Buddha Purnima 2025: List of Famous Buddhist Monasteries in India You Must Visit For a Serene Experience

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Buddha Purnima 2025: Also known as Buddha Jayanti, Buddha Purnima is celebrated to mark the birth of Gautama Buddha, the founder of Buddhism. The festival has a significant importance in Asian countries, including the South, Southeast, and East Asia. Buddha Purnima is celebrated with great devotion, especially among Buddhist nations and communities. It is a potent reminder of the everlasting lessons of compassion, wisdom, and inner serenity.   

Buddhism in India

Around the sixth century BCE, Siddhartha Gautama, the first Buddha, brought Buddhism to India. His teachings provided the Eightfold Path and the Four Noble Truths as a means of achieving freedom from suffering.   

In the third century BCE, Buddhism prospered under Ashoka, the Mauryan Emperor, and expanded throughout India and beyond. Various schools of thought, such as Mahayana and Theravada, came into existence. Important educational institutes like Nalanda and Taxila rose to prominence.   

Buddhism had a long-lasting influence on Indian philosophy, art, and culture, before its decline in India after the 12th century. In the twentieth century, Buddhism was revived in India, particularly among underprivileged people. Today, India has significant Buddhist shrines and a growing Buddhist community.

Buddhist Monasteries in India

India is home to many sacred locations and exquisite monasteries that bear witness to the Buddha’s enduring legacy. These monasteries, which are frequently infused with centuries of history and spiritual vitality, become thriving hubs of activity around Buddha Purnima. Check out the list of famous Buddhist monasteries you must visit to experience peace and serenity.  

Mahabodhi Temple, Bodh Gaya (Bihar)

This historic temple is a UNESCO World Heritage site that commemorates the exact area where Siddhartha Gautama attained enlightenment under the Bodhi tree and became the Buddha. It is regarded as the most sacred site in Buddhism, drawing pilgrims and visitors from all over the world. 

Tawang Monastery (Arunachal Pradesh)

Tawang Monastery is India’s largest monastery and the world’s second largest, after the Potala Palace in Lhasa. It belongs to the Gelugpa sect of Tibetan Buddhism and houses a large number of precious Buddhist books, statues, and thangkas.   

Sarnath Temple and Dhamek Stupa (Uttar Pradesh)

Sarnath is where the Buddha delivered his first sermon after achieving enlightenment, initiating the Wheel of Dharma. The Dhamek Stupa, a large cylindrical monument, commemorates this sacred site.  

Thiksey Monastery (Leh-Ladakh)

Thiksey Monastery is a beautiful complex of whitewashed structures arranged on a hilltop. It belongs to the Gelugpa order and contains many stupas, statues, thangkas, and a stunning figure of Maitreya Buddha.

Mahaparinirvana Temple, Kushinagar (Uttar Pradesh)

This temple commemorates the location where the Buddha achieved Parinirvana (final liberation) after his death. It houses a massive reclining figure of the Buddha, which represents his death. 

Rumtek Monastery, Gangtok (Sikkim)

Rumtek Monastery, sometimes called the Dharmachakra Centre, is one of Sikkim’s largest and most prominent monasteries. It is the home of the Karma Kagyu branch of Tibetan Buddhism and is renowned for its gorgeous architecture, elaborate murals, and sacred artifacts.

Hemis Monastery (Leh-Ladakh)

Hemis is Ladakh’s largest and wealthiest monastery, and it belongs to the Drukpa Kagyu lineage. It is known for its yearly Hemis festival, which features colourful masked dances. The monastery has a number of antique thangkas, including a huge one that is only presented every twelve years.

Golden Pagoda, Namsai (Arunachal Pradesh)

The Golden Pagoda (Kongmu Kham) is a magnificent Buddhist pagoda in Namsai, designed in the Burmese style. It is an important center for the Theravada Buddhist community in Arunachal Pradesh.

Sanchi Stupa, Sanchi (Madhya Pradesh)

The Great Stupa of Sanchi, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is one of India’s oldest stone buildings and a significant early Buddhist landmark. Emperor Ashoka commissioned the stupa in the third century BCE, and its beautifully carved gateways (toranas) portray incidents from the Buddha's life and the Jataka tales.   

Vaishali (Bihar)

Vaishali, a historic city with a rich Buddhist history, is where the Buddha gave his final lecture and revealed his impending Parinirvana. It was also the site of the Second Buddhist Council.

Mindrolling Monastery, Dehradun (Uttarakhand)

Mindrolling is one of India’s largest Buddhist monasteries, known for its stunning architecture, expansive gardens, and the Great Stupa, which stores sacred relics and provides panoramic vistas. 

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