| FACTS &
FIGURES
Population : 25,585
Languages : Bhojpuri, Hindi and English
Best Time to Visit : Winters
STD Codes : 0631
PLACE
OF BUDDHA'S ENLIGHTENMENT
The life of Gautam Buddha, the
founder of Buddhism, is associated with the small town
of Bodhgaya. It is one of the four holiest cities of
Buddhist faith. The Mahabodhi temple is the main attraction
of this town and is located near the spot where Lord
Buddha attained spiritual enlightenment. Bodhgaya is
not only an important Buddhist pilgrim center, but it
is also an important center for the study of Buddhism.
LOCATION
Bodhgaya is located in the central part of the
state of Bihar, in the northeastern part of India. It
is the part of the great Ganges plains. It is situated
on the west of the Falgu River, which is a tributary
of River Ganga (Ganges). It is 13 km south of Gaya and
113 km south of Patna city. The climate of Bodhgaya
is tropical. Summers are generally hot (April-June),
while winters are cool (October-February). It experiences
southwestern monsoon rains from July until September.
VISITING TIME
The best time to visit Bodhgaya is during
winter (October-February).
THE PAST
The history of this small town is associated
with Buddhism since ancient times. The region around
Bodhgaya formed the part of the first small kingdoms
of India in the 7th century BC. It came into limelight
in 6th century BC, when a local prince Siddharth (also
known as Gautam) renounced all material possession and,
after practicing rigorous penances for years, attained
Enlightenment or Nirvana under a Bodhi (Bo) tree here.
After gaining Enlightenment, Gautam became Buddha (The
Enlightened One) and spread his message of love and
peace. To mark the spot where Gautam Buddha had attained
Enlightenment, the great Mauryan ruler King Ashoka built
a small shrine here in the 3rd century BC. Subsequent
rulers left their mark on this shrine, which finally
took the shape of the Mahabodhi temple that still stands.
TOURIST SPOTS
The main tourist attraction in Bodhgaya
is the Mahabodhi temple. The original Bodhi tree under
which Buddha gained enlightenment had died, but the
present tree is a descendant of the original tree, which
was obtained from Anuradhapura in Sri Lanka, where it
was taken by Sanghamitra, King Ashoka's daughter in
3rd century BC. The red sandstone slab under this tree
is said to be the throne on which Buddha sat. The Mahabodhi
temple stands on the 3rd-century-BC shrine, erected
by Ashoka. It is intricately carved and houses a large
gilded image of Buddha. The present temple has been
restored to its past glory. A number of countries like
Japan, Burma, China, Sri Lanka, Korea, Nepal, etc.,
where Buddhism is an important faith, have built their
respective monasteries and temples in Bodhgaya. Theses
monasteries and temples offer to the tourist different
architectural styles of these countries. The Archeological
Museum of Bodhgaya is another important place to visit
in this small town.
Thousands of Buddhist pilgrims from all over the world
throng to Bodhgaya every year.
Bodhgaya is not only an important Buddhist pilgrim
center and an archeological site, but also it also for
famous for the various meditation courses offered by
a number of institutes, in and around the town. Most
of the courses are conducted in winters (October-February).
SITES NEARBY
The town of Gaya is 13 km from Bodhgaya,
which is also located on the Falgu River. As Bodhgaya
is for the Buddhists, Gaya is an important pilgrim place
for the Hindus.
FAIRS, FESTIVALS AND
CONVENTIONS
The meditation institutes of Bodhgaya
organize a number of conventions, special meetings and
discourses. These are usually held in the months of
January and February. Travelers seeking peace of mind
and spiritual upliftment must visit these programs.
Important Buddhist religious festivals are celebrated
with great fervor in Bodhgaya.
HOW TO REACH
Bodhgaya does not have an airport of
its own. There is no railway station in Bodhgaya and
it can only be reached by road. The main bus stop in
Bodhgaya is located near Sujata Bridge on the Falgu
River on the northeastern edge of the town. There is
bus service to the town of Gaya, which is 13 km north
of Bodhgaya. Bus service to Varanasi is also good. Auto-rickshaws
ply back and forth Gaya and Bodhgaya, but they are overcrowded
most of the time.
PLACES TO STAY
There are a number of budget hotels
and places of cheap accommodation in Bodhgaya, within
walking distance from the main bus stand. There are
few mid-range and high-end hotels in Bodhgaya and the
ITDC hotel Bodhgaya Ashok is the main hotel in the higher
category. Some of the monasteries belonging to other
countries also provide accommodation to the tourists.
PLACES TO EAT
The quality of food in the off-season
is not good. However, during winters it improves remarkably.
Tourists can savor a variety of cuisines other than
traditional Indian food. Chinese, Tibetan and western
food are available in the restaurants across the town.
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