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Bodhgaya is considered one of the holiest places for Buddhists. It is situated near the bank of the river named lilajan river and it was known by the name Uruwela during the Buddhist time. It is the old saying that a Buddhist was born on the Baisakhi Purnima. The first temple of the Buddhists was built in this area by the great emperor Ashoka. Bodhgaya is a well-known pilgrimage place that is famous for its Buddhist culture and traditions. Many people from different places come to visit this place. Bodhgaya place has the tallest statue of a Buddhist which is now a symbol of holy. This place does not have a single noise as no transport is used to travel, only vehicles are used which are noiseless. The place is very much peaceful and people get relaxed from various stresses they used to have during their day-to-day activities.
The Mahabodhi Temple (literally: “Great Awakening Temple”) or the Mahābodhi Mahāvihāra, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is an ancient, but rebuilt and restored Buddhist temple in Bodh Gaya, Bihar, India, marking the location where the Buddha is said to have attained enlightenment. Bodh Gaya is 15 km from Gaya and is about 96 km (60 mi) from Patna. The site contains a descendant of the Bodhi Tree under which the Buddha gained enlightenment, and has been a major pilgrimage destination of Buddhists for over two thousand years
The temple stands in the east to the Mahabodhi Tree. Its architectural effect is superb. Its basement is 48 square feet and it rises in the form of a cylindrical pyramid till it reaches its neck, which is cylindrical in shape. The total height of the temple is 170 ft. and on the top of the temple are Chatras which symbolize sovereignty of religion.
Standing next to Mahabodhi Temple is a descendant of the sacred Bodhi Tree under which Gautam Buddha sat when he gained enlightenment.
After gaining supreme knowledge, Buddha continued to meditate beneath the tree for seven days without moving from his seat.
Buddha spent the sixth week meditating at this place after attaining awakening.There is a legend associated with it. When Buddha was meditating, a severe thunderstorm broke here but he was unmoved. Seeing this, the snake king of the lake called ‘Muchalinda’ came out to protect Buddha with his hood from the rains. This pond in holy Bodh Gaya town derives its name from the snake king of the pond.
Placed just opposite the Mahabodhi Temple complex, the Chinese Temple in Bodh Gaya is a fine example of Chinese architecture, and Buddhist culture and traditions.
The temple houses three golden statues of Lord Buddha and many inscriptions on the wall are engraved in Chinese. It was built by Buddhist monks with assistance from the Chinese Government.
The ornately made Thai Temple is one of the prime attractions of Bodh Gaya. It was built in the year 1956 by the then Thailand Monarch.The monastery reflects an exceptional blend of Thai Buddhist architecture with a sloping roof curved at the corners and adorned with golden tiles.
As you enter inside, a 25-meter high bronze statue of Lord Budhha catches your attention. Abound in tranquility, this place brings peace to the mind of the beholder.
Adjacent to Mahabodhi Temple in Bodh Gaya is the Great Buddha statue which was consecrated by the 14th Dalai Lama in the year 1989.
It took seven years to complete this amazing sculpture of Buddha sitting in meditation pose on a lotus. Famed as the 80-Foot Buddha statue, this has become a landmark of Bodh Gaya town.
Built at the behest of the King of Bhutan as a tribute to Lord Buddha, the Royal Bhutan Monastery is situated barely a kilometer away from the Mahabodhi Temple complex. The monastery has a beautiful Buddha temple housing a magnificent statue of Lord Buddha.
The most striking aspect of the monastery is the 3-dimensional murals on the walls depicting the life events of Gautam Buddha. It is a must-add place on your checklist if you are visiting Bodh Gaya.
One of the most popular Buddhist temples in Bodh Gaya, the Indosan Nippon Japanese Temple is situated close to the Great Buddha Statue.
It was built in the year 1972 to spread the teachings of Lord Buddha the world over. The temple is a showcase of Japanese architectural brilliance.
Important life events of Lord Buddha are beautifully engraved on the walls of the temple.
These caves are located about 12 km from Bodh Gaya and are believed to be the place where Buddha spent six years in meditation before attaining enlightenment. There are several caves here, and each one has a different significance.
Sujatha Temple is enthusiastic to a humble tribal woman called Sujatha, who proposed pudding to Gautam Buddha. The temple is considered to be religiously imperative as the offering is supposed to have saved Lord Buddha’s life. According to the legend, it is said that kheer was the initial meal Gautam Buddha had consumed after years of starvation ever since he relinquished the materialistic life involving food to attain enlightenment. Later, the Gautama Buddha realized that one cannot attain enlightenment by the Immoderation, after that he sustained his journey and stretched Bodh Gaya where he finally attained the enlightenment.
In case you wish to witness (and not see) the significant traces in Buddha’s life, this museum is one of the best tourist places in Bodhgaya as it will provide you a thorough study dating back 2500 years in a more exciting and informative way, that is in a visual format. The complete show is classified into four sections which are dedicated to dissimilar things – 3D animation, historical background, geographical exposure and thoughts of Lord Buddha. You must come here at least once throughout your visit.
Situated close to the famous Mahabodhi Temple, was set up in the year 1956. The museum houses some excellent and rare antique collections including terracotta items, sculptures from the 1st century and idols of Hindu gods made of silver, bronze and gold, among others. In a gallery inside, visitors can see all the Dasavatara or incarnations of Lord Vishnu. There are enormous idols of Lord Buddha in abhayamudra position and varaha avatar displayed in the museum. Also on display here are objects belonging to the Mauryan and Gupta periods and coins from the Mughal era. Apart from some curious travellers, the place is frequented by historians and archaeologists in large numbers
