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Click Here to Visit the world heritage site
Bodh Gaya
BODHGAYA
FACTS & FIGURES
Location:
Bihar, India
Best time
to Visit:
Throughout the year
Significance:
The place where
Budha got enlightenment
(UNESCO World heritage
Site)
Gaya
is located at a
distance of 105
km from Patna in
the state of Bihar.
Bodhgaya is located
7 miles south of
Gaya and is popular
Buddhist
pilgrimage centers
of the Indian subcontinent.
There
are four sacred
Buddhist
pilgrimage centers,
first of these is
the birthplace of
Buddha at Lumbinivana,
east of Kapilavastu.
The second most
sacred place of
pilgrimage is Bodh
Gaya where he attained
enlightenment. The
third most sacred
pilgrimage center
for Buddhists is
Sarnath or Isipatan
where Buddha delivered
his first sermon,
and the fourth is
Kushinara or Khushinagar
in Uttar Pradesh,
where he finally
gave up his mortal
self.
Bodhi
Tree
The
original 'Bodhi
tree' or
Pipal (Ficus religiosa)
- the tree of awakening;
was said to have
been destroyed by
Mauryan emperor
Ashoka. The giant
Bodhi Tree (Peepal)
seen here is believed
to have grown from
the original Bodhi
Tree under which,
sitting on the raised
red stone platform,
'vajrasila', Prince
Siddharth meditated
and finally attained
Nirvana. The platform
has a stone carving
of his footsteps
where the devout
make flower offerings.
Then there is 'Chaukramana',
the Jewel Walk,
where it is believed
that the Buddha
strolled while in
deep thought and
'Animeshlochana'
is the sacred spot
where Buddha stood
to gaze in gratitude
at the Bodhi tree
for a week.
Maha
Bodhi Temple Architecture
The
magnificient Maha
Bodhi temple
in Bodhgaya is an
architectural amalgamation
of many cultures.
Originally believed
to be small shrine
erected by Emperor
Asoka in the 3rd
century B.C, temple
was later restored
in the 11th and
18th centuries.
The temple bears
the stamp of the
architecture of
the Gupta Dynasty
and subsequent ages.
On the walls of
the temple, one
sees Buddha carved
in different aspects,
and in the sanctum
sanctorum, a colossal
Buddha, is seen
touching the ground,
which has mythological
significance in
the Buddhist lores.
The temple has a
54 meters high pyramidical
spire and an ornamental
arch way at the
entrance. The temple
carries inscriptions
recording the visits
of pilgrims from
Sri Lanka, China
and Mayanmar in
the 7th and 10th
Centuries A.D. Hieun
Tsang, the Chinese
traveller, also
visited the temple
in the 7th Century.
The
Mahabodhi temple
has a 150 feet high
tower, and it contains
a gilded image of
Buddha. The original
shrine here is believed
to have been raised
by Emperor Ashoka.
The temple has a
beautiful stone
railing around it.
Depcited on the
walls of the temple
are scenes from
Buddha's life. A
museum in the vicinity
has gold, bronze
and stone images
of Buddha.
The
Vajrasana-platform
where Buddha performed
his penance is located
below the Bodhi
tree, and this spot
is described as
the center of the
Universe. The spots
where he spent seven
weeks have seven
shrines, built by
devout Buddhists
from several countries.
Several
Buddhist relics
have been unearthed
in this area. Other
places of interest
here include the
Tibetian, Japanese
and Burmese monasteries.
The Tibetian monastery
houses the massive
Dharma Chakra or
the wheel of law.
Millions visit Buddha
Gaya from all over
the world.
How
to Reach Bodhgaya
Air
: Nearest
Airport is at Patna
130kms away. Indian
Airlines connect
Patna to Bombay,
Calcutta, Delhi,
Ranchi and Lucknow.
Rail
: Nearest
railhead is Gaya,
12km from Bodhgaya.
From Gaya local
transport is available
to BodhGaya.
Road
: Bodh
Gaya is well connected
by road to Gaya
(12kms), Patna 178kms
via Rajgir &
Nalanda and Varanasi
(245kms).
