Buddhism originated as an offshoot of Hinduism in India, but eventually it became popular all over Asia. The personality and teachings of Gautam Buddha, the founder of this faith, have illumined the lives of millions of people in Japan, China and Southeast Asia.

There are strong lines of similarity between Buddhism and the basic teachings of Hinduism. Buddhism is based on the principle or the law of impermanence. According to this, everything is subject to change, although some things may last longer than others. The other basic principle of Buddhism is the law of causation, according to which nothing occurs due to pure chance. Besides natural forces, it is the karma which leads to the occurrence of all events. The popular notions of the indestructible soul and the cycle of rebirth emerge from these two basic philosophies.

Buddha advocated the Middle Path, in which he offered a balanced, harmonious way of life, steering between two extremes of self-indulgence and total abstinence. Buddhism rests upon four Noble Truths: (i) suffering is universal, (ii) it is caused by desire and yearning (iii) suffering can be prevented and overcome and (iv) eradication of desires can lead to removal of suffering. To prevent suffering one has to conquer craving and desire and this conquest leads to the attainment of nirvana or complete enlightenment.

Ajanta Caves
Way back in1819, a party of British army officers on a tiger hunt in the forest of western Deccan, suddenly spotted their prey, on the far ....More about Ajanta Caves....

Bhaja Caves
Bhaja, a famous Buddhist rock cut shrine of 2nd century is situated 6 kms away from Lonavala in Maharastra. You are to climb almost half a km to reach this....More about Bhaja Caves....

Bodhgaya
The life of Gautam Buddha, the founder of Buddhism, is associated with the small town of Bodhgaya. It is one of the four holiest cities of Buddhist faith. ....More about Bodhgaya....

Dharamshala
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Kapilavastu
110 kms from Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh, Kapilavastu (Piprahwa) on the Gorakhpur Gonda loop-line with Naugarh (35 Kms.) is the nearest railway station ....More about Kapilavastu....

Kaushambi
Kaushambi, 54 kms from Allahabad, was visited by Buddha in the 6th and 9th years after his enlightenment. He delivered several sermons here, elevating it ....More about Kaushambi....

KushiNagar
Kushinagar is situated in the north Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, 51 km off Gorakhpur. The place, which is famous for theMahaparinirvana of Lord Buddha ....More about KushiNagar....

Kanheri Caves
Kanheri Caves is situated in the heart of mumbai's national park.These areBuddhist caves or monasteries where monks practiced their austerities around the ....More about Kanheri Caves....

Karla Caves
The principal cave is the largest Chaitya among Buddhist cave in the country, Being 15meters wide and 16 meters high. The most remarkable feature of the cave ....More about Karla Caves....

Ladakh
Unlike most of the rest of India, the predominant religion in Ladakh is Tibetan (Mahayana) Buddhism. This is a form of Buddhism that has also incorporated ....More about Ladakh....

Nalanda
Nalanda is a small village and its surrounding area have numerous associations with the Buddha and his disciples. Sailo 3 kilometres south-west of Nalanda ....More about Nalanda....

Rajgir
It is located in the Indian state of Bihar about 60 km southeast of the capital Patna. Rajgir is famous for rock-cut caves, forts, Buddhist ruins, shell inscriptions, Hindu ....More about Rajgir....

Rewalsar
Located on a mountain spur, an hour's drive from Mandi brings you to this dark jewel like lake. With water, woodland and high hills, it presents ....More about Rewalsar....

Sanchi
Sanchi is not only a religious place but also has an Archaeological significance. Sanchi is a site for the numerous stupaswhich were built on a hill top. The place is related ....More about Sanchi....

Sarnath
Sarnath is located eight km from Varanasi in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. It is famous as the place where the Buddha first preached his ....More about Sarnath....

Sravasti
Sravasti is situated in the north Indian state of Uttar Pradesh around 176 km off Lucknow. It is a part of the Buddhist circuit that encompasses the states of Uttar ....More about Sravasti....

Spiti
Spiti is the sub division of Lahaul & Spiti district with its hqrs. at Kaza. It is called "Little Tibet" because it has almost the same terrain, vegetation & climate . Spiti also ....More about Spiti....

Tabo
Tabo is located at a height of 3050 metres in the magnificently isolated Spiti valley in Himachal Pradesh.It was the Tibetan year of the Fire Ape and the founder was the ....More about Tabo....

Tawang
The small town of Tawang is located amidst the eastern Himalayan ranges. It is famous for its 400-year-old monastery ....More about Tawang....

Vaishali
Vaishali is situated in the eastern Indian state of Bihar, around 55 km off Patna, the capital of the state. Vaishali extends from latitude 25° in the North to longitude ....More about Vaishali....