Where did Mahavira attain nirvana?

Mahavira attained nirvana at Pavapuri, also spelled Pawapuri, in present-day Bihar, India.

Pavapuri is a major Jain pilgrimage centre in Nalanda district. Jain texts and traditional accounts identify it as the place where Mahavira, the 24th and final Tirthankara of the present time cycle, attained liberation. In Jain thought, nirvana or moksha is release from the cycle of birth and death; Mahavira’s soul is believed to have reached Siddhashila, the realm of liberated souls.

The site is especially associated with Diwali. Jain communities commemorate Mahavira’s nirvana on the festival night, making the occasion both a religious observance and an important point in the Jain calendar. The famous Jal Mandir stands in a pond at Pavapuri and is traditionally connected with the place of Mahavira’s cremation and final liberation.

Pavapuri should not be confused with Kundagrama, Mahavira’s traditional birthplace, or Vaishali, a nearby ancient city associated with his life and preaching. Mount Kailash is traditionally connected with Rishabhanatha’s liberation, not Mahavira’s.