Bodhgaya

Bodhgaya: The Melting Pot of Buddhism

Bodhgaya for Buddhists is what Mecca is for Muslims. Bodhgaya is the place where Prince Siddhartha attained his enlightenment and became Buddha. Thousands of pilgrims come every day to pray, learn and meditate here. The Bodhi tree standing here today is the fig tree descended from the original tree under which Lord Buddha had attained his enlightenment. Bodhgaya takes mention in many inscriptions and travellers accounts. Some of these are the accounts of Chinese monks like Faxian and Xuanzang. The place was the heart of Buddhism culture until 18th century when the Turkish army invaded the land. Historically there have been several names of Bodhgaya like Uruvela, Sambodhi, Vajrasana or Mahabodhi. The prime monastery of Bodhgaya was previously called as Bodhimanda-vihāra.

The major attractions of Bodhgaya include the Mahabodhi Temple, Bodhi Tree and the Bodhgaya Archaeological Museum. The beautiful Mahabodhi Temple is a 52 metre tall tower and contains a large golden statue of Lord Buddha. The temple is presumably built by Emperor Ashoka to mark the site of Buddha's enlightenment. Bodhi tree stands just aside to the temple. Bodhgaya Archaeological Museum has a large collection of Buddha statues in terracotta and stone. Apart from the Mahabodhi Temple, Bodhgaya is known for its Buddhists monasteries which are true architectural delights. The Indosan Nipponji Temple in Bodh Gaya are also a must-visit here. Several Tibetan Monasteries and worship places are also present here which are maintained by Sri Lankan, Bhutanese, Chinese and Tibetan Monks. Visiting the place during Buddha Jayanti Festival (April-May) is a blissful experience.