{"id":143,"date":"2018-02-19T08:27:40","date_gmt":"2018-02-19T08:27:40","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/atlastravel.in\/blog\/?p=143"},"modified":"2026-06-18T10:01:20","modified_gmt":"2026-06-18T10:01:20","slug":"buddhism-religion-in-india","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.atlastravel.in\/blog\/buddhism-religion-in-india\/","title":{"rendered":"Buddhism Religion in India &#8211; Facts and Details"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The Indian subcontinent is a melting pot of religions, cultures, and faiths. Among them, Buddhism in India holds a place of unique historical and spiritual importance \u2014 born on Indian soil, spread across Asia, and revived in the 20th century.<\/p>\n<p>Buddhism is one of the world\u2019s major religions with approximately 500\u2013550 million followers globally. Prince Siddhartha \u2014 known as Gautama Buddha \u2014 gave up his royal life to seek the cause of human suffering.<\/p>\n<p>Traditionally dated to c. 563\u2013483 BCE (though some modern scholars propose c. 480\u2013400 BCE), the Buddhist philosophy he founded transformed millions of lives across Asia.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Buddhism in India at a Glance: <\/strong>Founder: Gautama Buddha (c. 563\u2013483 BCE) | Core: Four Noble Truths + Eightfold Path | Birthplace: Lumbini, Nepal | Enlightenment: Bodh Gaya, Bihar | First Sermon: Sarnath, UP | Parinirvana: Kushinagar, UP | Global followers: ~500\u2013550 million | India (2011 Census): 8.4 million<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Origin:<\/strong> Founded by Siddhartha Gautama c. 563\u2013483 BCE in the 5th\u20136th century BCE.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Core Beliefs:<\/strong> The Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Key Sites:<\/strong> Bodh Gaya, Sarnath, Lumbini, Kushinagar, Nalanda, Sanchi.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Spread:<\/strong> Across India and Asia under Emperor Ashoka (3rd century BCE).<\/li>\n<li><strong>Decline:<\/strong> Multiple factors including invasions, loss of patronage, and socio-religious changes by the 13th century CE.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Revival:<\/strong> B.R. Ambedkar revived Buddhism in 1956 among Dalit communities.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-6054\" src=\"https:\/\/www.atlastravel.in\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/Buddhism-in-India.webp\" alt=\"Buddhism in India\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.atlastravel.in\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/Buddhism-in-India.webp 1200w, https:\/\/www.atlastravel.in\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/Buddhism-in-India-300x200.webp 300w, https:\/\/www.atlastravel.in\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/Buddhism-in-India-1024x683.webp 1024w, https:\/\/www.atlastravel.in\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/Buddhism-in-India-768x512.webp 768w, https:\/\/www.atlastravel.in\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/Buddhism-in-India-870x580.webp 870w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><\/p>\n<h2>Timeline of Buddhism in India<\/h2>\n<table width=\"624\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"137\"><strong>Year\/Period<\/strong><\/td>\n<td width=\"487\"><strong>Event<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"137\">c. 563 BCE<\/td>\n<td width=\"487\">Birth of Siddhartha Gautama at Lumbini (modern Nepal)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"137\">c. 528 BCE<\/td>\n<td width=\"487\">Gautama Buddha attains enlightenment at Bodh Gaya, Bihar<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"137\">c. 528\u2013483 BCE<\/td>\n<td width=\"487\">Buddha teaches across the Gangetic plains for ~45 years<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"137\">c. 483 BCE<\/td>\n<td width=\"487\">Parinirvana (death) of Gautama Buddha at Kushinagar, UP<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"137\">c. 249 BCE<\/td>\n<td width=\"487\">Emperor Ashoka embraces Buddhism after Kalinga War; propagates it globally<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"137\">c. 7th\u20133rd c BCE<\/td>\n<td width=\"487\">Buddhism spreads across South, East and Southeast Asia<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"137\">427 CE<\/td>\n<td width=\"487\">Nalanda University founded by Emperor Kumaragupta I, Gupta dynasty<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"137\">7th century CE<\/td>\n<td width=\"487\">Chinese pilgrim Xuanzang studies at Nalanda; carries texts to China<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"137\">c. 1193 CE<\/td>\n<td width=\"487\">Bakhtiyar Khilji destroys Nalanda University; Buddhism rapidly declines in India<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"137\">1891 CE<\/td>\n<td width=\"487\">Anagarika Dharmapala founds Maha Bodhi Society; Buddhist revival begins<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"137\">1956 CE<\/td>\n<td width=\"487\">Dr. B.R. Ambedkar converts to Buddhism at Nagpur with hundreds of thousands of followers<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"137\">2002 CE<\/td>\n<td width=\"487\">Mahabodhi Temple, Bodh Gaya designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"137\">2016 CE<\/td>\n<td width=\"487\">Nalanda University ruins designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"137\">2024 CE<\/td>\n<td width=\"487\">New Nalanda University campus inaugurated in Bihar<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h2>Gautama Buddha and the Founding of Buddhism<\/h2>\n<p>Gautama Buddha left his worldly life at the age of 29. Born Siddhartha Gautama into the Shakya clan in Lumbini, he was a prince of Kapilavastu who renounced comfort and luxury in search of answers to human suffering.