India is the birthplace of one of the most widely accepted religions in the world - Buddhism. Siddhartha Gautama, the prince of a small kingdom in Nepal, found enlightenment in India and came to be known as Gautam Buddha. Beautiful Buddhist monasteries and stupas over the relics have become an inseparable part of Indian art, culture and architecture and attract large number of devotees and visitors every year.  The four holy places associated with Gautam Buddha are - Lumbini, his birthplace, Bodhgaya, where he attained enlightenment  under the Bodhi tree, which seems to have eternal life as it keeps sprouting even after being destroyed completely. The Mahabodhi temple and a monastic order looking after the three monasteries are things of interest here. Sarnath, near Varanasi, where he preached his first sermon in the Deer Park and set in motion the wheel of law, the Dharmachakra. Kushinagar, near Gorakhpur, where he achieved Mahanirvana. The other important tourist places associated with Buddhism are, Sanchi - known for its numerous stupas, monasteries, temples and pillars dating from the 3rd century B.C. to the 12th century A.D. Nalanda - the famous education centre of Buddhism. Vaishali is significant to Buddhists as Lord Buddha announced his impending Nirvana here. All these places together are known as the famous Buddhist circuit in India.