Kushinagar is a small city nestled deep into the diverse state of Uttar Pradesh. The city is adorned with the most beautiful temples and stupas that people come to see from all over the world. Not only that, the city also has several mediation centers where tourists often go to attain some peace of mind. Tourism in Kushinagar is popular due to it being one of the top places of religious importance for Buddhists. Millions of devout Buddhists visit Kushinagar every year to celebrate Buddha Purnima or simply visit to get away from the city life and meditate to regain spiritualism. The best time to visit the city is during winters when it is pleasant and cool and it is fairly easy to reach the city as well. Let us help you plan; go through our travel guide to Kushinagar to have a better understanding of the place, so that you can plan your trip better.

By Air:

The Mahayogi Gorakhnath Airport is the nearest airport to Kushinagar and it is located at a distance of 46.9 km from the center of the city. Flights are not too frequent to this airport, therefore you can take a flight to Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport in Lucknow and then take a cab from there to reach Kushinagar.

By Road:

The holy city of Kushinagar is well linked with other cities in the state as well as adjacent states. The NH 28 is the easiest and the fastest route if you are driving up there. You can also take interstate and intrastate buses that ply from within the state and from outside the state respectively.

By Rail:

The main railhead serving the city of Kushinagar is the Gorakhpur Junction Railway Station as Kushinagar does not have an airport in the city premises. The Gorakhpur Station is about 54.5 km away from the center of Kushinagar city and once you get to the station, you can take a cab or a bus to go to your destination in the city.

Getting Around:

You can get around in Kushinagar easily by using public transportation like taxis and auto rickshaws. You can even rent a car and drive it around to go sightseeing or the best option is to take tourist busses or the state run busses that are not only comfortable but quite inexpensive.

Summer (April-June):

Summers in Kushinagar are quite hot and humid. Temperatures during this time range from 32°C to 45°C, making the region very hot for sightseeing. The scalding heat is the reason it is not recommended to visit during these months.

Monsoon (July-September):

The rains bring in some respite for the region in the month of July, all the way until September. Kushinagar receives a good amount of rainfall during these months with temperatures ranging from 25°C to 30°C. This is a good time to visit if you don’t mind the rain as the climate is pretty cool and pleasant.

Winter (October-March):

The best time to visit Kushinagar is during the winter months that stretch from October to March. Temperatures during this time range from 10°C to 25°C with the peak winter months getting quite cold and temperatures dropping down drastically.

Visit the Rambhar Stupa:

The Rambhar Stupa is an important structure for Buddhists as it is the place where Lord Buddha was cremated. The stupa, which is also known as Mukta-Bandhan is set on top of a mound located beside the Kushinagar-Deoria road. It is a unique structure and is a must visit in Kushinagar.

Go to Mahaparinirvana Temple:

One of the most significant temples in Kushinagar city, the Mahaparinirvana Temple is of utmost importance to Buddhist religion. Here you will find an idol of Lord Buddha in a lying position; which is said to be the posture in which Lord Buddha attained Nirvana. Thousands flock every year to see and worship this idol.

Check out Kushinagar Museum:

If you want to learn about the past decades in Kushinagar and the history it holds, visit the Kushinagar Museum. This place houses items like paintings, coins, scriptures, statues and several other things that depict the time and life of the bygone era, as well as artifacts from the life of Lord Buddha in Kushinagar.

Find Peace at the Meditation Park:

If you want to relax for some time and stay away from the crowded city, the Meditation Park is the one you want to go to. Covered with sal trees, a lot of greenery and beautiful artificial water bodies, this park is a perfect place to enjoy a quiet and peaceful afternoon.

Worship the Sun God:

The Sun Temple located in Turkpatti is a famous temple in Kushinagar. Two statues of the Sun God was found when the temple was excavated in the ancient times; these statues are now placed in the Sun Temple itself. The Temple sees a lot of people coming every year to visit and worship the Sun God.

Kushinagar is the place where Lord Buddha spent his last days and finally attained nirvana. The city is a hub of culture and a deep rooted heritage along with which there is traditional food served in various restaurants in Kushinagar. To start off with, you can go to the Yama Café, one of the most preferred places to eat by tourists; here, you can find Chinese as well as Indian cuisine, which is absolutely delicious. Although the restaurant is small, you can find a lot to eat at cheap prices.

You can also head over to the Vipassana Café in the city, which serves different kinds of food and tidbits for you to munch on; stop over at this café when you’re tired from sightseeing and grab a cup of hot coffee or tea in the winter time, before you go further. If you want to go to an upscale restaurant, you can try out The Tokyo ‘A multi Cuisine Restaurant’.

Kushinagar is a small city and is inclined towards its rich culture. The city does not have many places to shop from, but different monuments have gift shops from which you can buy various souvenirs and gifts to take back home from your trip. After you visit the Parinirvana stupa, you can head over to the gift shop for replicas of Buddha from the actual shrine and they comes in three sizes; this a great gift to take back as a remembrance. You can also find other idols of Lord Buddha as well as various Gods and Goddesses in the gift shop. Also, after you visit the Kushinagar Museum, you can go to the gift shop to buy items like old coins, magnets, small idols and handmade artifacts as well. If you are looking to buy some books to read on your way back from Kushinagar, you can visit the Pathak Pustak Bhandar to purchase some books.