Bodhgaya – Center of the Buddhist World

The crucible of Buddhism, Bodhgaya was where Prince Siddhartha attained enlightenment beneath a bodhi tree 2600 years ago and became Buddha (the ‘Awakened One’). In terms of blessedness, this tiny temple town is to Buddhists what Mecca is to Muslims. Unsurprisingly, it attracts thousands of pilgrims from around the world every year, who come for prayer, study and meditation.

Bodh Gaya, or Bodhgaya, is a village in the northeast Indian state of Bihar. Considered one of the most important Buddhist pilgrimage sites, it is dominated by the ancient brick Mahabodhi Temple Complex, built to mark the site where the Buddha attained enlightenment beneath a sacred Bodhi Tree. A direct descendant of the tree sits within the complex today, along with six other sacred sites, including a lotus pond.

In the town, other Buddhist worship sites include the ornate Thai Temple and the Royal Bhutan Temple, with their colorful interior murals. Nearby, a path leads to the Great Buddha Statue, a colossal sculpture set amid landscaped gardens. Smaller Buddha statues, plus stone and bronze relics, are displayed at the Archaeological Museum. On the other side of the Falgu River, the Sujata Stupa is said to be where a local farmer offered food to the fasting Buddha during meditation. In the hills to the northeast, the Dungeshwari Cave contains 2 Buddha shrines honoring the site where Buddha is believed to have spent years meditating.

The ambience is a mix of monastic tranquillity, backpacker comforts and small-town hustle, underpinned by an intensity of devotion that makes it endlessly interesting.