A great Buddhist holy site with numerous places to visit in Bodhgaya. It’s located in Gaya District of Bihar about 110 kilometers south of Patna, the capital of Bihar. Bodh Gaya is the holy place where Prince Siddhartha Gautama, who later became known as Buddha, used to meditate under the Bodhi tree and achieved spiritual power, thus becoming the Buddha. For Buddhists devotees, Bodh Gaya is one of the most prominent place of worship, related to the life of Gautama Buddha. Bodh Gaya is basically famous for the sacred Mahabodhi Temple, It is under the Bodhi tree that Gautama Buddha accomplished his wisdom. As it is believed that the place where Siddhartha Gautama attained wisdom under the Bodhi tree around 2,500 years ago. Bodh Gaya has remained the symbol of religion and worship, for Hindus as well as Buddhists both.
Bodhgaya At A Glance
Area: 249 km
Population: 48,184 as per (2018) estimation
Weather: 18 degrees, wind at 3km/h, 70% humidity.
District: Gaya
Famous University: Magadh university
Neighbourhoods of Bodh Gaya: Miya Bigha, Upadhayay Bigha, Bhagalpur, Dehriya Bigha.
Languages: Hindi, Bhojpuri, English.
Best Time to Visit: October to March
Regions: Buddhism, Hinduism (majority) – 90.7%
Muslims – 8.85%
Sikhism – 0.02%
Christian – 0.22%
History Of Bodh Gaya
The history of Bodh Gaya is closely attached to the life teachings and learnings of the Buddha. It has been extant a focal point of Buddhist holy journey and devotion for over two million. About Bodh Gaya, You can easily find in many inscriptions and religious accounts. During the ancient time, Bodh Gaya was popularly known as Uruvela, Sambodhi, Vajrasana or Mahabodhi. The name Bodh Gaya was not in use until the 18th Century CE. There are so many Buddhist monasteries built by the people of japan, china, vietnam, and Sikkim. Each and every temple shows the architectural and historical style of all the respective countries.
Best Places To Visit In Bodh Gaya
MAHABODHI TEMPLE
One of the most pleasant site among all places to visit. The Mahabodhi Temple is a largest Buddhist temple that was built in the 6th century AD. The temple is basically dedicated to the Bodhi tree, under which the Buddha is used to have meditation. The Temple also has a wide number of other Buddhist monasteries and shrines. The main statue of holy Buddha with an exclusive embroidery with gold and this is a meditating statue of Buddha which is in Bhumisparsha mudra, and exemplifies his learnings. This world famous place is registered as a UNESCO world heritage site. The Mahabodhi temple engages thousands of tourists yearly to seek the blessings and give the feel of spiritual heaven and the symbol of peace and harmony.
GREAT BUDDHA STATUE
The largest statue of Lord Buddha is one of the tallest statues in India and it was started by the Dalai Lama in 1989 and this statue is 71 meters long and 233 feet in height.
Basically the statue of Buddha is in resting position on a big lotus, which is constructed by using the typical carved sandstone and red flashstone. The statue of Buddha is covered by greenery with peaceful surroundings which offers you the meditation environment and you will feel relaxed, so this site is effortlessly enhancing its identity as a holy site in Buddhism tradition.
ARCHAEOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF INDIAN MUSEUM
The Archeological museum has an extensive collection of various Buddha and Hindu’s historical objects and items . Which is generally related to the pala period from 8th to 12th centuries. If you know that the museum was established in 1956, and this museum has two big galleries along with an open courtyard with a balcony which gives the best views of the surroundings. Although this museum has standard statues, ironstone objects which give admiring pictures of Lord Buddha and red stone sculptures with long pillars etc. It was discovered inside the Mahabodhi temple.
Moreover the museum plays an intricate role in the conservation and restoration of archaeological sites, beautiful monuments for upcoming generations.
THAI MONASTERY
The majestic and iconic architecture of the monastery reflects the rich culture and heritage of Thailand. The style of this monastery is embellished with carvings, vibrant colours and different intricate designs which perfectly shows the artistic expertise of Thai craftsmanship.
