(By Tsem Rinpoche)

If there were only one place in this world where all Buddhists must go on pilgrimage, it has got to be Bodhgaya. Every year thousands of Buddhist pilgrims make their way to Bodhgaya to circumambulate, recite mantras and prayers, engaging in retreats, meditation and rituals. This is the most important sacred spot for Buddhists from all over the world. This is the very spot where Prince Siddhartha Gautama became the perfect awakened Buddha by attaining full enlightenment under the Bodhi Tree 2600 years ago. It is also the place where all the past, present, and future Buddhas will appear again.

It is said that Buddha himself advised his students to go on pilgrimage to four holy sites after his passing. These are the places where he was born, achieved enlightenment, turned the wheel of dharma, and passed into parinirvana. In fact, these places will be the exact same locations where future Buddhas will return to take rebirth, attain enlightenment, teach and enter parinirvana again.

Imagine the great Buddha Shakyamuni spends his days and nights on these locations, meditating, gaining visions and attainments, conquering Mara, and achieving supreme liberation from samsara. The Buddha did all this for the sake of all sentient being, to seek the truth and to find a way out of suffering and of cyclic existence of death and rebirth. Therefore, Bodhgaya is highly charged with Buddha’s potent wisdom and compassionate energy that can plant seeds of enlightenment in all who come to visit.

“Sacred power places are imbued with the blessed energy of the many enlightened Beings that have resided, practised and benefited countless other beings there.”

~ H.E. Tsem Rinpoche

By visiting holy places like Bodhgaya, we make a very deep and profound connection to the outer Buddha, and this creates the cause for us to realise the Buddhanature within. The merits we collect from going on pilgrimage will no doubt strengthen our spiritual practice not just for this life, but for our future lives as well. It can also open up karmic imprints which will encourage our spiritual growth. People often feel recharged or energised after going on pilgrimages.

The significance of going on pilgrimage to the four holy sites as advised by Lord Buddha

1. When we visit the Buddha’s birthplace:

We create the karma to have control of our rebirth; create causes to be born in pleasant places where we will have the right conditions and opportunities to practise Dharma.

2. When we visit the place where Buddha attained Enlightenment:

Seeds are planted in our mindstreams for us to also gain Enlightenment; we go towards the path of Enlightenment in all future lifetimes; even if we fail to attain Enlightenment within Buddha Shakyamuni’s age, we create the causes to be among the foremost disciples of Maitreya, the future Buddha, when he manifests.

3. When we visit the place where Buddha first taught Dharma:

We create the karma for…

• the Dharma to really go into our mind and we are able to transform when we receive the teachings
• being able to sponsor, propagate and put our energy towards the growth of Dharma
• being able to speak and share Dharma to others, to transform their lives

4. When we visit the place Buddha passed away:

We create the cause to increase our life to be able to engage in spiritual practice and gain enlightenment; we will not die ordinary deaths with fear, anxiety, and we create causes to have control over our death and rebirth.

What To Do

Just by taking time off, planning and making arrangements to go on a pilgrimage to a holy place such as Bodhgaya, one purifies tremendous amount of negative karma as well as accumulate tremendous amount of merits. This is due to the blessings of Buddha Shakyamuni as well as your motivation to go there.

The moment you arrive in Bodhgaya you should generate a good motivation with these words by H.E. Tsem Rinpoche, “this is the place Lord Buddha gained enlightenment, this is the place where Buddha became attained, this is the place where Buddha reach his final journey and from that very spot, under the sacred tree where he became enlightened, he changed all our lives. We are all here, doing Dharma, learning, talking, discussing is because the Buddha gained full enlightenment.”

Outside the Mahabodhi Stupa, there are many street vendors selling fruits, flowers, incense, and robes for the Buddha in three different sizes. You can purchase these to bring into the temple to make offerings to the sacred Buddha image inside.