<\/p>\n<p>After years of practice, he attained enlightenment sitting under a Peepal tree (the Bodhi tree) in Bodh Gaya, Bihar. His first sermon \u2014 the Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta \u2014 was delivered at Sarnath, near <a href=\"https:\/\/www.atlastravel.in\/varanasi\/\">Varanasi<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>At the age of 80, Gautama Buddha attained Parinirvana \u2014 his final liberation from the cycle of rebirth \u2014 at Kushinagar, Uttar Pradesh. His monastic order, the Sangha, continued his teachings after his passing.<\/p>\n<h2>The Four Noble Truths of Buddhism<\/h2>\n<p>The Four Noble Truths form the foundation of Buddhist philosophy:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Life involves suffering (dukkha).<\/li>\n<li>Suffering arises from attachment and craving (samudaya).<\/li>\n<li>Suffering can be ended (nirodha).<\/li>\n<li>The path to ending suffering is the Eightfold Path (magga).<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h2>The Eightfold Path<\/h2>\n<p>The Eightfold Path is Buddha\u2019s practical guide to ending suffering:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Right View:<\/strong> Understanding the Four Noble Truths<\/li>\n<li><strong>Right Intention:<\/strong> Commitment to ethical and mental self-improvement<\/li>\n<li><strong>Right Speech:<\/strong> Truthful, kind, and helpful words<\/li>\n<li><strong>Right Action:<\/strong> Non-harmful, ethical behaviour<\/li>\n<li><strong>Right Livelihood:<\/strong> A means of living that causes no harm<\/li>\n<li><strong>Right Effort:<\/strong> Cultivating positive states of mind<\/li>\n<li><strong>Right Mindfulness:<\/strong> Awareness of body, feelings, and mind<\/li>\n<li><strong>Right Concentration:<\/strong> Deep meditation and mental focus<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>The Three Jewels (Triratna) of Buddhism<\/h2>\n<p>Every Buddhist takes refuge in the Three Jewels, which are the core foundations of Buddhist practice:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>The Buddha:<\/strong> The enlightened teacher and founder \u2014 Siddhartha Gautama.<\/li>\n<li><strong>The Dharma:<\/strong> The teachings of the Buddha \u2014 the Four Noble Truths, Eightfold Path, and all Buddhist philosophy.<\/li>\n<li><strong>The Sangha:<\/strong> The community of monks, nuns, and lay practitioners who follow and preserve the teachings.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The act of taking refuge in the Three Jewels is the formal declaration of becoming a Buddhist and remains central to all Buddhist traditions worldwide.<\/p>\n<h2>History of Buddhism in India<\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-5766\" src=\"https:\/\/www.atlastravel.in\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/Buddhism-Religion-in-India-1.jpg\" alt=\"Buddhism Religion in India\" width=\"900\" height=\"550\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.atlastravel.in\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/Buddhism-Religion-in-India-1.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.atlastravel.in\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/Buddhism-Religion-in-India-1-300x183.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.atlastravel.in\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/Buddhism-Religion-in-India-1-768x469.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.atlastravel.in\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/Buddhism-Religion-in-India-1-870x532.jpg 870w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>By the end of the 3rd century BCE, Buddhism had spread across South Asia through Emperor Ashoka. After his devastating Kalinga War, Ashoka embraced the Buddhist philosophy of non-violence (ahimsa) and propagated it through rock edicts, pillar inscriptions, and missionaries to Sri Lanka, Central Asia, and Southeast Asia.<\/p>\n<p>By the 7th century CE, Buddhism had become one of the most influential religions across Asia \u2014 flourishing in China, Japan, Korea, Thailand, Sri Lanka, and Tibet. In memory of the Buddha, Indian royalty and merchants created beautiful stone structures called stupas across the subcontinent.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Check out<\/strong>: <a href=\"https:\/\/atlastravel.in\/buddhist-tour-packages\/\">Buddhist Tour Packages in India<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Buddhism in Bodh Gaya<\/h2>\n<p>Bodh Gaya in Bihar is the most sacred site in Buddhism \u2014 the place where Gautama Buddha attained enlightenment under the Bodhi tree. The Mahabodhi Temple complex here is a UNESCO World Heritage Site (2002) and the spiritual heart of Buddhist pilgrimage in India.<\/p>\n<p>Temples and monasteries built by Thai, Japanese, Tibetan, Bhutanese, and Chinese Buddhist communities surround the complex. Saffron-robed monks can be seen meditating and lighting candles at the base of the Bodhi tree year-round.<\/p>\n<h2>Sarnath \u2013 The First Sermon of the Buddha<\/h2>\n<p>Sarnath, near Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh, is where Gautama Buddha gave his first sermon to his five disciples after attaining enlightenment \u2014 an event called the Dharma Chakra Pravartana (Turning of the Wheel of Dharma).<\/p>\n<p>The Dhamek Stupa \u2014 a solid cylinder of brick and stone standing 43.6 metres (143 feet) tall with a diameter of 28 metres \u2014 marks this sacred spot. The original structure was commissioned by Emperor Ashoka in 249 BCE; the present form dates to the Gupta period (5th\u20136th century CE).<\/p>\n<p>Sarnath also houses a deer park, Ashoka\u2019s Lion Capital (now India\u2019s national emblem), and the Sarnath Archaeological Museum.