The Buddha traditionally entered parinirvana at Kushinagar, ending his final lifetime.
Kushinagar, in present-day Uttar Pradesh, India, is identified with ancient Kushinara, the capital of the Malla republic. Buddhist tradition says the Buddha died there at age 80 after a long teaching career. His death is described as parinirvana, meaning final nirvana after the end of the life associated with a fully awakened person.
Accounts place the Buddha’s passing between twin sala trees. The Mahaparinibbana Sutta gives a detailed narrative of his final journey, instructions to his disciples, death, cremation, and the distribution of relics among competing claimants.
Kushinagar is one of Buddhism’s principal pilgrimage sites. It is sometimes confused with Bodh Gaya, where the Buddha attained awakening, or Lumbini, where he was born. The traditional life story connects these locations with four major events: birth at Lumbini, awakening at Bodh Gaya, first sermon at Sarnath, and parinirvana at Kushinagar.