Gautama Buddha attained Mahaparinirvana (died) at:

The Buddha attained "Mahaparinirvana" (final release from the cycle of birth and death, at his death) at Kushinagar (ancient Kushinara), in the present-day Kushinagar district of Uttar Pradesh.

About the Buddha's death:

• He died at the age of 80, around 483 BCE according to the traditional date (some scholars suggest around 400 BCE).
• He was then on a journey from Rajagriha towards the north.
• At the village of Pava, he ate a meal offered by a blacksmith named Chunda, after which he became seriously ill.
• He reached Kushinara and lay down between two sal trees, on his right side, with his head towards the north.
• His last words to the monks are recorded as: "All conditioned things are subject to decay; strive on with diligence."
• His last days are described in the "Mahaparinibbana Sutta".
• His body was cremated at Kushinara, and his relics were divided among eight groups, who built stupas over them.

Kushinara in the Buddha's time:

• It was a town of the Malla gana (republic).
• The Mallas cremated the Buddha's body with great honour.

Kushinagar today:

• "Mahaparinirvana Temple": it has a 6-metre-long reclining image of the Buddha (in the "dying" posture), made in the 5th century CE.
• "Ramabhar Stupa": the place where the Buddha was cremated.
• "Matha Kuar shrine".
• Kushinagar International Airport was inaugurated in 2021, to promote Buddhist tourism.

Buddhist art:

The death of the Buddha is shown by a stupa (in early symbolic art) or by a reclining Buddha.

Why not the other options?

• ✗Sarnath is where the Buddha gave his first sermon.
• ✗Bodh Gaya is where he attained enlightenment.
• ✗Shravasti is where he spent many rainy seasons.