Sankisa, Farrukhabad: Inside the Sri Lankan and Myanmar Buddhist Temples (2019 Visit)
Sankisa, a village in Uttar Pradesh's Farrukhabad district, is one of the lesser-known stops on the Buddhist pilgrimage map. In November 2019, VoxyTalksy filmed the second part of its Sankisa tour, focusing on two temples built in the styles of Sri Lanka and Myanmar.
What the video shows
This video, uploaded in November 2019, has no spoken transcript available, so this summary is based on the footage and its description. It shows the Myanmar Buddhist temple at Sankisa, with a peace bell, a Buddha statue on top of its dome, statues of the Buddha facing the four directions and a shining pillar with figures of angels on four sides. It then moves to the Sri Lankan temple, whose outer walls carry many elephant figures, along with images, statues and paintings from the life of the Buddha. One painting there illustrates Sankisa's place in Buddhist history.
Why Sankisa matters to Buddhists
According to Buddhist tradition, Sankisa (also written Sankassa or Sankasya) is where the Buddha descended to earth from the Trayastrimsa heaven, where he is believed to have gone to teach his mother. The story says he came down by three ladders, accompanied by the gods Brahma and Indra. Because of this belief, Sankisa is counted among the eight great places of Buddhist pilgrimage, along with sites such as Lumbini, Bodh Gaya, Sarnath and Kushinagar.
The site also has archaeological interest. A finely carved elephant capital, believed to be from a pillar of the Mauryan period, survives here under a protective canopy. The British archaeologist Alexander Cunningham identified the site in the 19th century, and the Archaeological Survey of India has carried out excavations here.
Practical tips for visitors
- Sankisa lies in Farrukhabad district; the nearest towns are Farrukhabad and Fatehgarh, and road travel is the most practical option.
- The temples are places of worship. Dress modestly, remove footwear where asked and keep your voice low.
- Ask before photographing monks or ceremonies.
- Carry water and cash; facilities around rural pilgrimage sites can be limited.
- Pilgrim numbers rise around Buddhist festivals, so check local arrangements if you plan to visit then.
The bigger picture
Uttar Pradesh is home to several key Buddhist sites, including Sarnath, Kushinagar, Shravasti, Kaushambi and Sankisa. Temples built by Buddhist communities from countries such as Sri Lanka, Myanmar and Thailand are a reminder of how far the Buddha's teaching travelled from the Gangetic plains, and why a small village in Farrukhabad still draws visitors from across Asia.
