a wealthy merchant of the city of Kaveripattinam. Her mother was Madavi, a dancer who became a Buddhist nun on hearing of Kovalan’s death. Manimegalai also became a Buddhist nun.

Kaveripattinam (currently Poompuhar), also known as Puhar in ancient India, is home to the ruins of a 4th-5th-century AD Buddhist monastery. According to the 5th century AD Pali commentator Buddhadatta, Theravada Buddhism flourished in Kaveripattinam. He spent some time in this monastery while composing his Abhidhammavatara.

Located at the convergence of river Kaveri and Bay of Bengal, Kaveripattinam was swallowed by the sea and is now only a small village.

Alauddin Masud Shah (1242-46)

Coins of  Alauddin Masud Shah / Image Source

After getting the reigning Mamluk sultan Muizuddin Bahram murdered in 1242, the nobles of Delhi Sultanate raised Ala-ud-din Masud, a grandson of Iltutmish through his son Rukn ud-Din Firuz, to the throne. Muizuddin Bahram, another son of Iltutmish, had succeeded the throne after his sister Raziya Sultana.

Ala-ud-din Masud proved to be a depraved and licentious ruler. In June 1246 the nobles deposed him and put him into prison, where he was murdered. Ala-ud-din Masud had reigned for four year.

In 1246 he was deposed by the nobles and was succeeded to the Slave throne by his cousin Nasiruddin Mahmud (1246–66), grandson of Iltutmish through his son Nasiruddin Mahmud. 

Mysore Palace: Fine Specimen of Indo-Saracenic style of architecture

Mysore Palace / Image Credit

A fine specimen of Indo-Saracenic style of architecture, Mysore Palace is a wonderful feat of engineering which makes it a huge drawcard for millions of tourists every year.  Also known as ‘Amba Palace’, the Mysore Palace was built over a period of 15 years at the beginning of the 20th century at a cost estimated at the time to be around 4 million Indian rupees. A treasure-trove of exquisite sculptures and works of art, the structure features stained glass ceilings and Italian crystal chandeliers. 

This Mysore’s most enduring symbol is a testament to the pomp and grandeur of one of India's notably wealthy princely states-  Wadiyar dynasty.  

Designed by an English architect, Henry Irwin, the Mysore Palace is at its exuberant best during 10-day Dusshera festival when the stunning palace is illuminated at night by thousands of bulbs. 

Mehrangarh Fort

Sheesha Mahal, Mehrangarh Fort / Image credit

Emphatically not to be missed while you're in Jodhpur is a visit to the historic Mehrangarh Fort. This impressive fort, whose ramparts rise from a sheer-sided sandstone outcrop, houses several beautiful palaces, temples and gardens. As you enter the crenelated walls of the fort through its arched gates, it is like stepping into the medieval past. 

 Mehrangarh Fort / Image Credit

Crowning a perpendicular cliff, the Mehrangarh Fort was founded by Rao Jodha in 1459 AD, around which the city grew. Within it, the fort contains the Maharaja's palace, several temples and an extensive garden. Highlights of the fort include Moti Mahal (Pearl Hall), Sheesh Mahal (Mirror Hall), Phool Mahal (Flower Hall), Zenana Deodi where the king’s wives spent their time, Chamunda Mataji Temple and a museum.

Lumbini, the Birthplace of the Lord Buddha

 

 Mayadevi_Temple_in_Lumbini / Image credit

Located in the Rupandehi District in Nepal, Lumbini is the spiritual centre of Buddhism. For Buddhists, a visit to this Buddhist site is one the most important religious and spiritual journeys of their life. The reason is not far to seek. 

It was in Lumbini that the Buddha, one of history’s greatest teachers, was born. Its central temple, Maya Devi Temple, is an obligatory stop on the Buddhist pilgrimage circuit. Unsurprisingly, this UNESCO World Heritage–listed site is a huge drawcard for the Buddhist pilgrims from around the world for centuries. According to the Lumbini Pillar Edict (also known as Rummindei Pillar Inscription) in Nepal, Mauryan Emperor Ashoka travelled to Lumbini in 249 BC and constructed four stupas and erected a stone pillar with a figure of a horse on top.

Lumbini is one of the four main sacred sites of the Buddhist religion. Other three holy places are Bodh Gaya (Tree of Wisdom at Gaya where Buddha gained enlightenment), Sarnath near Varanasi where he preached his first sermon and Kushinagar where he died- all located in India. 

Apart from the Maya Devi Temple, many monasteries and temples of various Buddhist traditions dot the town, built in their national style by foreign Buddhist communities. 

Maya Devi Temple 

The spiritually important Maya Devi Temple marks the exact spot where Siddhartha Gautama, who later came to be known as the Buddha after he attained enlightenment, was born to Queen Maya Devi. On the south of the temple is the holy pond where Maya Devi is believed to have bathed before giving birth to the Buddha. Adjacent to the area are ancient ruins of brick stupas and the Ashokan pillar and a sacred Bodhi tree under which maroon robed monks from different parts of the world congregate to offer prayers and mediate. 

World Peace Pagoda

The brilliant white World Peace Pagoda in Lumbini is one of the several pagodas built by the Japanese Buddhists. Built in 2001 at a cost of US$1 million, the pagoda houses a shining golden statue representing the posture the Buddha took when he was born. 

  

Karla Caves

 

                                                                Karla Caves / Image Credit

8 km from the hill station of Lonavala in Maharashtra, Karla is home to awe-inspiring Buddhist caves dating back to 2nd century BC. The most striking highlight of these caves is the presence of a deep apsidal chaitya hall cut in solid rock which is hailed as the largest in India. Chaitya is a sacred spot or shrine indigenous to Buddhism. Made in the first century BC, the chaitya of Karla is cut 124 feet deep into the rock. Karla cave is much developed in size and splendour when compared to other caves of that period. 

The columns of the chaitya are ornately carved and each of them is set a square stepped plinth. Each of 37 pillars sports a group of horses and elephants with riders to support the roof. The Karla caves have three entrances and splendid relief panels of dampati couples with small carved gable-ends above.  The large windows let light into the hall. 

How to reach Karla Caves 

Rail: Lonavala is the nearest railway station on the Mumbai-Pune section of Central Railway, well connected with other cities and places in India. 

Air: nearest airports to Karla Caves are at Pune and Mumbai which are 55km and 80 km away respectively.  

Road: Karla caves are situated on the National Highway-4 between Mumbai and Pune.