Bodhgaya Sightseeing, Quick Facts, History, Packages, Tours & Excursions

The Mahabodhi Temple is a famous temple standing tall at 54 mts. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, this temple has been renovated over the years. It enshrines a large golden Buddha, and is encompassed by an ancient railing, dating back to 100 BC.

See also the famous Bodhi Tree where Buddha is said to have attained enlightenment, and the Vajrasana or throne, where Buddha sat. The tree, acts as a shade to seven holy shrines situated here, said to be the places where Buddha spent a week each meditating, after his enlightenment.

Animesh Lochana Chaitya Temple is where Buddha, in his second week, sat looking at the Bodhi tree, without batting an eyelid. Ratnachankrama is where Buddha spent his third week walking between the Bodhi tree and Animesh Lochana Chaitya, and is also referred to as the Jewel Walk. Ratanaghara Chaitya marks the fourth week of meditation and the Muchhalinda Pond, his sixth week of meditation.

The Bodh Gaya Museum, near the Mahabodhi Temple, houses artifacts excavated in Bodh Gaya and around it. The Magadh University is of international repute and has a centre of studies for history, culture and philosophy.

Bodh Gaya has been home to Buddhists from different countries for many centuries now. There are many temples, stupas and monasteries here dating back to 8^th and 12^th centuries right up to modern times. Visit the Tibetan Monastery, housing the Maitreya Buddha (future Buddha). Also see the Burmese Temple, Chinese Temple and Monastery, Buddhist Monastery of Bhutan, Thai Temple and Monastery, and many more.

Other activities:

If you visit in the month of May, you could experience the festival of Buddha Jayanti. For excursions ahead, visit places like the Sun Temple at Deo, Nalanda, Barabar Caves, Vishnupad Temple and Pawapuri.

Tourism Info:

Bihar State Tourism Development Corporation
Bir Chand Patel Path
Patna-800 001
Bihar
Phone: 91-0612-2225411, 2222622, 2210219.

An important city of Hindu pilgrimage, Bodh Gaya, is at a distance of 7miles from Gaya. Of the four sacred pilgrimage sites of Buddhism, this is said to be the second most revered, since Buddha attained enlightenment here. Bodhgaya also happens to be an archaeologist's paradise, with recent excavations tracing it back to the Neolithic Age of 2,500 BC.