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Bodh Gaya India: Where Buddha Became Enlightened

bodh gaya

Bodh Gaya is the most important Buddhist pilgrimage destination in the world. Located in the state of Bihar, India, it’s here that Lord Buddha became enlightened during intense meditation under a Bodhi tree. The exact spot is now marked by the sprawling Mahabodhi temple complex. In this very serene place, monks from all over the world can be found sitting at the foot of an enormous carved Buddha statue, reading holy scriptures, and in deep contemplation. The town is also home to dozens of Buddhist monasteries, maintained by various Buddhist countries. An increasing number of people visit Bodh Gaya each year.

Getting There

Gaya airport, 12 kilometers (7 miles) away, has infrequent direct flights from Kolkata. If you’re coming from other major Indian cities, the nearest airport is in Patna, 140 kilometers (87 miles) away. From Patna, it’s a three to four-hour drive.

Bodh Gaya can be easily reached by train. The nearest railway station is Gaya, which is well connected with Patna, Varanasi, New Delhi, Kolkata, Puri, and other places in Bihar. The journey from Patna by train is about two and a half hours.

Bodh Gaya can also be visited as part of a pilgrimage to other Buddhist sites in India. Indian Railways operates a special Mahaparinirvan Express Buddhist Tourist Train. 

Another popular option is to travel to Bodh Gaya from Varanasi by car taking under six hours. 

When to Go

The pilgrimage season starts in Bodh Gaya in September and reaches a peak in January. Ideally, the best time to visit weather-wise is between November and February. Avoid the monsoon season between June and September. The weather gets quite oppressive, followed by heavy rains. Summers, from March to May, are very hot. However, Bodh Gaya still attracts a large number of devotees during this time for Buddha Jayanti (Buddha’s birthday) celebrations, held in late April or May.

What to See and Do

The elaborately carved Mahabodhi temple, Buddhism’s holiest shrine, is the big attraction at Bodh Gaya. The temple was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2002. It’s open from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily, with chanting and meditation held at 5:30 a.m. and 6 p.m.

The other temples and monasteries, built and maintained by various Buddhist countries, are also fascinating— particularly the different architectural styles. Opening hours are from 5 a.m. to noon and 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Don’t miss the very ornate Thai temple, shimmering with gold.

The towering 80-foot sandstone and granite statue of Lord Buddha is a must-see. It took 12,000 stonemasons seven years to complete.

Bodh Gaya also has an Archaeological Museum displaying an array of relics, scriptures, and ancient statues of Buddha. It is closed on Fridays.

The sacred Dungeshwari Cave Temples (also known as Mahakala Caves), where Lord Buddha meditated for an extended period, are a short distance northeast of Bodh Gaya and worth visiting as well.

Must Read – Similar Tourist Destinations to Haridwar

Meditation and Buddhism Courses

You’ll find plenty of courses and retreats available in Bodh Gaya. The Root Institute for Wisdom Culture conducts introductory and intermediate meditation and philosophy courses, explained in the Tibetan Mahayana tradition, from October to March.

Those interested in Vipassana Meditation can learn it at the Dhamma Bodhi Vipassana Center, with 10-day residential retreats starting on the 1st and 16th of every month.

Some monasteries also offer Buddhism courses.

Festivals

The biggest festival in Bodh Gaya is Buddha Jayanti, held on a full moon in late April or May each year. The festival celebrates Lord Buddha’s birthday. Other festivals in Bodh Gaya include the annual Buddha Mahotsava, a three-day celebration filled with cultural and religious activities.

The Kagyu Monlam Chenmo and Nyingma Monlam Chenmo prayer festivals for world peace are held around January-February every year. The Maha Kala Puja is conducted at monasteries for several days before the new year, for purification and to remove obstacles.

Where to Stay

If you’re on a strict budget, Bodh Gaya’s monastery guesthouses are an inexpensive alternative to a hotel. The accommodations are basic but clean. It can be difficult to make advance bookings at these places though. You can try the well-maintained Bhutanese monastery (phone: 0631 2200710), which is quiet and has rooms in a garden setting.

