Route
The classical Attha-mahathanani — four life sites plus four miracle places of early Buddhist pilgrimage.
Beyond the four sites named in the Mahāparinibbāna Sutta, commentarial tradition elevates Shravasti, Rajgir, Sankassa, and Vaishali — completing the Eight Great Places.
8 mapped anchors on the circuit.
1LumbiniNepalBirthplace of Siddhartha Gautama — the starting point of the Buddha’s life and of the classical pilgrimage circuit.
2Bodh GayaIndiaSite of the Buddha’s awakening under the Bodhi tree — the spiritual heart of Buddhist pilgrimage.
3SarnathIndiaWhere the Buddha gave the first teaching (Dhammacakkappavattana) after awakening.
4KushinagarIndiaPlace of the Buddha’s parinirvana — the final of the four great life sites.
5ShravastiIndiaWhere the Buddha spent many rains retreats at Jetavana Monastery.
6RajgirIndiaAncient capital of Magadha and site of Vulture Peak, where many Mahayana sutras are set.
7Sankassa (Sankisa)IndiaOne of the Eight Great Places — where tradition says the Buddha descended from Trāyastriṃśa heaven.
8VaishaliIndiaLicchavi republic city linked to early sangha history and the Buddha’s final journey north.