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Suggested Package<\/strong>: <a href=\"https:\/\/atlastravel.in\/sarnath-tour-packages\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Sarnath Tour Packages<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Nalanda University \u2013 The Centre of Buddhist Learning<\/h2>\n<p>Founded in 427 CE by Emperor Kumaragupta I of the Gupta dynasty in Bihar, Nalanda University was one of the world\u2019s first and greatest residential universities. At its peak, it had approximately 10,000 students and 2,000 teachers from across Asia.<\/p>\n<p>Chinese pilgrims Xuanzang (7th century CE) and Yijing carried hundreds of Buddhist texts from Nalanda back to China, transmitting Buddhist knowledge across East Asia. Nagarjuna\u2019s Madhyamaka philosophy strongly influenced Nalanda\u2019s intellectual traditions, and scholars like Asanga, Vasubandhu, and Dharmakirti were among its most celebrated thinkers.<\/p>\n<p>Nalanda was destroyed by Bakhtiyar Khilji around 1193 CE. Its ruins are a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2016.<\/p>\n<h2>Major Schools of Buddhism<\/h2>\n<table width=\"624\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"100\"><strong>School<\/strong><\/td>\n<td width=\"137\"><strong>Key Figure<\/strong><\/td>\n<td width=\"100\"><strong>Period<\/strong><\/td>\n<td width=\"287\"><strong>Teaching<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"100\">Theravada<\/td>\n<td width=\"137\">Follows early Pali canon<\/td>\n<td width=\"100\">3rd century BCE<\/td>\n<td width=\"287\">Oldest surviving; personal liberation; SE Asia<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"100\">Mahayana<\/td>\n<td width=\"137\">Nagarjuna, Asanga<\/td>\n<td width=\"100\">1st\u20132nd c CE<\/td>\n<td width=\"287\">Bodhisattva ideal; liberation for all beings<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"100\">Vajrayana<\/td>\n<td width=\"137\">Developed in India<\/td>\n<td width=\"100\">5th\u20137th c CE<\/td>\n<td width=\"287\">Tantric practices; Tibet, Ladakh, Bhutan<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"100\">Madhyamaka<\/td>\n<td width=\"137\">Nagarjuna<\/td>\n<td width=\"100\">2nd\u20133rd c CE<\/td>\n<td width=\"287\">Middle Way philosophy; most influential Mahayana<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"100\">Yogacara<\/td>\n<td width=\"137\">Asanga &amp; Vasubandhu<\/td>\n<td width=\"100\">4th\u20135th c CE<\/td>\n<td width=\"287\">Consciousness-only; mind as basis of reality<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"100\">Navayana<\/td>\n<td width=\"137\">Dr. B.R. Ambedkar<\/td>\n<td width=\"100\">20th century CE<\/td>\n<td width=\"287\">Social equality Buddhism; Neo-Buddhism in India<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h2>Decline of Buddhism in India<\/h2>\n<p>By the 13th century CE, Buddhism had largely disappeared from its Indian homeland after over 1,500 years. The decline was the result of multiple interconnected factors rather than a single cause:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Invasions:<\/strong> Destruction of monasteries and Nalanda University by Turkic invaders (particularly Bakhtiyar Khilji, c. 1193 CE) removed the institutional centres of Buddhism.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Loss of royal patronage:<\/strong> Post-Gupta dynasties increasingly favoured Hinduism or Islam.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Hindu-Buddhist assimilation:<\/strong> Buddhist ideas were gradually absorbed into Hinduism; the Buddha was incorporated as an avatar of Vishnu in some traditions.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Monastic dependency:<\/strong> Buddhist monks relied entirely on monasteries and lay donations; without these structures, the tradition had no base.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Economic changes:<\/strong> Decline of the merchant class that had patronised Buddhism reduced financial support.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>After the decline, Buddhism survived primarily in Bhutan, Sri Lanka, and parts of Sikkim and Ladakh, while flourishing across East and Southeast Asia.<\/p>\n<h2>Revival of Buddhism in India<\/h2>\n<p>Buddhism staged a powerful comeback in the 19th and 20th centuries through both scholarly interest and social activism.<\/p>\n<p>In 1891, Anagarika Dharmapala \u2014 a Sri Lankan Buddhist reformer \u2014 founded the Maha Bodhi Society, which worked to restore Buddhist shrines in India and revive Buddhist education.<\/p>\n<p>The defining moment came in 1956, when <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/B._R._Ambedkar\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Dr. B.R. Ambedkar<\/a> \u2014 chief architect of India\u2019s Constitution and Dalit leader \u2014 converted to Buddhism at Nagpur. Estimates of those who converted alongside him range from several hundred thousand to over half a million.<\/p>\n<p>He rejected caste discrimination and embraced Buddhism as a religion of equality and rational thought.<\/p>\n<h2>Buddhism and the Dalit Community<\/h2>\n<p>Dalit Hindus began converting to Buddhism following Dr. Ambedkar\u2019s historic 1956 conversion. These converts are known as Neo-Buddhists or Navayana Buddhists.<\/p>\n<p>Dr. Ambedkar is revered as the Father of Neo-Buddhism. His birthday (14 April, Ambedkar Jayanti) and his conversion anniversary (14 October, Dhamma Chakra Pravartan Din) are major festivals in Buddhist Dalit communities, especially in Maharashtra.<\/p>\n<p>According to the 2011 Census, India recorded approximately 8.4 million Buddhists (0.7% of the population), predominantly from the Mahar community of Maharashtra.