Buddha’s Gaya

Location : Near Gaya, 182km S of Patna, Bihar

Go there for : Buddhist Pilgrimage

Climate : 18º-14ºC (Sum); 47º-28ºC (Win)

When to Go: Oct-March

Local Tongue: Bhojpuri, Hindi

STD Code : +91 - 631

Bodhgaya, 14 km South of Gaya district in Bihar (East India), is the place where Prince Siddhartha entered into meditation under a tree, attained Enlightenment and became, what the world hails as - Lord Buddha. The epicenter of the Buddhist World, Bodhgaya still has a descendant of the original Bodhi Tree or the Tree of Knowledge and needless to mention, pilgrims from across the globe, majority being Buddhist, people this place round the year.

To really feel the ‘pulse’ of the city, walk upto the terrace of your hotel and as you let your eyes sweep across – a vibrant assemblage of monasteries, temples, saffron robed monks, will leave you enamored. Close your eyes, and the sound of chants and prayer bells remind you, once again – you are in a city less-ordinary!
Tale of the City Except for the original settlers of Bodhgaya, not many people know or remember that this place was originally called Uruvela and it was a part of the erstwhile Magadha Kingdom. Bodhgaya was an obvious renaming after Siddhartha’s attainment of Enlightenment here.
Attractions Mahabodhi Temple and the Bodhi Tree: The Mahabodhi temple stands eastward of the famed Bodhi Tree or the Tree of Knowledge. The Bodhi Tree here, a descendant of the original, is considered the ‘center of the Buddhist Universe’. Rising to a height of about 170ft., the colossus Mahabodhi Temple houses an equally colossal gilded black stone image of Lord Buddha in the ‘earth touching posture’. The entire temple couryard is dotted with stupas of all sizes built over the 2500 years ever since Buddha attained enlightenment. Recently in 2002, UNESCO declared the Mahabodhi Temple Complex a World Heritage Site.


Something that is sure to arrest you attention is the sight of Buddhist monks performing countless prostrations to the Bodhi Tree. Some Buddhist monks are known to do upto 1lakh prostrations at a time. Pilgrims also have the provision of listening to recorded commentaries (in English, Hindi, Japanese, Korean) via headphones which they can hire at the complex.

Vajrasana: Between the Mahabodhi Temple and the Bodhi Tree lies the ‘Vajrasana’ (Seat of Stability) or the Diamond Throne. Built in red sandstone, the Vajrasana is considered as the seat of Buddhism – “the holiest of the holy” for every Buddhist pilgrim.

Monasteries at Bodhgaya: The entire vicinity of the Mahabodhi temple complex is dotted with monasteries built by almost all of the Buddhist populated nations of the world – Sri Lanka, Japan, Thailand, Vietnam, Myanmar, Korea and Taiwan. Each have their own architectural uniqueness and act as centers of learning and meditation for monks shelter for the pilgrims of their own nation.

Dharma Chakra: At the Tibetan Monastery, situated at minutes walk from the Mahabodhi Temple, is the Dharma Chakra or the “Wheel of Law”. Do not miss out on this one.

Sujata Temple: Some 2km west of Bodhgaya, near the Phalgu river is a temple dedicated to a Uruvela tribeswoman who offered food to the starving Siddhartha. The neighboring purlieu and the shrine itself evokes a sense of sanctity, not to be missed.
Shopping If you have timed your visit in December – January, during the Kalachakra Festival (presided over by the Dalai Lama), be sure you will bag the best buys. The entire Mahabodhi temple complex gets flaked with small stalls selling trinkets, Buddhist icons and thangkas.

For woolens, hunt for the Tibetan Market 1km west of the temple complex. No matter what time of the year, just make sure to carry one of these home once you are here in this Buddhist heartland – thangkas, dried peepul leaves, peepul-bead rosaries for meditation, Mongolian lotus-beaded ones and Buddhist Texts.


Cuisine When it comes to food, Bodhgaya, perhaps has some of the most diverse and interesting cuisines to satiate the culinary demands of its myriad pilgrim population. That means you can have a bite of all of – Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Italian, American – platters. The roadside restaurants are decent and hygienic, more so during the peak seasons – Dec – Feb, when makeshift tents shoot up around the temple complex.

For delicious breakfasts head for the Om Restaurant (opposite Jayaprakash Narayan Park entrance). Try the famed kheer or pudding, nicknamed ‘Sujata rice pudding’ after the lady who offered the same to the starving Gauam Buddha. For Tibetan and Chinese food try Fujia Green and for good Indian and Continental platters look no further than Shiva Hotel (near the temple entrance).

Some interesting delights worth hunting and trying are – the Japanese okaiyo, the Thai masala omelette, the Korean kimchi salad and the no-onion, no-garlic Taiwan dishes.
Getaways Parasnath Hill (40 km): Go there to look at some really ancient Buddhist caves that house temples and curved sculptures. Parasnath is a revered spot for both the Buddhist and Jain pilgrims.

Rajgir (80 km): This otherwise quaint town is another pilgrim-infested Buddhist destination famed for its 5th century BC spots linked with Lord Buddha’s life. The Gridhrakuta Hill is where Buddha delivered his sermons, Venuvan and its flanking hot springs is another spot frequented by the Buddha. Rajgir’s association with Lord Mahavira and the 26 Jain temples also draws a significant population of Jain pilgrims to this place.

Nalanda (93 km): Only 10 km from Rajgir is this destination where one of world’s oldest Universities (5th Century) today lie in ruins. Scholars from across the Buddhist world made their way to Nalanda, Hieun Tsang being the most prominent of them all – more so because of the records he has left about his period of stay at Nalanda. Once there, make sure you visit the Archeological Museum there.

Hop next to: Kolkata, Darjeeling