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Home >> Bodhgaya
Bodhgaya
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Bodhgaya is a jewel of the tourism in Bihar. A pilgrimage destination for Buddhist followers from India and abroad, Bodhgaya has many Buddhist temples and monasteries.
Lying in sylvan solitude Bodhgaya is situated on the bank of river Niranjana (Modern Falgu). It is 13 km from Gaya town.Bodhgaya is one of the holy sites associated with the life of Lord Buddha. It is a working Budhhist centre than an archeological site. It is also the most important Buddhist pilgrimage destination in the world with the Mahabodhi Temple marking the place where Lord Buddha attained enlightenment and set out on his life of preaching. Buddhists from all over the world visit Bodhgaya along with those who want to learn about Buddhism and meditation. The best time to visit is from October to March.
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Lord Buddha was born on the foothills of the Himalayas as a Sakya prince of Kapilvastu (now in Nepal). Buddhism as a religion was born and evolved here through his preaching. Significantly, the state's name of 'Bihar' originated from 'Vihara' meaning monasteries which abounded in Bihar. Several centuries after Buddha's passing away, the Maurya Emperor Ashoka (234-198 BC) revived, consolidated and spread the original religion. He built monasteries for the Buddhist monks and the pillars to commemorate innumerable historical sites associated with the Buddha's life. Most of these are intact helping scholars and pilgrims alike to trace the life events and spread of religion not only in India but also outside the country.
You can see the magnificent Mahabodhi temple and the Tree from the original sapling still standing in the temple premises. An architectural wonder and world heritage site, Mahabodhi temple signifies truth. While its architecture belongs to Gupta era, there are later ages inscriptions describing visits of pilgrims from Sri Lanka, Myanmar and China between 7th and 10th century AD. Hieuen Tsang visited this temple in 7th century.
Tourist Attractions in Bodhgaya
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