<\/p>\n<h2>Sacred Buddhist Sites in India \u2013 Buddhist Pilgrimage Circuit<\/h2>\n<table width=\"624\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"106\"><strong>Site<\/strong><\/td>\n<td width=\"94\"><strong>State<\/strong><\/td>\n<td width=\"275\"><strong>Significance<\/strong><\/td>\n<td width=\"62\"><strong>UNESCO<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"106\">Bodh Gaya<\/td>\n<td width=\"94\">Bihar<\/td>\n<td width=\"275\">Enlightenment; Mahabodhi Temple; Bodhi tree<\/td>\n<td width=\"62\">2002<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"106\">Sarnath<\/td>\n<td width=\"94\">Uttar Pradesh<\/td>\n<td width=\"275\">First sermon; Dhamek Stupa (43.6 m)<\/td>\n<td width=\"62\">\u2014<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"106\">Lumbini<\/td>\n<td width=\"94\">Nepal border<\/td>\n<td width=\"275\">Birthplace of Siddhartha Gautama<\/td>\n<td width=\"62\">1997<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"106\">Kushinagar<\/td>\n<td width=\"94\">Uttar Pradesh<\/td>\n<td width=\"275\">Parinirvana of the Buddha<\/td>\n<td width=\"62\">\u2014<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"106\">Nalanda<\/td>\n<td width=\"94\">Bihar<\/td>\n<td width=\"275\">Ancient university (427\u20131193 CE)<\/td>\n<td width=\"62\">2016<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"106\">Sanchi<\/td>\n<td width=\"94\">Madhya Pradesh<\/td>\n<td width=\"275\">Ashoka\u2019s Great Stupa (3rd c BCE)<\/td>\n<td width=\"62\">1989<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"106\">Ajanta Caves<\/td>\n<td width=\"94\">Maharashtra<\/td>\n<td width=\"275\">Rock-cut Buddhist paintings (2nd c BCE\u2013)<\/td>\n<td width=\"62\">1983<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"106\">Ellora Caves<\/td>\n<td width=\"94\">Maharashtra<\/td>\n<td width=\"275\">Buddhist, Hindu, Jain rock-cut temples<\/td>\n<td width=\"62\">1983<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"106\">Shravasti<\/td>\n<td width=\"94\">Uttar Pradesh<\/td>\n<td width=\"275\">24 monsoon retreats of Buddha; Jetavana ruins<\/td>\n<td width=\"62\">\u2014<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"106\">Rajgir<\/td>\n<td width=\"94\">Bihar<\/td>\n<td width=\"275\">Frequent teaching site; Griddhakuta hill<\/td>\n<td width=\"62\">\u2014<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h2>Buddhism Across India \u2013 State-wise Presence<\/h2>\n<table width=\"624\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"137\"><strong>State\/Region<\/strong><\/td>\n<td width=\"137\"><strong>Buddhist Tradition<\/strong><\/td>\n<td width=\"349\"><strong>Key Feature<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"137\">Maharashtra<\/td>\n<td width=\"137\">Navayana (Neo-Buddhism)<\/td>\n<td width=\"349\">Largest Buddhist population; ~77% of India\u2019s Buddhists; Ambedkarite tradition<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"137\">Ladakh<\/td>\n<td width=\"137\">Vajrayana \/ Tibetan<\/td>\n<td width=\"349\">Monasteries: Hemis, Thiksey, Diskit; Hemis Festival annually<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"137\">Sikkim<\/td>\n<td width=\"137\">Vajrayana \/ Tibetan<\/td>\n<td width=\"349\">State with highest % of Buddhists; Rumtek, Pemayangtse monasteries<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"137\">Arunachal Pradesh<\/td>\n<td width=\"137\">Vajrayana + Theravada<\/td>\n<td width=\"349\">Tawang Monastery (largest in India); significant tribal Buddhist communities<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"137\">Himachal Pradesh<\/td>\n<td width=\"137\">Tibetan Buddhism<\/td>\n<td width=\"349\">Dharamsala: seat of Dalai Lama, Central Tibetan Administration; Spiti Valley monasteries<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"137\">Bihar<\/td>\n<td width=\"137\">All traditions<\/td>\n<td width=\"349\">Bodh Gaya, Nalanda, Rajgir, Vaishali \u2014 centre of global Buddhist tourism<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"137\">Uttar Pradesh<\/td>\n<td width=\"137\">Historical sites<\/td>\n<td width=\"349\">Sarnath, Kushinagar, Shravasti \u2014 on the Buddhist Circuit India<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h2>Major Buddhist Festivals in India<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Buddha Purnima (Vesak):<\/strong> The most sacred Buddhist festival, celebrated on the full moon of Vaisakha (April\u2013May). Commemorates the birth, enlightenment, and Parinirvana of Gautama Buddha. Major celebrations at Bodh Gaya, Sarnath, and Kushinagar.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Hemis Festival:<\/strong> Celebrated at Hemis Monastery in Ladakh (June\u2013July). Marks the birth of Guru Padmasambhava with traditional Cham (mask) dances.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Losar:<\/strong> Tibetan New Year, celebrated across Ladakh, Sikkim, and Spiti (January\u2013February). Features monastery performances, community prayers, and cultural festivities.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Saga Dawa:<\/strong> The holiest month in the Tibetan Buddhist calendar (May\u2013June), celebrated especially in Sikkim and Ladakh. The 15th day commemorates the birth, enlightenment, and Parinirvana of Buddha simultaneously.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Dhamma Chakra Pravartan Din:<\/strong> 14 October annually at Nagpur, Maharashtra \u2014 commemorating Dr. Ambedkar\u2019s 1956 mass conversion. Attracts hundreds of thousands of Neo-Buddhists.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Buddhism in India Today<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Population:<\/strong> 2011 Census: 8.4 million Buddhists (0.7%). Predominantly in Maharashtra, Ladakh, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, and Himachal Pradesh.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Tibetan Buddhist community:<\/strong> The Dalai Lama and Tibetan Buddhist refugees settled in Dharamsala (HP) in 1959, creating a vibrant Tibetan Buddhist community in India.