Puri (in Odisha) is a Hindu pilgrimage site known for the Jagannath Temple. Sarnath, Kushinagar, and Bodh Gaya are pivotal locations in Buddha's life.

Milinda Panho (Questions of Milinda) is a famous Buddhist text recording the dialogue between the Indo-Greek King Menander (Milinda) and the monk Nagasena.

Alara Kalama was one of the teachers under whom Siddhartha studied meditation before he sought enlightenment on his own.

Mahayana Buddhism introduced the worship of Buddha and Bodhisattvas in the form of idols/statues, treating him as a deity.

Buddha died (attained Mahaparinirvana) in Kushinagar at the age of 80.

Sallekhana is the Jain religious practice of voluntarily fasting to death by gradually reducing food and liquid intake.

Jamali, who was Mahavira's son-in-law, became his first disciple.

Gautama Buddha is famously referred to as the 'Light of Asia' (a title popularized by Edwin Arnold's poem).

The Kalpa Sutra, attributed to Bhadrabahu, contains the biographies of the Jain Tirthankaras, notably Parshvanatha and Mahavira.

The Third Buddhist Council was held at Pataliputra under the patronage of Emperor Ashoka.