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 respects, five additional notes have been added. These are on�the edicts of Asoka (3 century BC); Buddhist monasteries seen by Hiuen Tsang, the Chinese pilgrim, in the 7 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. (jacket)

Buddhist Sites and Shrines in India : History, Art and Architecture/D.C. Ahir. Delhi, Sri Satguru, 2003, 335 p., maps, plates, [Bibliotheca Indo-Buddhica Series No. 231].

DC Ahir (born 1928) is a reputed scholar of Buddhist studies, and has made notable contirbution to the history of Buddhism during the last 42 years. He retired as Director to the Government of India and since then is fully engaged in enriching literature. He already has more than forty published works to his credit, besidees numerous articles on Buddhism.

Contents:

Preface.

Introduction.
1. Andhra Pradesh.
2. Arunachal Pradesh.
3. Assam.
4. Bihar.
5. Chhattisgarh.
6. Delhi.
7. Goa.
8. Gujarat.
9. Haryana.
10. Himachal Pradesh.
11. Jammu & Kashmir.
12. Karnataka.
13. Kerala.
14. Madhya Pradesh.
15. Maharashtra.
16. Orissa.
17. Pondicherry.
18. Punjab.
19. Rajasthan.
20. Sikkim.
21. Tamil Nadu.
22. Tripura.
23. Uttaranchal.
24. Uttar Pradesh.
25. West Bengal.

Appendices:
1. The edicts of Asoka.
2. Buddhist monasteries seen by Hiuen Tsang.
3. Sacred relics of the Buddha.
4. Buddhist remains in Pakistan.
5. Buddhist sites in Bangla Desh.

Bibliography.

Index.

Buddhist sites and shrines in India.