Bodhgaya, Bihar

BodhGaya is an extremely popular religious site in Gaya district of Bihar. It is known for being the place where Gautama Buddha attained enlightenment under the very sacred Bodhi Tree.   Buddhists visit here from all over the world as BodhGaya remains the most popular of the four main pilgrimage places related to the life of Gautama Buddha.

History

Situated by the bank of river Neranjana, BodhGaya belongs to 500 BC. BodhGaya is counted among the top four important sites related to the life of Gautam Buddha with others being Kushinagar, Lumbini, and Sarnath. BodhGaya has the very sacred Mahabodhi tree where Gautam Buddha meditated and attained enlightenment. It is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is visited by uncountable travellers from Japan, China, and other foreign countries.

Mahabodhi Temple
Do explore the beautifully carved Mahabodhi temple which is the big attraction at Bodh Gaya. The temple remains open from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. The temple was raised by emperor Ashoka in 260 BC. It is counted among India’s oldest brick structures. Here you can explore numerous religious artefacts displayed beautifully. The central tower of the Mahabodhi temple rises to a height of 55 m and is encircled by four smaller towers.

When to Go
The most popular pilgrimage season starts in Bodh Gaya from September and goes till January. Apart from this, Buddha Jayanti in late April or May also attracts many pilgrims to BodhGaya.

How to Reach
By Air: Gaya is the nearest airport around 17 kilometres from the town of Bodh Gaya.
By Rail: The nearest rail head is Gaya Junction, 13 kilometres away from Bodh Gaya.
By Road: A good road network links the town of Bodh Gaya to the city of Gaya.