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In regards to the last post I reckon posting a link to a page I made might be good. It details with a lot of photographs a pilgrimage I successfully undertook to the Land of the Nobles (i.e., India) and a few other countries.

https://sites.google.com/site/dharmadepository/travel/pilgrim-s-tale

There is a long history of pilgrimage in Buddhism. Bhante Dhammika has a site detailing the significance and history of Bodhgaya:

http://www.buddhanet.net/bodh_gaya/menu.htm

If you ever get a chance, by all means please visit Bodhgaya. Sarnath, Kushinagar and Lumbini are the other three main pilgrimage destinations. To make the journey to these places is said to be cause for rebirth in the heavens.

Whether that is your goal or not, you'll have a lot of experiences along the way. I had a number of auspicious happenings while travelling. There's also the fact that much of India and Nepal are just plain cool to visit.

This is what Vulture's Peak looks like in Bihar state, India:



I thought it was a big larger before visiting. I took this photo at the edge of the cliff, so there isn't much space behind the vantage point either. See:



This how it looks from up top:



It was nice to stand in a place where the Buddha sat and taught the dharma. I don't think the rocks and mountainside changed so much in the last 2500 years. Also made me think how the Chinese pilgrims Xuanzang and Faxian both visited the same spot. In all likelihood Nagarjuna, Asanga, Vasubandu and other notable Indian thinkers likewise visited the same spot at some point.

Dear friends, I have the last entry here detailing the last destinations of my pilgrimage: Nara and Koyasan in Japan.



http://huayanzang.blogspot.com/2011/04/pilgrims-tale-vi.html

If you want to read from the very beginning Part I is here:

http://huayanzang.blogspot.com/2011/04/pilgrims-tale-part-i.html

Dear Friends,

I have added part III to my ongoing account of my pilgrimage. This entry details with many photos Lumbini and the great Bhikku I met there.

http://huayanzang.blogspot.com/2011/04/pilgrims-tale-part-iii.html

Cheers.

Dear friends, I have added Part II which continues the account of my pilgrimage. This part has many photos and running commentary. If you have a moment, please have a look.

http://huayanzang.blogspot.com/2011/04/pilgrims-tale-part-ii.html

I invite you all to read my brief account of my travels in India, Nepal, China and Japan.

http://huayanzang.blogspot.com/2011/04/pilgrims-tale-part-i.html

I recently concluded a two month trip where I visited a number of Buddhist holy sites. I invite you all to have a look at the photos and travel account.