Location : Bihar
Best time to Visit : Throughout the Year
Attractions Around : Animeshlocha Stupa, Ratnachakarma,
Muchalinda Lake
About the Mahabodhi Temple
Bodhgaya is a serene and quite village in the state of Bihar, reckoned
holiest amongst all Buddhist pilgrimages for it was here that a young
prince's quest of eternal knowledge came to an end and he came to be known
as The Buddha. The peepal tree situated here, also known as the Bodhi tree
is where prince Gautama sat and meditated for three days and nights after
which he was bestowed with the supreme knowledge and thus set the wheel of
dharma in motion and laid the foundation of Buddhism.
The young prince had been wandering for years in search of the supreme
truth before arriving at Bodhgaya where his dream was realised. The sacred
city of Bodhgaya lies on the banks of Nirjana river, just 13 km from Gaya.
According to legend, Buddha stayed at Bodhgaya for seven weeks after being
enlightened, each week being spent in a different part of the temple
complex. The first week was spent under the Bodhi tree, while he spent the
second week standing and gazing at the tree, as if thanking it for bestowing
him with the supreme knowledge. The third week was spent in meditation, the
fourth being devoted in a quest to attain higher modes of exposition. The
next few weeks were spent in meditation and walking to and fro across the
temple complex.
The pyramidal structured temple soars to an imposing height of 170 feet and
dates back to the 2nd century AD. A series of steps leads to the inner
courtyard right in the centre of which stands the main structure. The
sanctum houses a giant statue of Buddha in an earth touching pose while the
Vajrasana or the diamond throne lies between the temple entrance and the
Bodhi tree. Various ruling dynasties made improvements and modifications to
the structure before massive floods buried the courtyard until 1884 when
excavations at the site were carried out and the temple was reorganised on
the basis of a miniature model found among the ruins. The beautifully ornate
stone railings surrounding the complex are among the oldest remains at
Bodhgaya.
The 2500th year of the birth of Buddhism was
celebrated in the year 1956, marking the occasion with renewed activity in
the region and building up of a number of new temples and other such
structures. The Bodhgaya archaeological museum contains a rich collection of
relics and remains recovered from the site of excavation. While most of the
structure is now in ruins, the original sculptured pillars that surround the
temple can still be seen.
Do Not Miss Out On
Animeshlocha Stupa
The second week after Buddha got enlightened was spent by him standing and
gazing at the tree which helped him gain the ultimate knowledge. The spot,
known as the animeshlocha stupa or the unblinking shrine, is marked with a
standing figure of Buddha with his eyes fixed on the tree.
Ratnachakarma
Ratnachakarma is the place where Buddha spent days walking to and fro from
the tree to the unblinking shrine. Lotus flowers are believed to have come
up at the place and is marked by a recently constructed brick platform
containing 18 lotus flowers.
Muchalinda Lake
Muchalinda or the serpent king is believed to have resided at the bottom of
the lake and rose up to protect Buddha from a severe storm created by Mara
god to disturb the meditation. The rajata tree or the spot where Buddha
preached is also located nearby.
Sujata Asthan
A little away from Bodhgaya, this is the place where a village woman
approached Buddha, offering him a bowl of rice. Buddha is said to have
emanated a golden hue and white light from his body. The caves where Buddha
spent his days prior to being enlightened are also located nearby besides
the river Phalgu.
Stay At
Being a prominent religious spot, Bodhgaya boasts of all kinds of
accommodation facilities ranging from luxury to budget hotels. Some of the
better staying options at Bodhgaya include Hotel Lotus Nikko Bodhgaya (17 Km
from Gaya railway station, 9 Km from airport and 15 Km from Bus Stand, 135
Km from Patna airport), Royal Residency Hotel (6 Km from airport, 4 Km from
railway station and 1 Km from Bus Stand), Tokyo Vihar Hotel (Opp. Japanese
Temple) and Mahamaya Hotel (Near Mahabodhi Temple).
Getting There
By Air : The airport at Gaya is located just 8 km from
Bodhgaya, though very few flights are available. The best option, therefore,
is to travel by air to Patna and board a state transport bus or hire a taxi
from there to reach Bodhgaya. Indian Airlines connects Delhi and other major
Indian cities with Patna through regular flights.
By Rail : Gaya railway station is located just 13 km from
Bodhgaya. Several trains ply regularly between Gaya and major Indian cities
including Delhi, Calcutta, Varanasi etc. Direct trains to Gaya are also
available from Mumbai, Patna, Lucknow, Dehradun, Haridwar, Sarnath and
Nalanda.
By Road : Good roads connect Bodhgaya with other major
neighbouring cities, though travelling at night is not recommended. State
transport buses are easily available between Bodhgaya and all the major
cities in Bihar.
Distance from Major Cities
- Allahabad : 375 Km
- Calcutta : 489 Km
- Kanpur : 570 Km
- Jamshedpur : 350 Km
- Patna : 97 Km
- Varanasi : 250 Km
