Buddhist Archives - JOEJOURNEYS

Buddhist

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This is not tea – no alcohol on Poya day in Sri Lanka

This is not tea. It is prohibited to sell alcohol on religious days in Sri Lanka . My beer is delivered discretely I wasn’t aware when I entered the restaurant and my driver informed me that it would be unlikely I would get a beer on this particular day. Despite my protest, the waiter made […]

02:36

Angurukaramulla Temple

A little way down Temple Road, not far from Negombo town lies the Angurukaramulla Temple (Bodhirajarama Maha Viharaya – මීගමුව බෝධිරාජාරාමය), well known for its Buddha statue standing 6 metres high and its odd and colourful interiors. The massive seated Buddha and the gaping lion’s mouth of some weird creature from the entrance to the temple, a gigantic sculpture of […]

09:53

Kathmandu • City of Shangri-La

Kathmandu is the largest city and capital of Nepal. Once thought to be the fabled and inaccessible Shangri-La, Kathmandu is now a hub for independent travellers as well as a growing vacation spot catering to all budgets. Kathmandu is the gateway to tourism in Nepal. The city stands at an elevation of approximately 1,400 metres […]

08:29

Cremation Temple Pashupatinath

The Pashupatinath Temple is a famous, sacred Hindu temple dedicated to Pashupatinath on the banks of the Bagmati River 5 kilometres north-east of Kathmandu Valley in the eastern part of Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal. This temple is considered one of the sacred temples of Hindu faith and serves as the seat of the national deity, […]

Major religions in Japan – what to do when visiting shrines

The two main religions in Japan are Shinto, the native religion based around nature and multiple gods, and Buddhism, imported from India through Korea and China. Shintoism The native religion of Japan is Shinto, and the word ‘Shinto’ means ‘way of the gods’. There are many kami (gods) and they often take the form of […]

06:31

Boudha Stupa Boudhanath

Boudhanath has been an important place of pilgrimage and meditation for Tibetan Buddhists & local Nepalis For centuries. UNESCO World Heritage since 1979. The ancient Buddhist stupa of Boudha dominates the skyline and is the largest in Asia. Throughout the day pilgrims can be seen circumambulating the structure chanting mantras. Maroon clad Tibetan Buddhist monks & […]

Shwedagon Pagoda

According to legend, the Shwedagon Pagoda was constructed more than 2,600 years ago, making it the oldest Buddhist stupa in the world. Officially named Shwedagon Zedi Daw, the 99 metres (325 ft) tall pagoda is a gilded stupa that dominates the skyline of Yangon, Myanmar. This sacred site was so impressive I easily spend a few hours here, […]

04:18

Swayambhunath Stupa

Swayambhunath is an ancient religious architectural stupa atop a hill in the Kathmandu Valley, west of Kathmandu city. A UNESCO World Heritage since 1979. Each morning before dawn hundreds of Buddhist (Vajrayana) and Hindu pilgrims ascend the 365 steps from the eastern side that lead up the hill, passing the gilded Vajra (Tibetan: Dorje), thunderbolt sceptre, […]

Sri Lanka two week itinerary

Sri Lanka is about 435 km from north to south and 225 km at its widest point. Half of the country is occupied by a central mountain range with some peaks reaching over 2200 meters. The main roads are paved but some are in a poor state sometimes. In Sri Lanka, there is no mention […]

11:55

Adam’s Peak – Sri Pada, the Sacred Footprint

Adam’s Peak is a place of worship and pilgrimage by many religions for more than 1000 years. Also known as Sri Pada, it is home to a foot imprint on a rock at its summit. Depending on the faith, the footprint has been considered that of Buddha, the god Shiva, St. Thomas, and even, Adam after he […]

09:09

Kandy and the Temple of the Tooth Relic

Kandy was the last capital of the ancient kings’ era of Sri Lanka, home of The Temple of the Tooth Relic (Sri Dalada Maligawa), one of the most sacred places of worship in the Buddhist world. It was declared a world heritage site by UNESCO in 1988. The second-largest city in the country after Colombo and is generally […]

08:31

Anuradhapura and the Sacred Bodhi Tree

Anuradhapura is one of the ancient capitals of Sri Lanka, famous for its well-preserved ruins of ancient Sri Lankan civilization. The city, now a UNESCO World Heritage, was the centre of Theravada Buddhism for many centuries. The city lies 205 km north of the current capital Colombo in Sri Lanka‘s North Central Province, on the […]

04:28

Dambulla Cave Temple

Dambulla Cave Temple, also known as the Golden Temple of Dambulla is a UNESCO World Heritage since 1991. It is the largest and best-preserved cave temple complex in Sri Lanka. A sacred pilgrimage site for 22 centuries, this cave monastery, with its five sanctuaries, is the largest, best-preserved cave-temple complex in Sri Lanka. The Buddhist mural paintings are of particular […]