Sometime during the sixth century BC, a solitary ascetic sat to meditate beneath a shady
tree, resolving tree, resolving not to rise until he had attained the ultimate knowledge
of spiritual enlightenment. Thus began Buddhism, one of the world’s great religious and
pilgrimage traditions. Initially, Buddhism remained one of the many small sects in India.
The main breakthrough came when king Ashoka (circa: 270 232 BCE) converted to Buddhism. He
did not make it a state religion, but supported all ethical religious. He organized the
spreading of Buddhism throughout India, and even beyond it to Sri Lanka. The Most important
Buddhist sites are Lumbani, Bodhgaya, Sarnath, Kushinagar, Nalanda & Rajgir. Experience
the various palaces of the Buddha in this tours collection.
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