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Buddhist Circuit Tourism:<\/strong> The Buddhist Circuit \u2014 Bodh Gaya, Sarnath, Kushinagar, Nalanda, and Lumbini \u2014 attracts millions of pilgrims annually from Japan, Sri Lanka, China, South Korea, Thailand, and Myanmar.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Modern Nalanda:<\/strong> Nalanda University was revived by the Indian Government in 2010. The new campus was inaugurated in 2024 in Bihar, resuming Nalanda\u2019s legacy as a centre of learning.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Conclusion<\/h2>\n<p>Buddhism in India represents a 2,500-year journey from Siddhartha Gautama\u2019s enlightenment at Bodh Gaya to Ashoka\u2019s global propagation, the intellectual flowering at Nalanda, a painful decline, and a powerful 20th-century revival led by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar.<\/p>\n<p>India\u2019s Buddhist heritage is woven into its landscape, philosophy, and cultural identity. The Buddhist pilgrimage circuit \u2014 connecting Bodh Gaya, Sarnath, Kushinagar, and Lumbini \u2014 remains one of the most spiritually significant journeys in the world.<\/p>\n<p>Whether you are exploring Buddhist philosophy, Buddhist monuments India, or planning a Buddhist Circuit tour, India offers an unparalleled window into the Bauddha Dharma that continues to transform lives across continents.<\/p>\n<h2>Frequently Asked Questions<\/h2>\n<h3>Q1. What is Buddhism?<\/h3>\n<p>Buddhism is a major world philosophy and religion founded by Siddhartha Gautama (the Buddha) in the 5th\u20136th century BCE in India. It centres on the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path as the way to understand and end suffering, achieve inner peace, and attain Nirvana.<\/p>\n<h3>Q2. Is Buddhism a religion or a philosophy?<\/h3>\n<p>Buddhism is both. As a religion it includes rituals, festivals, monks, monasteries, and sacred sites. As a philosophy it offers a rational framework for understanding the nature of mind, suffering, and reality without requiring belief in a creator God. The Theravada tradition emphasises the philosophical aspect; Mahayana and Vajrayana incorporate more devotional elements.<\/p>\n<h3>Q3. Where was Gautama Buddha born?<\/h3>\n<p>Gautama Buddha was born in Lumbini, in the Rupandehi District of present-day Nepal, near the Indian border. Lumbini is a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1997. His birth is traditionally dated to c. 563 BCE, though some modern scholars propose c. 480 BCE.<\/p>\n<h3>Q4. Where did Buddha attain enlightenment?<\/h3>\n<p>Gautama Buddha attained enlightenment at Bodh Gaya, Bihar, India, meditating under a Peepal tree (the Bodhi tree) on a full moon night in the month of Vaisakha. The Mahabodhi Temple at Bodh Gaya is a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2002 and the most sacred site in world Buddhism.<\/p>\n<h3>Q5. What are the Four Noble Truths of Buddhism?<\/h3>\n<p>The Four Noble Truths: (1) Life involves suffering; (2) Suffering arises from craving and attachment; (3) Suffering can be ended; (4) The Eightfold Path leads to the end of suffering. These form the entire framework of Buddhist practice and philosophy.<\/p>\n<h3>Q6. What is Nirvana in Buddhism?<\/h3>\n<p>Nirvana is the ultimate goal of Buddhist practice \u2014 the complete liberation from suffering, desire, and the cycle of rebirth (samsara). It is not a place but a state of mind characterised by peace, freedom, and the extinction of craving. The Buddha attained Nirvana at Bodh Gaya; his final passing is called Parinirvana.<\/p>\n<h3>Q7. What are the Three Jewels of Buddhism?<\/h3>\n<p>The Three Jewels (Triratna) are the Buddha (the enlightened teacher), the Dharma (his teachings), and the Sangha (the community of practitioners). Taking refuge in the Three Jewels is the fundamental act of becoming a Buddhist, observed in all schools from Theravada to Vajrayana.<\/p>\n<h3>Q8. What language did Buddha speak?<\/h3>\n<p>Gautama Buddha primarily spoke Magadhi Prakrit, a vernacular language of the Magadha region (modern Bihar). He deliberately taught in the language of ordinary people rather than Sanskrit (the learned language). Early Buddhist texts were composed in Pali (closely related to Magadhi) in the Theravada tradition, and later in Sanskrit for Mahayana texts.<\/p>\n<h3>Q9. What is the history of Buddhism in India?<\/h3>\n<p>Buddhism was founded in the 5th\u20136th century BCE. It spread widely under Emperor Ashoka (3rd century BCE). Nalanda University (427\u20131193 CE) was its intellectual peak. Multiple factors including invasions and socio-religious changes caused its decline by the 13th century. Dr. B.R. Ambedkar revived it in 1956 through mass conversion.<\/p>\n<h3>Q10. Why did Buddhism decline in India?<\/h3>\n<p>Buddhism declined due to multiple factors: destruction of monasteries by Turkic invaders (Nalanda destroyed c. 1193 CE), loss of royal patronage, gradual Hindu-Buddhist assimilation, monastic dependency on lay donations, and economic changes. No single cause explains the decline fully.<\/p>\n<h3>Q11. What is Bodh Gaya and why is it important?<\/h3>\n<p>Bodh Gaya in Bihar is the most sacred Buddhist pilgrimage site \u2014 the place where Gautama Buddha attained enlightenment under the Bodhi tree. The Mahabodhi Temple is a UNESCO World Heritage Site (2002). It attracts millions of Buddhist pilgrims annually from Japan, Sri Lanka, China, Thailand, and Myanmar.<\/p>\n<h3>Q12. What is Nalanda University and why was it destroyed?<\/h3>\n<p>Nalanda University, founded in 427 CE in Bihar, was one of the world\u2019s first residential universities with 10,000 students and 2,000 teachers from across Asia. It was the intellectual centre of Buddhist philosophy for over 700 years.