Buddhism is not only a religion but also a way of life. Buddhism is one of the primary and oldest religions in the world. It was established in India between the 6th and 4th centuries BC. Born as Siddhartha, Gautama Buddha was the founder of Buddhism. His teachings are not only accepted all over the world today.
Not only this, the Buddhist temples established by the followers of Buddhism are also quite different from other traditional temples. Not only in India but there are many Buddhist temples located all over the world, which you must visit once. So, today in this article we are telling you about some of the best Buddhist temples located around the world-
Shwedagon Pagoda
The Shwedagon Pagoda is the most sacred Buddhist temple in Yangon, Burma. There is no record of the origin of the Shwedagon. But still, it is believed that the pagoda was built by the Mon during the Bagan period. The temple complex is full of dazzling lights and colourful stupas. The main attraction of this temple is the 99-meter-high main stupa, which is covered with gold.
Mahabodhi Temple
The Mahabodhi Temple, located in Bodh Gaya, India, is considered the most sacred place in Buddhism. The Mahabodhi Temple is located at the heart of Buddhism, so it is no wonder that it is so revered. In 531 BC, the Buddha attained enlightenment under a Bodhi tree in the Mahabodhi temple complex. About 250 years after the enlightenment of Gautam Buddha, Emperor Ashoka got the temple built here in the 5th and 6th centuries.
Todaiji Temple
Todaiji Temple is the most important Buddhist temple in Japan. In the present day, very little remains of the original design of this temple. Let us tell you that this temple was built by Emperor Shomu in the 8th century. One of the most important buildings in the temple is the Daibutsuden, or Great Buddha Hall, which is the largest wooden building in the world.
Yumbulagang Monastery
Yumbulagang Monastery holds a special significance in Tibet. It served as the palace of the first Tibetan king during the reign of NyatriTsenpo. Its name means palace of mother and son in Tibetan. However, the palace became a monastery under the rule of the fifth Dalai Lama. Later, due to some reasons, it was badly damaged. After this, it was reconstructed in the year 1983.
Boudhanath
Boudhanth is a famous Buddhist stupa and pilgrimage centre located in the eastern part of Kathmandu. It is considered one of the largest stupas in the world. Many Tibetan refugees live in Boudhanth, the centre of Tibetan Buddhism. Since 1979 it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In the year 2015, due to the earthquake in Nepal, the Boudhanth Stupa suffered a lot of damage. Even its spire was broken. Later it was reconstructed.
Jokhang
It is the holiest site of Tibetan Buddhism, located in Lhasa, Tibet. It attracts many pilgrims every year. This temple was built by King SongtsanGampo in the 7th century. The Mongols tried to destroy the temple several times but the building survived. The main temple is spread over an area of about 25000 square meters.
Image credit- wikipedia