Browse by Faith
Buddhist Pilgrimage Guide
Best: October to March for Nepal and Southeast Asia, avoiding peak monsoon months
Browse by Faith
Buddhist pilgrimage follows the footsteps of Siddhartha Gautama across Nepal and India's borderlands, extending to some of Southeast Asia's great monuments built by later Buddhist kingdoms.
Lumbini, Bodh Gaya, Sarnath and Kushinagar together form the core sites associated with the Buddha's birth, enlightenment, first teaching and death — with Lumbini being the only one of the four located outside India.
Dress code: Modest clothing is expected at all stupas and monasteries; shoulders and knees should be covered.
Etiquette: Walk clockwise around stupas and monuments where local custom directs. Remove shoes before entering temple halls. Avoid pointing feet toward Buddha images.
Sites are generally at low-to-moderate altitude and accessible to most travellers; Lumbini specifically involves a short land crossing from the Indian border.
Visa: Requirements vary — Nepal requires no visa for Indian citizens by land; Cambodia and Indonesia typically require a visa on arrival or e-visa.
Currency: Carry local currency for smaller sites; cards are increasingly accepted at hotels in larger towns near Angkor Wat and Borobudur.