<\/p>\n<p>It was destroyed by Bakhtiyar Khilji around 1193 CE. Its ruins are a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2016. A new Nalanda University campus opened in 2024.<\/p>\n<h3>Q13. What is the Dhamek Stupa at Sarnath?<\/h3>\n<p>The Dhamek Stupa at Sarnath, Uttar Pradesh, stands 43.6 metres (143 feet) tall and marks the exact spot where Buddha gave his first sermon. The original was commissioned by Emperor Ashoka in 249 BCE; the present form is from the Gupta period (5th\u20136th century CE). It features intricate floral carvings and Brahmi inscriptions.<\/p>\n<h3>Q14. What is Dr. Ambedkar\u2019s contribution to Buddhism?<\/h3>\n<p>Dr. B.R. Ambedkar converted to Buddhism at Nagpur on 14 October 1956, alongside estimates ranging from several hundred thousand to over half a million followers. He founded Navayana (Neo-Buddhism), reinterpreting Buddhist philosophy through a social equality lens.<\/p>\n<p>He is revered as the Father of Neo-Buddhism. His conversion day (14 October) is annually celebrated at Nagpur as Dhamma Chakra Pravartan Din.<\/p>\n<h3>Q15. What are the major Buddhist pilgrimage sites in India?<\/h3>\n<p>The four primary Buddhist pilgrimage sites associated with Buddha\u2019s life are Lumbini (birth), Bodh Gaya (enlightenment), Sarnath (first sermon), and Kushinagar (Parinirvana). The Buddhist Circuit India also includes Nalanda (UNESCO 2016), Sanchi (UNESCO 1989), Ajanta Caves (UNESCO 1983), Shravasti, and Rajgir.<\/p>\n<h3>Q16. What are the major schools of Buddhism in India today?<\/h3>\n<p>India has four main Buddhist traditions today: Theravada (practiced in some communities), Mahayana (Chinese and Korean Buddhist communities at pilgrimage sites), Vajrayana\/Tibetan Buddhism (Ladakh, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Dharamsala), and Navayana\/Neo-Buddhism (Maharashtra \u2014 the largest group).<\/p>\n<h3>Q17. How many Buddhists are in India?<\/h3>\n<p>According to the 2011 Census of India, there were approximately 8.4 million Buddhists in India (0.7% of the population). Maharashtra has the largest Buddhist population (~77% of India\u2019s Buddhists), followed by Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, and Ladakh.<\/p>\n<h3>Q18. What is the Buddhist Circuit in India?<\/h3>\n<p>The Buddhist Circuit India connects the major sites associated with the life of the Buddha: Lumbini (Nepal border) \u2192 Bodh Gaya (Bihar) \u2192 Sarnath (UP) \u2192 Kushinagar (UP) \u2192 Nalanda (Bihar) \u2192 Vaishali (Bihar) \u2192 Shravasti (UP). It is one of India\u2019s most important religious tourism routes, attracting millions of international Buddhist pilgrims annually.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Indian subcontinent is a melting pot of religions, cultures, and faiths. Among them, Buddhism in India holds a place of unique historical and spiritual importance \u2014 born on Indian soil, spread across Asia, and revived in the 20th century.&hellip;<\/p>\n<div class=\"link-more\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.atlastravel.in\/blog\/buddhism-religion-in-india\/#more-143\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading &#10142; <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Buddhism Religion in India &#8211; Facts and Details<\/span><\/a><\/div>","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":6054,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"no","footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-143","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-buddhist","oviyan-lite-has-thumbnail"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.0 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Buddhism in India: History, Sacred Sites, Buddha &amp; Modern Revival<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Explore Buddhism in India\u2014its origins, Gautama Buddha, Bodh Gaya, Sarnath, Nalanda, decline, revival, and sacred pilgrimage sites.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.atlastravel.in\/blog\/buddhism-religion-in-india\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Buddhism in India: History, Sacred Sites, Buddha &amp; Modern Revival\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Explore Buddhism in India\u2014its origins, Gautama Buddha, Bodh Gaya, Sarnath, Nalanda, decline, revival, and sacred pilgrimage sites.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.atlastravel.in\/blog\/buddhism-religion-in-india\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Atlas Travel Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2018-02-19T08:27:40+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-06-18T10:01:20+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.atlastravel.in\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/Buddhism-in-India.webp\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1200\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"800\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/webp\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Ravi Rathaur\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Ravi Rathaur\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"14 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.atlastravel.in\\\/blog\\\/buddhism-religion-in-india\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.atlastravel.in\\\/blog\\\/buddhism-religion-in-india\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Ravi Rathaur\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.atlastravel.in\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/84e904d667d00bfaaace254b64b59356\"},\"headline\":\"Buddhism Religion in India &#8211; Facts and