This Book is the first of its kind which gives complete information on the history, art & architecture of more than 250 Buddhist sites and shrines in India. The presentation is state-wise, covering 25 modern states, in alphabetical order, from Andhra Pradesh to West Bengal. The most sacred shrines, sanctified by the Buddha, are in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. Three other states where the Best Buddhist heritage has survived are - Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra. And the best gompas, monasteries in the high Himalayan Valleys where Buddhism has been a living faith through the ages, are in Arunachal Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Ladakh (Kashmir) and Sikkim.

To make this volume complete in all respectes, five additional notes have been added. These are on - The Edicts of Asoka (3rd century BC); Buddhist monasteries seen by Hiuen Tsang, the Chinese pilgrim, in the 7th century AD; Sacred Relics of the Buddha; Buddhist Remains in Pakistan, and Buddhist Sites in Bangla Desh. All this information naturally makes this volume a very useful Reference Book on the Buddhist Sites and Shrines in Ancient India.

D.C. Ahir (born 1928, Punjab) is a reputed scholar of Buddhist studies, and has made notable contribution to the history of Buddhism during the last 42 years. He retired as Director to the Government of India in February 1986, and since then is fully engaged in enriching literature. He already has more than forty published works to his credit, besides numerous articles on Buddhism. In appreciation of his noble and notable contribution to the Buddhist Literature as a Distinguished Scholar and Author, the Maha Bodhi Society of India, Sarnath conferred on him on 30 November 2001 the Honorary Title of BAUDDHA Sahitya Shiromani.

**Contents and Sample Pages**