Moreover this monastery serves as a symbol of the friendship of cultural exchange between India and Thailand. This place attracts a lot of visitors from all over the world to admire the beauty and spiritual importance of this place. Tourists can experience the 25 metre statue of Lord Buddha with twisted carvings and the images which describe the various stages of his life. The peaceful temperature and surroundings of the caves gives an ideal setting for spiritual practices, with the most famous cave, there was a lady named Sujata, a true devotee woman who offers milk to Siddhartha Gautama and this thing marking as a central moment on his way to know the learnings.
DUNGESHWARI HILL CAVE
Dungeshwari Hill Cave, also called as Mahakala Caves, is a holy site located near Bodh Gaya in Bihar, These caves hold very important historical and spiritual importance in Buddhism as it is believed that Siddhartha Gautama, before attaining understanding, he spent several years in meditation and self- abasement within these caves. The calm and vibrant atmosphere of the caves provides an ideal setting for inspection and spiritual practice. This cave is one of the most renowned caves. A lady named Sujata, a devout woman who offered rice milk to Siddhartha Gautama, marking a central moment on his path to understanding and learning.
Best Time To Visit
The best time to visit Bodh Gaya is from October to March winter months. During this time, the weather is calm, pleasant and cooler. Which makes it very easy to explore the outdoor sites and initiative to take part in spiritual activities. It’s very important to keep in mind that BodhGaya can get crowded during the tourist seasons, especially around the Buddhist festivals and events. Although planning your visit during the major months of October-November or February-March which can help you to escape large crowds while enjoying favourable weather conditions.
Famous Food In Bodh Gaya: You Must Try
Litti chokha: The traditional dish of Bihar. It is made up of roasted wheat balls, and served with mashed potatoes, eggplants or tomatoes. Some people have it along with dal also.
Sattu Drink: It is made from refreshing roasted gram and barley. And it is made by mixing water, sugar and sometimes with spices. In Bodh Gaya you can try this out, it is one of the most refreshing drinks in bihar.
Balushahi: It is a sweet dish made up of all purpose flour, sugar and ghee. It is a popular dish in bihar. You can also have that with a cup of tea.
Dal Pitha: Dal Pitha is their own version of dumplings. It has a unique flavour, along with the healthiness with the replacement of all purpose flour and it is made up of rice flour.
Thekua: It is a sweet dish made up of wheat flour, basically this dish is eaten during Chhath Pooja for offering to the lord surya dev.
How To Reach
From Delhi
By Air: you should take the nearest airport to Bodh Gaya called Gaya Airport as well. You can take a flight from Delhi airport (Indira Gandhi International Airport )to Gaya Airport. After reaching Bodh Gaya is approximately 10 kilometers, and you can take a taxi or a bus to reach your destination.
By train: However, there is no train from Delhi to Bodh Gaya, you have to take a train from New Delhi Railway Station to Gaya Junction railway station, which is the nearest railway station. From Gaya Junction, you can take a taxi or a bus to Bodh Gaya, which is approximately 12 km away.
Interesting Facts
- Bodh Gaya is one of four sacred places of worship related to the spiritual life of lord Buddha.
- The Mahabodhi temple is considered as a UNESCO world Heritage site.
- Bodh Gaya is one of the most holy Buddhist sites of Buddhism from all over the world.
- Bodh Gaya is a dedicated fig tree.
- Every year thousands of devotees visit the holy sites, and meditate under the bodhi tree.
- The town Bodh gaya is very well connected by the road and rail as well as to the other parts of India.
- The site has been continuously colonised since the time of the Buddha.
Bodh Gaya stands as a timeless illuminant of spiritual understanding revered by Buddhists and admired by visitors from around the world. As the blessed site where Siddhartha Gautama used to do meditation and became the Buddha, Bodh Gaya holds intense significance in the history of Buddhism and the world’s spiritual heritage.
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