Most beautiful temple in India

**Perfection** · 03-22-2007, 03:42 PM

Jain and Buddhist pilgrim centres in ORISSA

Dhauli (8 km, Emperor Ashoka's rock edicts, Peace pagoda), Khandagiri (7 km, 15 Jain caves with carvings of 100 BC), Hathi Gumpha (elephant cave) - King's inscriptions. Udayagiri - Buddhist caves (18 km, 18 caves of 100 BC), Ratnagiri caves near Cuttack.

**Perfection** · 03-22-2007, 03:44 PM

Jain and Buddhist pilgrim centres in WEST BENGAL

Parasnath Jain temple, Kolkatta.

**Perfection** · 03-22-2007, 03:46 PM

Jain and Buddhist pilgrim centres in SIKKIM

Gangtok - Ghoom Buddhist monastery (6 km), Rumtek monastery (24 km).

Tashiding - Monastery, Buddhist pilgrim centre.

**Perfection** · 03-23-2007, 02:15 AM

Jain and Buddhist pilgrim centres in BIHAR

Vaisali (35 km from Hajipur, Patna) - Birth place of Mahavira, ashes of Buddha preserved, Lion pillar at Kolhua (18.3 m high) and Ramkund, Buddhist and Jain pilgrim centre.

BUDH GAYA - Mahabodhini temple (52 m) : World heritage centre, most sacred Buddhist pilgrim centre with Bodhi tree, stupas.

GAYA - 92 km from Patna, nearby stupas and Buddhist caves (Barabar cave); Nalanda - Ruins of ancient university (500 BC), archaeological museum, Buddhist research centre, Pawapuri (23 km, Jain Pilgrim centre, Lord Mahavira the 24th Theerthankara attained Nirvana here, Samosharan and Jalmandir temples are nearby), Rajgir (15 km, Jain pilgrim centre, Ajatshatru's fort (600 BC), museum, Vishwa shanti stupa at Vultutre's peak, hill station, trek to 26 Jain temples in the hill nearby, hot springs and Pippala caves at the Vaihava hills).

**Perfection** · 03-23-2007, 01:57 PM

Buddhist pilgrim centres in UTTAR PRADESH

SARANATH (10 km from Varanasi) : Place of Buddha's first sermon, archaeological museum, monastery, Dhamek stupa (44 m in height and 28 m in diameter), Lion capital.

LUMBINI (Nepal) - A world heritage centre, birth place of Lord Buddha, 96 km from Gorakhpur and 8 km from the border, Buddhist pilgrim centre.

**Perfection** · 03-23-2007, 01:59 PM

Buddhist pilgrim centres in ARUNACHAL PRADESH

BOMDILA - Buddhist temples, handicrafts, scenary.

ITANAGAR - Buddhist temple, Botanical garden, Dony Polo tribal temple.

TAWANG - Buddhist monastery.

VIJAYANAGAR - Remains of Buddhist centre.

**Perfection** · 03-23-2007, 01:59 PM

Buddhist pilgrim centres in HIMACHAL PRADESH

DHARMSHALA - Head quarters of Dalai Lama at Macleodganj, Tibetan handicrafts, hill station.

KYELANG - Monastery on the scenic Manali-Leh route.

**Perfection** · 03-24-2007, 12:49 AM

Buddhist pilgrim centres in JAMMU KASHMIR

LAMAYURU - Monastery (80 km from Kargil on Leh raod).

LEH (434 km from Srinagar at 3512 m) - Mangyal Tsemo, Gompa Tsemo, Spituk monastery (9 km), Shey palace, Tiksey monastery - largest in Ladakh (15 km), Hemis monastery (50 km) - richest monastery in Ladakh.

**Perfection** · 03-24-2007, 12:50 AM

Jain and Buddhist pilgrim centres in KARNATATKA

SHRAVANABELGOLA (52 km from Hassan) - Jain pilgrim centre, Gomateswara statue of 300 BC (17 m) by 640 steps. Head annoying ceremoney once in 12 years (2006).

MANGALORE - Moodabidri Jain temples (35 km, 18 number).

DHARMASTALA - Manjunatha temple and Gomateswara statue.

**Perfection** · 03-24-2007, 05:13 PM

Golden temple, Amritsar : The foundation stone was laid on the first day of Magh Sankranti by the renowned Sufi saint Hazrat Mian Mir of Lahore. Guru Ramdas was the first to excavate the tank and construct a shrine at its centre. Maharaja Ranjit singh took great pains in improving Amritsar in economic and cultural spheres.

The exquisite structure is also known as the Har Mandir with its lumnious exterior plated with gold. Apart from the Har Mandir Sahib and the pool of nectar, there is the Akal Takht where the sacred book of the Sikhs, the Granth Sahib, is returned every evening for the night. The central sikh museum and the Ram garhia minars are some of the other important features in the Golden temple complex.

Yet another important landmark is the Jallianwala Bagh, a short distance from the Golden temple. It was here that 2000 Indians were killed ruthlessly during India's freedom struggle in a firing by Gen Dyer. On the other side of the town lies Ram Bagh, a beautiful garden with a museumhaving a collection of weapons from the Mughal period. Amritsar is 437 km from Delhi, 9 hour by train.