Bodhgaya

This is one place to which a visit cannot be missed out if anyone is interested in exploring Buddhism in India. Bodhgaya is a town in the noth Indian state of Bihar and is regarded the place where Lord Buddha attained enlightenment. The Mahabodhi temple complex here is the centre of interest. The bodhi tree here is the first to be visited by any tourist. This tree is considered the fifth descendant of the original bodhi tree under which lord Buddha achieved nirvana. Apart from this, the temple complex also houses the huge Mahabodhi temple and the Vajrasana (seat of stability).

The environment in the temple complex is one of tranquility and spirituality. Anyone can sit there and spend some time meditating. Or else they can also watch monks performing prostrations to the tree. For those who would like to have some guidance, there are recorded commentary in Hindi, English,Japanese and Korean that can be heard via headphones. These are available on hire in the complex itself.

A number of monasteries and temples have also been built by the Buddhist community of various countries. These temples and monasteries serve as the place of worship for the people of the respective countries and also provide tourists an opportunity o enjoy different architectural style.

Bodhgaya is easily accessible. Gaya, 14 kms away, is the nearest airport and railhead. People also use the Patna (state capital) airport (182 kms away) to reach Bodhgaya. By road also, Bodhgaya is well connected to other parts of the country.