Details\",\"datePublished\":\"2018-02-19T08:27:40+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-06-18T10:01:20+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.atlastravel.in\\\/blog\\\/buddhism-religion-in-india\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":2995,\"commentCount\":0,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.atlastravel.in\\\/blog\\\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.atlastravel.in\\\/blog\\\/buddhism-religion-in-india\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.atlastravel.in\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2018\\\/02\\\/Buddhism-in-India.webp\",\"articleSection\":[\"Buddhist\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.atlastravel.in\\\/blog\\\/buddhism-religion-in-india\\\/#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.atlastravel.in\\\/blog\\\/buddhism-religion-in-india\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.atlastravel.in\\\/blog\\\/buddhism-religion-in-india\\\/\",\"name\":\"Buddhism in India: History, Sacred Sites, Buddha & Modern Revival\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.atlastravel.in\\\/blog\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.atlastravel.in\\\/blog\\\/buddhism-religion-in-india\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.atlastravel.in\\\/blog\\\/buddhism-religion-in-india\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.atlastravel.in\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2018\\\/02\\\/Buddhism-in-India.webp\",\"datePublished\":\"2018-02-19T08:27:40+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-06-18T10:01:20+00:00\",\"description\":\"Explore Buddhism in India\u2014its origins, Gautama Buddha, Bodh Gaya, Sarnath, Nalanda, decline, revival, and sacred pilgrimage sites.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.atlastravel.in\\\/blog\\\/buddhism-religion-in-india\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.atlastravel.in\\\/blog\\\/buddhism-religion-in-india\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.atlastravel.in\\\/blog\\\/buddhism-religion-in-india\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.atlastravel.in\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2018\\\/02\\\/Buddhism-in-India.webp\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.atlastravel.in\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2018\\\/02\\\/Buddhism-in-India.webp\",\"width\":1200,\"height\":800,\"caption\":\"Buddhism in India\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.atlastravel.in\\\/blog\\\/buddhism-religion-in-india\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.atlastravel.in\\\/blog\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Buddhism Religion in India &#8211; Facts and Details\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.atlastravel.in\\\/blog\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.atlastravel.in\\\/blog\\\/\",\"name\":\"Atlas Travel Blog\",\"description\":\"Know about Travel Destinations in India with Atlas Travel blogs to make your trip comfortable. Travel guides help to explore beauty of a tourist location.\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.atlastravel.in\\\/blog\\\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.atlastravel.in\\\/blog\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.atlastravel.in\\\/blog\\\/#organization\",\"name\":\"Atlas Travel Blog\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.atlastravel.in\\\/blog\\\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.atlastravel.in\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.atlastravel.in\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2023\\\/09\\\/atlas.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.atlastravel.in\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2023\\\/09\\\/atlas.png\",\"width\":300,\"height\":116,\"caption\":\"Atlas Travel Blog\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.atlastravel.in\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\"}},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.atlastravel.in\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/84e904d667d00bfaaace254b64b59356\",\"name\":\"Ravi Rathaur\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/168405ea5e5d1e5e3b05330bbd9de0d85b2bb37fd75d9817fa005a1823b521c1?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/168405ea5e5d1e5e3b05330bbd9de0d85b2bb37fd75d9817fa005a1823b521c1?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/168405ea5e5d1e5e3b05330bbd9de0d85b2bb37fd75d9817fa005a1823b521c1?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Ravi Rathaur\"}}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Buddhism in India: History, Sacred Sites, Buddha & Modern Revival","description":"Explore Buddhism in India\u2014its origins, Gautama Buddha, Bodh Gaya, Sarnath, Nalanda, decline, revival, and sacred pilgrimage sites.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.atlastravel.in\/blog\/buddhism-religion-in-india\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Buddhism in India: History, Sacred Sites, Buddha & Modern Revival","og_description":"Explore Buddhism in India\u2014its origins, Gautama Buddha, Bodh Gaya, Sarnath, Nalanda, decline, revival, and sacred pilgrimage sites.","og_url":"https:\/\/www.atlastravel.in\/blog\/buddhism-religion-in-india\/","og_site_name":"Atlas Travel Blog","article_published_time":"2018-02-19T08:27:40+00:00","article_modified_time":"2026-06-18T10:01:20+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1200,"height":800,"url":"https:\/\/www.atlastravel.in\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/Buddhism-in-India.webp","type":"image\/webp"}],"author":"Ravi Rathaur","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Ravi Rathaur","Est. reading time":"14 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/www.atlastravel.in\/blog\/buddhism-religion-in-india\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.atlastravel.in\/blog\/buddhism-religion-in-india\/"},"author":{"name":"Ravi