Tirtha Atlas

The sacred geography of the Indic world — every site mapped, dated, storied, and cited.

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Ancient · Buddhist · India

Griddhakuta (Vulture Peak)

Rajgir, Bihar · 25.0018°, 85.4465°

Buddha (teaching site)Magadha, Buddha's lifetime—Buddhist circuit
Sacred since
500 BCE
first attestation / structure
Standing structure
associated with the Buddha's lifetime; structures undated
Magadha, Buddha's lifetime

History & significance

A hill above Rajgir, ancient Rajagaha, that was the Buddha's favourite retreat and the setting given for major discourses including the Heart Sutra, the Lotus Sutra and much of the Prajnaparamita literature. Its name comes from a profile said to resemble a sitting vulture with folded wings.

Sthala katha — the legend

In the Lotus Sutra the Buddha declares that through countless eons he has always lived on Holy Eagle Peak.

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Related sites

Relic Stupa and Ashokan Pillar, Vaishali
Vaishali · India
c. 5th–3rd c. BCE
Kesaria Stupa
Kesariya, East Champaran · India
present structure Pala, 8th–12th c.; origin c. 250 BCE
Mahaparinirvana Temple, Kushinagar
Kushinagar · India
present temple 1956, over ancient stupa remains
Jetavana, Shravasti
Shravasti · India
built in the Buddha's lifetime by Anathapindika
Sankissa
Sankisa, Farrukhabad · India
3rd c. BCE (Ashokan pillar and stupa)
Kaushambi (Kosambi)
Kosam, Kaushambi · India
fortified city, 8th c. BCE – 2nd c. CE

Sources

coordinates: wikipedia-2026-08-27 · sources retrieved 2026-08-26 · dynasty page: Magadha, Buddha's lifetime