Kushinagar, Kusinagar or Kusinara is a town and a nagar panchayat in Kushinagar district in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, near border of Nepal. It is an important Buddhist pilgrimage site, where Gautama Buddha died. It is the place of Malla Gana sangh kshatriya who belongs to supreme kshatriya clan of Ikshvaku.

In ancient times, it was known as Kushavati (Jatakas). It finds mention in epic Ramayana as the city of Kusha the son of Rama, the famous king of Ayodhya. Kushinagar was a celebrated center of the Malla kingdom of ancient India. Later, it would be known as Kushinara, one of the most important four holy sites for Buddhists. At this location, near the Hiranyavati River, Gautama Buddha attained Parinirvana (or 'Final Nirvana') after falling ill from eating a meal of a species of mushroom. Many of the ruined stupas and viharas here date back to 3rd century BCE - 5th century CE when prosperity was at its peak. The Mauryan emperor Ashoka is known to have contributed to significant construction at this site.

Prior to its rediscovery in the 19th century, there was a silence of more than half a millennium at Kasia. Due to violent invasions, Kushinagar lost its vitality and eventually was neglected.

(Makutabandhana, the cremation-site of Gautama Buddha's body)


(The Parinirvana Temple with the Parinirvana Stupa, Kushinagar)