As you enter the great Mahabodhi Temple ground, you should be mindful to refrain from talking too loudly, not to idle chatter or gossip. It is a time to watch your body, speech and mind. You will notice many pilgrims there are monks and nuns from all over the world and everyone is practising awareness and some are even observing a silent retreat. Immediately try to find a quiet place to sit and engage in your prayers. You can chant or recite the preliminary prayers, and do a meditation on Buddha Shakyamuni’s life, contemplating on how he renounced the trappings of a worldly life as a prince, his great deeds thereafter and how he achieved full enlightenment. You can also recite one round of Migtsema mantras as it contains the blessings of all three great Buddhas, Manjushri, Chenrezig and Vajrapani – that embodies the energies of wisdom, great compassion and skilful means of Lama Tsongkhapa. Naturally, you can also chant any mantra you are comfortable and familiar with. Then at the end of your prayers, it is very auspicious and important to dedicate the merits generated with the recitation of the King of Prayers as advised by H.E. Tsem Rinpoche.

After you are done with the prayers, then you may take your bowl of offerings and proceed inside the main Temple shrine. Make three prostrations and offer up your offerings to Lord Buddha. You may pass the robes to the monks who are there to assist. They will help you put the robes on the beautiful Buddha image. While you are making your offerings it would be good to think “whatever that is said in the King of Prayers may it all come true”, and offer up whatever is mentioned in the King of Prayers to Lord Buddha. When we think in this way and offer everything as mentioned in the King of Prayers, it is very complete and we do not have to worry that we may have missed something important. When we make aspirational prayers and invoke upon the Buddha’s blessings in such a holy place, we are creating a direct cause for us to achieve the same state of compassion and enlightened qualities as the Buddha himself.

H.E. Tsem Rinpoche offering robes to the golden Buddha Shakyamuni image in the sacred Mahabodhi Temple during a pilgrimage to Bodhgaya. Click to enlarge.

H.E. Tsem Rinpoche on the left and the temple caretaker monk on the right, helping Tsem Rinpoche place robes on to the golden Buddha Shakyamuni image. Click to enlarge.

A monk helping pilgrims to put on robes that was offered to Lord Buddha

After making your offerings, pause for a moment, gaze upon the beautiful majestic Lord Buddha, look at his beautiful face radiating at you and think how fortunate you are to be here in the very spot where Buddha gained enlightenment. Many pilgrims say that they can feel Buddha’s great compassion and some would even weep because the energy there is so potent and pure. After you are done, you can proceed outside and engage in as many circumambulations as possible while reciting mantras. Be aware of others and do not bump into people, especially the monks who are engaged in walking meditation. All around the temple complex, you will see many pilgrims engaging in many different practices from prostrating, chanting, mandala offerings to engaging in various rituals. It is a remarkable sight to rejoice, as every single person is there engaging in some form of Dharma practice.

Pilgrims engaging in one of the four preliminaries – prostration retreat

Here is a very good short video to watch before heading to Bodhgaya by H.E. Tsem Rinpoche:

In 2004, H.E. Tsem Rinpoche gave refuge to a group of pilgrims from Malaysia in front of the Mahabodhi Stupa

Other practices we can engage in when visiting Bodhgaya would be the four preliminary practices, especially Vajrasattva mantra recitation, prostrations and mandala offering. You can even do Vajrasattva and prostration together. It is extremely powerful to do these virtuous practices in such a holy place where the Buddha’s blessing is the strongest.

On the south side of the Temple complex, you will find butter lamp houses where you can light hundreds of butter lamps and dedicate it to your loved ones

Map Of Bodhgaya. Click on image to enlarge.

Location and Population

Bodhgaya is located in north India, in the state of Bihar, about 10 kilometres south of the city of Gaya. It is situated west of the Phalgu River (or Falgu River, also known as Niranjana River), a stream of the Ganges River. Based on India’s 2011 census, the population of Bodhgaya is 38,439.

Climate

Bihar lies near the junction of the Gangetic Plain and the Chota Nagpur plateau. In general, Bodhgaya is considered to be an area with warm and temperate climate, with an average temperature of about 26.5 °C with an annual rainfall of about 1017 mm.

