Ramabhar Stupa

Ramabhar Stupa is a large ancient brick stupa located about 1.5 kilometres southeast of the Mahaparinirvana Temple in Kushinagar, Uttar Pradesh. Revered as the cremation site (Mukutbandhan Chaitya) of Gautama Buddha, it was originally built by the Malla kings and later enlarged during the Gupta period. The 15-metre-high circular dome set in a landscaped park is a major Buddhist pilgrimage and archaeological landmark.

Visitors can expect a large circular brick mound about 15 metres high set in a landscaped park with lawns, pathways and trees. A stairway leads to the top of the dome offering views of the surrounding fields. The site is quiet and open, with information boards explaining its association with the Buddha's cremation. Visitors can walk around the base, explore the brickwork, meditate, and take photographs in a peaceful pilgrimage environment about 1.5 km from the main temple complex.

Ramabhar Stupa marks the site where Gautama Buddha was cremated around 483 BCE after his Mahaparinirvana at Kushinagar. According to Buddhist tradition, the Malla kings of Kushinagar built the original stupa to enshrine the cremation remains. Archaeological evidence shows the present brick structure was enlarged and restored in the 5th century CE during the reign of Gupta ruler Kumaragupta, with a circular dome about 34 metres in diameter.

The stupa is one of the most sacred Buddhist pilgrimage sites, revered as Mukutbandhan Chaitya where the Buddha's last rites were performed. It is visited by pilgrims from around the world, especially during Buddha Purnima and other Buddhist festivals, and forms part of the core Kushinagar pilgrimage circuit alongside the Mahaparinirvana Temple and Matha Kuar Shrine.