Rathaur","@id":"https:\/\/www.atlastravel.in\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/84e904d667d00bfaaace254b64b59356"},"headline":"Buddhism Religion in India &#8211; Facts and Details","datePublished":"2018-02-19T08:27:40+00:00","dateModified":"2026-06-18T10:01:20+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.atlastravel.in\/blog\/buddhism-religion-in-india\/"},"wordCount":2995,"commentCount":0,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.atlastravel.in\/blog\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.atlastravel.in\/blog\/buddhism-religion-in-india\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.atlastravel.in\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/Buddhism-in-India.webp","articleSection":["Buddhist"],"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/www.atlastravel.in\/blog\/buddhism-religion-in-india\/#respond"]}]},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.atlastravel.in\/blog\/buddhism-religion-in-india\/","url":"https:\/\/www.atlastravel.in\/blog\/buddhism-religion-in-india\/","name":"Buddhism in India: History, Sacred Sites, Buddha & Modern Revival","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.atlastravel.in\/blog\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.atlastravel.in\/blog\/buddhism-religion-in-india\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.atlastravel.in\/blog\/buddhism-religion-in-india\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.atlastravel.in\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/Buddhism-in-India.webp","datePublished":"2018-02-19T08:27:40+00:00","dateModified":"2026-06-18T10:01:20+00:00","description":"Explore Buddhism in India\u2014its origins, Gautama Buddha, Bodh Gaya, Sarnath, Nalanda, decline, revival, and sacred pilgrimage sites.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.atlastravel.in\/blog\/buddhism-religion-in-india\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.atlastravel.in\/blog\/buddhism-religion-in-india\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.atlastravel.in\/blog\/buddhism-religion-in-india\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/www.atlastravel.in\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/Buddhism-in-India.webp","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.atlastravel.in\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/Buddhism-in-India.webp","width":1200,"height":800,"caption":"Buddhism in India"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.atlastravel.in\/blog\/buddhism-religion-in-india\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.atlastravel.in\/blog\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Buddhism Religion in India &#8211; Facts and Details"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.atlastravel.in\/blog\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.atlastravel.in\/blog\/","name":"Atlas Travel Blog","description":"Know about Travel Destinations in India with Atlas Travel blogs to make your trip comfortable. Travel guides help to explore beauty of a tourist location.","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.atlastravel.in\/blog\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.atlastravel.in\/blog\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.atlastravel.in\/blog\/#organization","name":"Atlas Travel Blog","url":"https:\/\/www.atlastravel.in\/blog\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.atlastravel.in\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/www.atlastravel.in\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/atlas.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.atlastravel.in\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/atlas.png","width":300,"height":116,"caption":"Atlas Travel Blog"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.atlastravel.in\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"}},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.atlastravel.in\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/84e904d667d00bfaaace254b64b59356","name":"Ravi Rathaur","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/168405ea5e5d1e5e3b05330bbd9de0d85b2bb37fd75d9817fa005a1823b521c1?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/168405ea5e5d1e5e3b05330bbd9de0d85b2bb37fd75d9817fa005a1823b521c1?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/168405ea5e5d1e5e3b05330bbd9de0d85b2bb37fd75d9817fa005a1823b521c1?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Ravi Rathaur"}}]}},"modified_by":"Param Dass","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.atlastravel.in\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/143","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.atlastravel.in\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.atlastravel.in\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.atlastravel.in\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.atlastravel.in\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=143"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/www.atlastravel.in\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/143\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6056,"href":"https:\/\/www.atlastravel.in\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/143\/revisions\/6056"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.atlastravel.in\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6054"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.atlastravel.in\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=143"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.atlastravel.in\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=143"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.atlastravel.in\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=143"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}