It is an important Buddhist pilgrimage site, where Buddhists believe Gautama Buddha attained Parinirvana after his death. Kushinagar was a celebrated center of the Malla kingdom of ancient India. Later, it would be known as Kushinara, one of the most important four holy sites for Buddhists. At this location, near the Hiranyavati River, Gautama Buddha attained Mahaparinirvana (or 'Final Nirvana'. He died at the age of 80 in at a place called Kushinagara a town in UP. The event is known as Mahaparinirvan.