It’s also possible to stay at the Root Institute, which is conveniently located near the Mahabodhi temple and offers meditation retreats.

If you’d prefer to stay in a guesthouse, Kundan Bazaar Guest House and Tara Guest House are very popular with travelers. They’re located in the quaint village of Bhagalpur, a five-minute bicycle ride from the center of Bodh Gaya.

Hotel Sakura House has a peaceful location in town and a view of the Mahabodhi temple from its rooftop. Hotel Bodhgaya Regency is the pick of the top-end hotels is not far from the Mahabodhi temple.

Related Article – Sarnath: Place Where the Buddha Delivered His First Sermon

Where to Eat

Both vegetarian and non-vegetarian food is available, and there’s a wide range of cuisine from Thai to Continental. Be Happy Cafe caters to western tastes. It has decent coffee and cakes, although some people think it’s overrated and overpriced. Nirvana the Veg Cafe is popular opposite the Thai temple. Try the Tibetan Om Cafe for tasty Tibetan food. The makeshift tented restaurants that line the roadside during the tourist season are cheap places to eat.

Side Trips

A side trip to Rajgir, where Lord Buddha spent much of his life teaching his disciples, is recommended. It’s located about 75 kilometers (46 miles) from Bodh Gaya and can be reached by bus or taxi. There, you’ll be able to visit Gridhakuta (also known as Vulture’s Peak), where the Buddha used to meditate and preach. You can take the aerial tramway/cable car up to the top, for great views. The extensive ruins of ancient Nalanda University, a significant center for Buddhist learning, are also nearby.

Travel Tips

Electricity supply can be erratic at Bodh Gaya, so it’s a good idea to carry a flashlight with you.

It is traditional to take off your shoes before entering the inner parts of the main Mahabodhi Temple complex, as well as any of the monasteries around the area. Wearing loose-fitting respectful clothing and simple sandals is recommended.

The town isn’t very big and can be explored on foot or by bicycle.

Frequently asked questions about Bodh Gaya –

Q. What is Bodh Gaya famous for?

A – Mahabodhi temple, Bodh Gaya, Bihar state, India, designated a World Heritage site in 2002. Bodh Gaya contains one of the holiest of Buddhist sites: the location where, under the sacred pipal, or Bo tree, Gautama Buddha (Prince Siddhartha) attained enlightenment and became the Buddha.

Q. What is the old name of Bodhgaya?

A – The main monastery of Bodh Gaya used to be called the Bodhimanda-vihāra (Pali). Now it is called the Mahabodhi Temple.

Q. Why is Gaya famous?

A – Gaya is mostly known as the birthplace of Buddhism as Gautama Buddha attained nirvana in this holy site. Gaya has temples of great beauty and heritage and makes it one of the most desired spiritual destinations in India. The beautiful city is surrounded on three sides by hills and the meandering Phalgu River.

Q. When was Bodh Gaya built?

A – The first temple was built by Emperor Ashoka in the 3rd century B.C., and the present temple dates from the 5th or 6th centuries. It is one of the earliest Buddhist temples built entirely with brick, still standing in India, from the late Gupta period

Q – Is Bodh Gaya safe?

A – Perfectly safe during the day. Be more careful after dark. At this time of year, January, there is no need to worry about the heat. The temperature will be perfect for exploring Bodhgaya.

Q – Is Bodh Gaya worth visiting?

A – Bodh Gaya is the most important Buddhist pilgrimage destination in the world. Located in the state of Bihar, India, it’s here that Lord Buddha became enlightened during intense meditation under a Bodhi tree. The town is also home to dozens of Buddhist monasteries, maintained by various Buddhist countries.

Q. Is the Bodhi tree still alive?

A – The celebrated Bodhi tree still exists, but is very much decayed; one large stem, with three branches to the westward, is still green, but the other branches are barkless and rotten. In 1881, Cunningham planted a new Bodhi tree on the same site.

