In The Buddha's Footsteps (11)

31st March/1st April 2009, Savatthi

Left Sarnath today at about 7.30am for a 300km journey to Savatthi. By noon we stopped at a coffeeshop for lunch.

Took two pieces of capati's. It taste the same as those I usually eats in Malaysia but the size is much smaller. It costs only 5 rupees each.

We arrived at the Wat Maha Rishii Prisert at about 5.30pm after travelling for about 10 long hours. After settling ourselves, we had dinner consists of noodles and fried rice ( rice was leftover from lunch) which was cooked by volunteers in our group since the temple do not have anystaff to assist us other than the lone caretaker.

Within the Wat Maha Risshi Prisert is a stone image of the monk himself.

We woke up early the next morning to catch the morning sunrise at a hilly sacred site not far from the temple.

After breakfast at the Wat Maha Rishii we proceed to the main and most important Buddhist site in Savatthi, the Jetavana monastery.

When I initially started to study the sutta's during my university days, the name Jetavana and Ananthapindika has been mentioned umpteen times in many of the suttas. My visit to Jetavana this time gave a sense of great excitement as I can relate the Buddha to the suttas that he delivered here which I first study years ago.

Buddha spent many of His rains retreat in Savatthi after the wealthy merchant Anathapindika bought a park from Prince Jeta and developed it into the Jeta Grove, Anathapindika's Park or more popularly known as Jetavana.

The Jetavana park comprised many temples, structures and facilities.

Jetavana park is very well maintained by the local authorities.

The Gandhakuti (background) is the place where the Buddha used to stay when He is in Savatthi. The Jetavana Gandhakuti was built in the middle of the monastery.

After Jetavana, we visited the site of the new Wat Thai Chetawan in Savatthi. This new temple is to replace the Wat Maha Risshi Prisert which was hand over to the Cambodian government due to the previous chief monk who has dual Thai and Cambodian nationality.

We went back to the Wat Maha Rishii for lunch before departs for Lumbini at about 1pm.

During the journey to Lumbini, the left tyre of bus no. 2 punctured and we took the opportunity to disembark to see the surrounding areas.

This water pump is a regular feature in all the villages that we passes through during our journey. The ground water is cool and crystal clear.

This guy on my right is our bus driver. We were inside a small tea stall.

Our group members loiters in front of the tea stall while waiting for the tyre to be repaired. After 45 minutes, we were on the move again.

Our group will be crossing over the India/Nepal border via the Sonauli immigration. We arrived at a new Thai temple known as Wat Thai 960 near the border to take a rest while our passports and immigration procedures are sorted out. While waiting we helped ourselves with hot drinks and local pancakes.

Wat Thai 960 was built about two years ago in conjunction with the Cakri dynasty 9th sovereign and King Bhumipol's 60th year on the throne. The temple building costs are mostly sponsored by corporate bodies from Thailand.

It is a very cosy temple where tired pilgrims can have a good rest while waiting the long queue at the immigration. This temple even have special facilities for the usage of the royalty.