The Buddhist circuit by phone: Lumbini, Bodh Gaya, Sarnath and Kushinagar
A pilgrimage across India and Nepal means two networks and a land border at Sunauli. How to stay connected on both sides, and the phone rule at the Mahabodhi Temple.
The four great Buddhist sites sit in two countries: Lumbini, the birthplace, in Nepal; Bodh Gaya, Sarnath near Varanasi and Kushinagar in India. Most pilgrims cross the border by road at Sunauli, and the phone has to cross it too.
The circuit is growing: Lumbini received 140,969 foreign visitors from 106 countries in 2025, and Kushinagar nearly 2 million visitors in the first ten months of the year. Buddha Purnima 2027 is expected on 20 May, following the lunar calendar.
Two countries, two plans
Indian and Nepali SIMs do not simply carry on across the border: an Indian SIM needs international roaming in Nepal, and the other way round. The simplest setup:
- Buy two eSIMs before you go, one for India and one for Nepal, and install both at home.
- Use the India plan for Bodh Gaya, Sarnath and Kushinagar. It connects to Airtel.
- At Sunauli, switch mobile data to the Nepal plan, which connects to Ncell and Nepal Telecom.
Our guide to a trip across two countries explains the switch step by step.
Local SIMs, if you prefer
- Nepal: Ncell sells a tourist SIM, with the original passport required.
- India: foreigners need the original passport and visa, a photo and a local address, and the SIM stops working when the visa expires.
Phones at the Mahabodhi Temple
Mobile phones and electronic devices have been banned inside the Mahabodhi Temple complex at Bodh Gaya since 2013, and must be left at the entrance, according to Bihar Tourism. Plan your calls and your meeting point before you go in.
Before you go
- Save offline maps of each site and the road from Kushinagar to Sunauli.
- Keep your permits and bookings as screenshots, not links.
- Tell family you may be offline for a few hours around the border.
Quick answers
Does my Indian SIM work in Lumbini?
Only with international roaming, which is charged. A Nepal eSIM or a Nepali SIM avoids it.
Can I take my phone into the Mahabodhi Temple?
No. Phones and electronic devices must be deposited at the entrance.
When is Buddha Purnima 2027?
Expected on 20 May 2027. Dates follow the lunar calendar and sources can differ.
Sources: Kathmandu Post (5 January 2026), Travel and Tour World (2025), Bihar Tourism, Ncell tourist SIM page, Wikivoyage (Sunauli). Checked 21 September 2026.