In the summer months of April to mid-June, temperatures can be as high as 35-40°C.
Monsoon season is from June to September. During the months of October to November and February to March, you can expect pleasant weather conditions and this is probably the best time to visit. The winter months are from December to January is mildly cold with temperatures as low as 5 to 10 °C.

A Brief History

Prince Siddhartha Gautama was born in Lumbini, which is now Nepal, on a very auspicious day. He had witnessed what is known as The Four Sights and was very disturbed by the sufferings of mankind. Due to this, Prince Siddhartha decided to find out what was the cause of human suffering. In order to do that, he realises he must renounce palatial life he was born into. Consequently, Prince Siddhartha renounced his palace, his privileged life, his title, affluence and also his family at the age of 29. He renounced all that and became a mendicant in search of the truth. Siddharta wanted to find a way to end the cycle of birth and death. He studied under many teachers, practised penance and self- mortification, going through severe austerities for six years. He only ate one grain of rice a day and as a result became very frail and was just skin and bones. After realising that this practice of severe austerities was leading him nowhere near the truth, and in fact clouding his mind and killing his body, he decided to abandon it. His five ascetic companions who were with Siddharta condemned him for giving up on the practice and left him.

Buddha realised that the extreme practice of severe austerities was not the way to liberation decided to abandon it.

Siddharta then proceeded to the east bank of Niranjana River and there he was offered Kheer (rice-pudding with milk) by a Brahmin’s daughter named Sujata. After having his first meal in a long time, he realised that being too extreme in one’s practice, either self-indulgence or self-mortification is not the right way to liberation. Instead, the middle path is required to achieve enlightenment. He then descended to Bodhgaya, crossing the river to Uruvela and prepared a seat with kusha grass to begin his meditation under a peepal tree, which later became known as the Bodhi Tree. This is how the use of kusha grass came about and is used during Buddhist retreats. It symbolises the Buddha’s meditation seat, where he practised to gain enlightenment. Siddhartha was determined to find the truth and made a strong conviction that he would not leave his seat until he reached his goal and thus, he started his battle against Mara – the embodiment of his ego and delusions.

Mara tried everything in his power to distract Siddharta but it did not disturb him at all. There were three significant moments in his meditation that is marked by the three watches of the night. During the first watch, Siddharta gained complete vision of all his past lives. During the second watch, he saw how beings die and took rebirth depending on their karma. On the final watch of the night, Mara fearing Siddharta was about to achieve full liberation, unleashed his army of demons in an epic battle. Mara’s demon horde shot flaming arrows toward Siddharta, but through the power of compassion, the arrows turned into flowers. Mara’s final attempt was to claim the seat of enlightenment for himself. He challenged Siddharta, asking who will speak for him, that is when Siddharta touched the earth with his right hand and said, “the earth is my witness”. The earth shook in agreement, and Mara and his army was defeated and they beat a hasty retreat. Siddharta then realised the complete cessation of craving and became the fully awakened Buddha at age 35.

The word Buddha means the All Knowing One, the All Compassionate One, the One who can show us the Truth to end all suffering. Other common names to call Buddha are Bhagawan, Tathagata, Samyaksam, Sugata, and or Sambuddha. As for Buddha’s seat of enlightenment, it is called Vajrasana or the Diamond Throne. The tree which Buddha sat under is called the Bodhi tree.

After achieving enlightenment, the Buddha spent seven weeks in deep meditation, in seven significant places around the Bodhi tree. He contemplated on how rare it is to achieve this precious human life.

About Bodhgaya

This holy site where Buddha gained enlightenment is now known as Bodhgaya. Buddhist disciples from all around the world would embark on a pilgrimage trip to this sacred place. It is especially popular during the full moon in the month of Vaisakha (between April to May), which is also known as Buddha Purnima or Vesak Day – the celebration of the Buddha’s birth, enlightenment and entering into parinirvana.

