Bodh Gaya contains one of the holiest of Buddhist sites: the location where, under the sacred pipal, Gautama Buddha (Prince Siddhartha) attained enlightenment and became the Buddha. It is a World Heritage Site and a global center of Buddhism, attracting pilgrims and visitors from all over the world.
Bodh Gaya Attractions
1. MAHABODHI TEMPLE
This is the site where the prince Siddharth Gautam attained enlightenment to become Buddha, also called Shakyamuni Buddha.
Mahabodhi Temple was first built by the Mauryan dynasty king Ashoka, a staunch follower of Buddhism, to mark the spot of the Buddha’s enlightenment (Bodhi). UNESCO declared it a World Heritage Site in the year 2002.
It is believed that after gaining enlightenment Buddha spent seven weeks meditating at various spots in this place where the temple has been built.
The temple gracefully stands 180 feet high with four towers in the corners and a Chatra (an auspicious symbol in Hinduism and Buddhism) on the top of the temple.
The Mahabodhi Temple complex is open from 5 am to 9 pm on all days for visitors and devotees. Carrying mobile phones or any kind of electronic gadget inside the temple premises is not allowed. Those interested in clicking pictures can use a photo camera or a video camera by paying a small fee.
2. BODHI TREE
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.
3. MUCHALINDA SAROVAR
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.
4.THAI MONASTERY
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.
The monastery is located within walking distance of the Mahabodhi Temple complex. It is open every day from 9 am to 6 pm for visitors.
5.GREAT BUDHHA STATUE
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.
How Can You Get In Bodh Gaya?
Bodh Gaya By Plane
The nearest airport is at Gaya (17 km), where Druk Air flies once a week from Bangkok. Gaya is served by Thai Airways regularly. Indian Airlines flies from Kolkata to Gaya on Fridays around 10 a.m. and returns on Mondays around 15 a.m. Every day, Air India flies from New Delhi to Varanasi. Indigo also operates flights from New Delhi.
We can also fly to Patna Airport and then take a train or taxi to Bodh Gaya, as Patna has many daily direct flights to Delhi, Kolkata, and Mumbai. Bangkok can be utilized as a hub to change flights to Kolkata (there are several daily flights Bangkok-Kolkata-Bangkok), and Kolkata has four or five daily flights to Patna. This way you can reach Bodh Gaya by plane.
Bodh Gaya by Train
Gaya is the closest railway station (16 km). We can take a bus or a three-wheel taxi to Bodh Gaya there. The cost of a three-wheel cab varies greatly depending on the time of day, but it should be between 80 and 120 rupees. It will help if you haggle hard because there is rarely a scarcity of service.
The train from Patna to Gaya takes roughly two hours to travel by express train. Calcutta to Delhi train travel takes about 8 hours; Delhi to Calcutta rail travel takes approximately 15 hours.
