Much to my surprise, Kushinagar, located in eastern Uttar Pradesh, was nothing more than a 2 kilometer long L-shaped road (a.k.a. Buddha Marg). One of the major Buddhist Pilgrimage site, it has none of that touristy buzz found in Bodhgaya or the dustiness of Sarnath.

As I was exploring this lovely little town (was so glad that they had allocated so much free time at this stop), I somehow felt refreshed and revitalised (after hectic travelling for the past few days). Covered by near-ripen wheat fields on the side of the road, the presence of birds chirping busily and the pure fresh air made this place so serene and almost surreal (it was so quiet that I swear I could hear a pin drop on the middle of the road). It was as if there was so kind of an invisible energy that was embracing Kushinagar with a tinge of motherly care.

Went back to the Mahaparinirvana Temple till the temple was closed at sunset. The main hall has a 20-feet long reclining statue of Lord Buddha in eternal bliss. Sat at a corner of the temple observing (and my first decent shot ay meditation) Sri Lankan and Burmese devotees meditating quietly by the side. It was explained if the statue was viewed in different angles, one could see Lord Buddha as either smiling or sleeping. As I thought about all the right conditions that had to happen in order for me to be here in Kushinagar, I felt tears in my eyes. It was as if Lord Buddha was still lying there during the last moments before his final demise. Just like Lord Buddha once mentioned in his suttas "All things must pass, work out your own salvation with diligence", I realised I was getting too attached. On retrospective, it was a good dhamma lesson learnt anyway; the lesson of letting go.

As we were on the road for the past 2 consecutive nights, everybody was certainly relieved to know that they would be spending a night in Kushinagar (sleeping on a real bed!). Dinner was the usual Indianised-Chinese food fare and the organisers did a Holi party part II (this time with a real campfire). It does not really matter actually. What's most important was today would be considered as a high for the entire trip and I could not help but to wonder if there could ever be a day that would rival it (and not to mention about surpassing!).