Throughout history, Bodhgaya has been documented in numerous historical accounts. Two of the most notable accounts are from the Chinese pilgrims, Fa Xian during the 5th century, and Xuan Zang, during the 7th century. Bodhgaya remained the center of Buddhist civilization in India until the Turkish army invaded the area in the 13th century.

It was only until the 18th century that the name Bodhgaya was used, before that is was called Mahabodhi, Uruvela, Sambodhi, or Vajrasana. In the 6th century, the main monastery was called Bodhimanda-vihāra in Pali. Today it is known as the Mahabodhi Temple.

H.E. Tsem Tulku Rinpoche with his guru H.E. Kensur Jampa Yeshe Rinpoche at Bodhgaya. Click to enlarge.

Below are some of the names, Bodhgaya was called within two hundred years before its current name. The names used are all influenced by the historical events surrounding the Buddha’s enlightenment:

• Sambodhi: Complete Enlightenment – The name was used during the reign of Emperor Ashoka, 3rd-century B.C.E.
• Bodhimanda: The area around the Bodhi Tree
• Vajrasana: The Diamond Throne
• Mahabodhi: Great Enlightenment – This name can be traced back to as early as the 7th century CE.

It was not until the temple was excavated and restored in 1861, was the name Buddha-Gaya or Bodhgaya known to the world.

About Mahabodhi Temple

The great Mahabodhi Temple or Mahabodhi Mahavihara, which is commonly known as the Bodhgaya Temple or the Great Stupa. The Mahabodhi Temple represents India’s greatest architectural achievement of that period. The Diamond Throne shrine was built over a red sand stone that marks the Buddha’s Seat of Enlightenment (Vajrasana), the site where the original Bodhi tree was, which is considered the Navel of the Earth as revealed by the Venerable Ashvaghosa in his written work entitled Buddhacarita.

The Mahabodhi Buddha statue is actually made from black stone and layers of gold has been offered on to his body by H.H. the 14th Dalai Lama

The Mahabodhi Temple’s main gate was built facing the eastern direction, where the Buddha was facing when meditated under the Bodhi Tree. The measurement of Mahabodhi Temple’s base is 48 square feet. From the base to the top, it is shaped like a stupa or pyramid, and crowned with a miniature stupa and a chhatravali (crowning parasol), which sits on a platform. There are four smaller pyramid-like structures stupa is located at four corners of the main structure, which is said to represent The Four Noble Truths and the 4 Brahma Viharas (Four Buddhist Virtues). The larger structure represents The Noble Eightfold Path. You will also see many Buddha images carved all around its exterior. The total height of the Mahabodhi Temple is 180 feet.

Inside the temple houses a beautiful 11 feet tall golden image of the seated Buddha Shakyamuni, in the ‘earth-touching’ (Sanskrit: Bhumisparsha) mudra. The statue is actually made of a black stone, and later His Holiness the Dalai Lama offered layers of gold on it. This ancient Buddha image is said to be the closest likeness to the actual Buddha.

According to legend, the Mahabodhi Temple was built by the great King Ashoka to commemorate the spot where Buddha gained enlightenment.

Amazingly, four of the originally sculpted stone railings surrounding the temple, dating from the Sunga period (184–72 BC), have survived amid replicas. Several original sections of the gate are now housed within the archaeological museum.

According to legend, the Mahabodhi Temple was built by the great King Ashoka to commemorate and to mark the spot where Buddha gained enlightenment before the current temple was built. King Ashoka visited Bodhgaya about 280 years after the Buddha’s enlightenment. It is said that King Ashoka spent one week at Bodhgaya, just gazing at the Bodhi Tree. In addition, it is also reported that he made several pilgrimages to Bodhgaya. Hence, it was concluded that King Ashoka was the one who built the Mahabodhi Temple. The temple would be one of the 84,000 monuments that King Ashoka had built in the 3rd century B.C. But the temple construction would only be completed in the 7th century during the reign of the Gupta Kings. Over the course of its history, it has been restored several times. The Burmese King, Mindon-Min also contributed a lot to the restoration of the temple in 1874.

