Bodh Gaya is considered the most revered of all pilgrimage sites for Buddhists. Located in Bihar, Bodh Gaya Bodhgaya was the birthplace of Lord Buddha, and under a Bodhi tree here, Gautama Buddha attained enlightenment.
Bodhgaya is thronged by tourists from around the world throughout the year. Here are the top tourist places in Bodh Gaya, that you can visit during our visit to this holy land.
Mahabodhi Temple
One of India’s prime spiritual places, this is considered the site of Buddha’s spiritual enlightenment. An UNESCO World Heritage Site, this temple was built by Ashoka in the third century and restored by the British in the year 1880.
The Mahabodhi Temple is located 3.8 km away from Marasa Sarovar Bodhgaya, our hotel in Bodhgaya.
Major Buddhist Attractions
The Bodhi Tree : The Bodhi tree is an auspicious ficus tree, the fifth generation plant of the original one, under which prince Siddhartha had attained enlightenment or the perfect knowledge. Under the tree is the Vajrasan, the platform on which Siddhartha had sat in meditation. Close to Vajrasan is Buddhapada, the footprints of the Buddha on stone and Chaukramana, the Jewel Walk, where it is believed that the Buddha strolled while in deep thought. Many sacred trees in India and other countries are originally raised from seeds brought from the ancient Bodh Gaya tree. Bhikkhuni Sanghamitra, daughter of the Indian emperor, Ashoka had taken a shoot of the original Bodhi tree to Sri Lanka in the 3rd century BCE, where it was planted by the Sri Lankan ruler, Devanampiya Tissa at the Mahavira monastery in Anuradhapura, and is still a sacred place for the Buddhists.
The Maha Bodhi Temple :
Bodh Gaya is the home to the ancient temple of Lord Buddha, located just east of the Bodhi tree. The temple’s architecture is superb and has a beautiful stone railing around it. The Maha Bodhi temple has a 150 feet high tower, which contains a gilded colossal image of the Buddha in the ‘bhumisparsha mudra’ or touching the ground pose. The original shrine here is believed to have been raised by an Indian emperor Ashoka. Depicted on the walls of the temple are scenes from Buddha’s life. The basement of the present temple is 15m square, 15m in length as well as in breadth and its height is 52m which rises in the form of a slender pyramid tapering off from a square platform. A museum in the vicinity has gold, bronze and stone images of the Buddha.
Lotus Tank :
In the north of the Maha Bodhi temple lies a large tank full of lotus plant. The Buddha is believed to have spent a week at this site.
Shaivite Monastery :
The Shaivite monastery is situated adjacent to the Maha Bodhi temple, and has a cluster of four temples. These temples are surrounded by enchanting greenery and marked by architectural marvels and have several ‘samadhis’ in their vicinity.
Other Monasteries :
A number of Tibetan, Japanese and Burmese monasteries are located around the Maha Bodhi temple. The Tibetan monastery houses the massive Dharma Chakra or the Wheel of Law, while the Japanese monastery is famous for conducting vital discourse on Buddhism.
Bodh Gaya Museum :
The Bodh Gaya museum fulfills the requirement of religious art lovers as it initiates one into the age of the Buddha’s centered art forms. The museum houses artistic Buddhist sculpture collection from 1st century BCE to the 11th century CE.
Nearby Tourist Attractions
Gaya and Barabar cave are two of the major attractions near the holy place of Bodh Gaya. Gaya is a place of religious sanctity for the Hindus and lies 12 kilometers from Bodh Gaya between Pretshila and Ramshila hills. It has a large number of the Buddhist temples. The Barabar caves are 32 kilometers away from Bodh Gaya and presents a vivid picture of the Buddhist architecture.
Shopping
A tourist can buy Bells, Books on Buddhism, Thangkas and Woolen clothes(By the Tibetans) from the local market of Bodh Gaya, which is situated around the temple.
How to get there
Air :-Gaya, 12 kilometers away from Bodh Gaya, is the main access station to reach Bodh Gaya. Gaya owns an international airport, which connects it directly to Colombo and Bangkok.
Rail :- Gaya has an important railway station with services from many parts of India.
Road :- Gaya and Bodh Gaya, both are well connected by roadways to other major cities such as Patna, the state capital of Bihar and Ranchi, the state capital of Jharkhand. Bodh Gaya is connected to Gaya by regular and frequent transport services and can easily be reached within half an hour or so, as it is just 12 kilometers away.