What are the holy cities for Buddhism?
For just BUDDHISM: (1) BODH GAYA, where Gautama Buddha’s attained Enlightenment. (2) SARNATH, where Gautama Buddha first taught the Dharma, and where the Buddhist Sangha was founded. (3) KUSHINGAR, where Gautama Buddha attained Parinirvana, and was cremated. (4) LUMBINI, commonly recognized as the birth site of Gautama Buddha. (5) ANURADHAPURA, which contains the 2300 year old holy Bo tree relic Sri Maha Bodhi. (6) KANDY, which is the site of the Dalida Maligawa, the Temple of the Tooth. TIBETAN BUDDHISM: More important than anything inherent to the places is the presence of the holiest leaders, the highest lamas, who are considered reincarnations of their predecessors. (1) LHASA, seat of the Dalai Lama (now in exile in Dharamsala, India) in the Potala palace, also national (and under Chinese rule regional) capital of Tibet. (2) SHIGATSE, seat of the Panchen Lama, also the country’s second city. (3) TSURPHU, (later in exile Rumtek in Sikkim, India), seat of the Karmapa Lama, not a prop