Q. What is the Speciality of Gaya?

A – It is the place where Rama, with Sita and Lakshmana, came to offer pind-daan for their father, Dasharath, and continues to be a major Hindu pilgrimage site for the pind-daan ritual. Bodh Gaya, where Buddha is said to have attained enlightenment, and is one of the four holy sites of Buddhism.

Q. Under which tree did Buddha get enlightenment?

A – Bodhi tree, also called Bo treeaccording to Buddhist tradition, the specific sacred fig (Ficus religiosa) under which the Buddha sat when he attained Enlightenment (Bodhi) at Bodh Gaya in Bihar, India.

Q – Is Gaya and Bodhgaya same?

A – Gaya and Bodhgaya are two different places which are located 16 km away from each other. Gaya is the second largest city of Bihar and it is well known for its Hindu temples and ‘Pind Daan’ rituals, whereas Bodhgaya is a village famous for its Buddhist associations and temples (or monasteries

Q. How did Buddha achieve enlightenment?

A – Enlightenment. One day, seated beneath the Bodhi tree (the tree of awakening) Siddhartha became deeply absorbed in meditation, and reflected on his experience of life, determined to penetrate its truth. He finally achieved Enlightenment and became the Buddha

Q. When did Buddha get enlightenment?

A – December 8 is celebrated as Bodhi Day by Buddhists around the world. It commemorates the day when Buddha, Siddhartha Gautama, attained enlightenment.

Q. How did Buddha attain Nirvana?

A – The Buddha said: “One who is willing to attain Nirvana, has to understand Four Noble Truths. These Noble Truths are the key to attain Nirvana, without proper understanding of Suffering, Cause of Suffering, Relief of Suffering and the way to end Suffering, These are the four Noble Truths.”

Q – Where did Buddha attained nirvana?

A – On this day the supreme light of realization dawned on Buddha and he attained Enlightenment(Nirvan) beneath the Bodhi tree at Bodha Gaya. Buddha passed into eternity(Maha Parinirvana) after completing his Sahasra Chandra Darshana (80th year) on the full moon day of Vaishakha.

Q – Why Falgu river is dry?

A – Falgu river is considered to be flowing during the ramayana era when sita devi cursed the river to be dried up as the river god lied about her doing the pind daan.

Q. Is Pind Daan necessary?

A – Importance of Pind Daan – Below are some reasons for pind daan being so important rituals: Post-death, when souls are still wandering on earth get peace when pind daan is offered to them by their relatives. It is believed that post pind daan souls are relived from the torchers of hell leading him/her to Moksha.

Q. Who built Vishnupad Temple?

A – Rebuilt by Queen Ahilya Bai Holkar of Indore,

Q. Who destroyed Mahabodhi temple?

A – The temple was built by Emperor Ashoka in the 3rd century, with its current structure dating back to the 5th or 6th centuries. The temple was looked after by a community of monks from Sri Lanka till the 11th century before being destroyed by Muslim rulers.

Q. Who destroyed Bodhi tree?

A – After the fall of the Mauryan Empire in the second century B.C.E., it is reported that the Suṅga King Puṣyamitra, a strong opponent of Buddhism, destroyed the Bodhi tree. However, later, as many as 82 saplings of the tree were brought back from Sri Lanka and replanted at the same spot.

Q. Is Bodh Gaya open?

A – GAYA: Most of the monasteries at Bodh Gaya are still to reopen for tourists and the devotees since their closure due to the Covid-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdown. Presently, only the world heritage Mahabodhi Mahavihara and the 80ft tall Buddha statue are open for the visitors.

Q. How can I go to Bodh Gaya?

A – Travel options

  1. By Air. Gaya is the nearest airport which is approximately 17 kilometres from the town of Bodh Gaya.
  2. By Bus. A main road connects the town of Bodh Gaya to the city of Gaya.
  3. By Train. The nearest rail head is Gaya Junction, which is 13 kilometres away from Bodh Gaya.
  4. Road/Self Drive.
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