Bodhgaya

Location: Bodhgaya is situated 16 Km from Gaya and 105 km from Patna, Bihar.

Tourist Attractions: The Bodhi Tree, Mahabodhi Temple, Vajrasana, Ancient Railings, Chankaramana, Animeshlochana, Ratnagar, Lotus Tank, Gaya, Barabar Cave, The Karan Chaupa cave, Tibetan Monastery, Myanmar Monastery, Chinese Monastery.
Best Buys : Tilkuta (a sweet), souvenirs made of stone.
Best Activities: Learn yoga & meditation.
Best Hangouts : The Monasteries.

Festivals: The Buddha-Jayanti is celebrated every year in April as this date marks the birth of Lord Buddha.
Nearest Tourist Destinations: Vaishali, Nalanda, Gaya, Patna.
When to Visit: The best time to visit Bodhgaya is during winter October-March. December and January is the time when the place is filled with tourists from all around the world.

About Bodhgaya
A vital Buddhist center, Bodhgaya, is the most sacred place for Buddhists. Some 2500 years ago, Prince Siddhartha got enlightened here and became Buddha (The enlightened one). The prince wandered for 6 years in search of peace. Finally he achieved the desired peace of mind here, beneath the holy Bodhi tree and thus was born Buddhism.

Nearly 250 years after the enlightenment, King Ashoka visited the place and founded the Mahabodhi Temple. A monastery was also founded by Ashoka which had Vajrasana, the seat of enlightenment. The 52 m high temple has beautiful design. The temple is made on a square platform, with four pillars around the corners of the platform. The 1700 years old image of Buddha inside the temple is in the Bhumisparsha Mudra (Touching the ground). Devout Buddhists and tourists from all over the world visit Bodhgaya, to study Buddhism and the art of meditation, or to pay homage to Lord Buddha.

A small and quite town, Bodhgaya lies 16 Km from the holy city of Gaya. Gaya is a famous Hindu Pilgrimage, where people go to offer oblations for the salvation of their dead forefathers.