In 1883, a thorough scientific restoration and renovation of the temple was done under the supervision of the British Archaeologist, Sir A. Cunningham and J.D.M. Beglar, together with an Indian Archaeologist, Dr Rajendra Lal Mitra. In 1956, during the 2,500th anniversary of the Buddha’s birth, the Government of India engaged in a massive renovation work on the temple and the premise was enlarged.

Another side of the great Mahabodhi Temple ground with many miniature stupas

The holy Mahabodhi Temple is under the protection, management and care of the state government of Bihar ever since India gained its independence. In 2002, the Mahabodhi Temple was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to its “outstanding universal importance as it is one of the most revered and sanctified places in the world”.

Pilgrims all over the world, Buddhist as well as Hindus would come to Bodhgaya to engage in various spiritual practices and receive blessings.

Pilgrims from around the world from all walks of life would come to worship and circumambulate around the temple in a devotional clockwise direction. The sea of yellow and maroon robes of the sangha of the various traditions could be seen as well as Tibetan monks performing rituals such as mandala offerings. All around the temple grounds, you will also see many pilgrims engaging in prostrations on their prayer board.

If you wish to be in complete solitude, the Meditation Park is a perfect spot

For those who prefer solitude, the recently developed Meditation Park is an ideal spot. Located in the south-east of the temple, it offers facilities such as meditation huts and discussion courts. There are also two huge prayer bells and two water fountains next to a lotus pond in this lovely park.

The Golden Buddha Image

There are many legends and stories regarding the sacred Buddha image inside the Mahabodhi Temple. The earliest Buddha image that was discovered in Bodhgaya dates back to the year 383 CE. The statue is now displayed in the Indian Museum of Calcutta. Although much of it has been damaged, the Buddha’s face can still be seen having a peaceful yet determined facial expression, making it an extraordinary sculpture.

In the 17th century, a Chinese Buddhist monk by the name of Hsuan-Tsang travelled to Bodhgaya, left a detailed description of the Mahabodhi Buddha image. The description states, “He (the statue) was facing the east and as dignified in appearances as when alive. The pedestal on which the statue rests was 12 feet 5 inches broad and 4 feet 2 inches high. The dimensions of the statue itself with his two knees were 8 feet 8 inches apart, two shoulders 6 feet 2 inches and 11 feet 5 inches high. The Buddha’s features are perfectly depicted and the loving expression of his face lifelike. The statue stands in a dark chamber in which lamps and torches are kept burning, but those who wish to see the sacred features cannot do so by just coming into the chamber. In the morning they have to reflect the sunlight onto the statue by means of a great mirror so that the details can be seen. Those who behold them find their religious emotions much increased”.

The oldest Buddha statue from Bodhgaya dates back 383 CE is now house in the Indian Museum in Calcutta

Hsuan Tsang’s legendary story regarding the origins of the Buddha image was about a Brahmin who wished to enshrine a Buddha image after the Mahabodhi temple was built. Unfortunately, he could not find a suitable image or sculptor to carve the perfect image of Buddha for quite some time. One day a man appeared proclaiming he could carve the image of Lord Buddha on the condition that he was given a pile of scented clay, and a lamp to be placed inside the temple. He also gave strict instructions that the door to the temple should not be opened for the next six months. All the instructions were carried out but the Brahmin became impatient towards the end and he opened the door four days earlier than he was suppose to. He was awed struck by the beauty of the Buddha image that was perfect in every detail, except for one small part; the Buddha’s chest was incomplete. Later on came a monk who slept in the temple and had a vivid dream. He dreamt that Maitreya appeared and said that he was the one who carved the image of Lord Buddha. Today it is the most revered Buddha image in the Buddhist world.

The beautiful Buddha statue that sits in the sacred Mahabodhi Temple today

Another legend is that the Buddha image was made 60 years after the Buddha’s parinirvana by a female disciple who has seen and received teachings directly from him. Being around when the Buddha was alive, she knew exactly what the Buddha looked like. She decided to commission her son to carve the Buddha in the likeness of the Buddha himself. Therefore, this image of the Buddha is said to be sculpted in the exact likeness of the Buddha himself.

In both Nalanda and Vikramasila monasteries had replicas of this same Buddha image. When Lama Atisha was in Tibet in the 11th century, he requested Vikramasila temple to create a painting of the great Mahabodhi Buddha image and sent it to him. An image of this Buddha was then created with the same dimensions as the original one and enshrined in the great stupa at Gyantse, about 100 miles south-west of Lhasa. The last monk from Bodhgaya, Sariputra, took the measurements of this image when he passed into Tibet in 1413. An inscription from the 15th century is found carved on a stone railing in Mahabodhi Temple by a Buddhist pilgrim named Jinadasa of Pavarta. Jinadasa mentioned that he had specially travelled a long way from his home just to gaze at the holy Mahabodhi Buddha. This is the last reference to the sacred Mahabodhi Buddha.

The Mahabodhi Buddha known as the Golden Buddha is the most highly revered Buddha image in the world

Later in 1880, the Indian government appointed Joseph Beglar to restore the Mahabodhi Temple. He enlisted the help of the great archaeologist Alexander Cunningham to work on the repairs to the temple but when it was done, they felt something was still missing. They realise it was a Buddha image that was missing from the main shrine and that they needed to find one that fits the shrine space of the great Mahabodhi temple. This was not an easy task although there were many Buddha statues around Bodhgaya yet none of them was suitable. They were either too small or too damaged to be placed on the main shrine. Finally, they found a suitable statue in Mahant, a Hindu monk’s home. Luckily, the statue was not damaged and the size was just perfect for the shrine. A rough inscription found on the base of the statue states that Chhindha Purnabhadra was the one who made the statue around the 12th century. This golden Buddha statue sits on the shrine of the sacred Mahabodhi Temple today, blessing all who gaze at him.

A sapling of the original Bodhi tree was rescued and carried off to Sri Lanka by King Ashoka’s daughter Sanghamitta

The Bodhi Tree

The Bodhi tree is the most sacred of fig trees as it is under this tree which Buddha sat, meditated, conquered Mara and became enlightened. It is the considered the most significant of the seven sacred sites in Bodhgaya. The original tree was known as Sri Mahabodhi. The great King Ashoka paid special attention to this Bodhi tree, often spending days gazing upon it. This made the queen, Tissarakkha very unhappy and in her jealous rage, she caused the death of the original Bodhi tree, through the use of poisonous thorns.

Fortunately, a sapling of the original tree was carried off to Anuradhapura, in Sri Lanka by King Ashoka’s daughter, Bhijjhuni Sanghamitta, before the tree was destroyed. It continues to flourish in Sri Lanka today. A few years later, a sapling from this tree in Sri Lanka was carried back to Bodhgaya to be planted on the very spot where the original tree once stood. King Ashoka then placed a red sandstone slab in between the tree and the temple to mark the spot where Buddha sat and gained full liberation, known as Vajrasana.

Vajrasana, the red sandstone slab that was built by King Ashoka is placed in between the tree and the temple to mark the spot where Buddha sat and gained enlightenment

The tree stands at 80 feet tall and is located behind the Mahabodhi Temple. There is a Buddhist myth that if there was no Bodhi tree growing anywhere on this site, then the land surrounding the tree will be barren for a distance of one royal karisa, which is one square measure of land (nearly an acre). And no being, not even an elephant is able to travel on this land.

This is the very spot which is known to be the Navel of the Earth. Buddhist devotees believe that this is the only spot that has enough merits to support the weight of the Buddha’s great attainment. Others believed that when the world is destroyed, this will be last the place to be destroyed and it will also be the first place for the new world to take shape again. It will be the same spot where the future Buddhas will arise to turn the wheel of Dharma again. It is known that this Bodhi tree miraculously appeared when Gautama Buddha was born.

No one is allowed to remove any part of this sacred tree, but pilgrims would eagerly pick up any leaves that naturally fall as it is considered a great blessing. Some people have reported the leaves would sometimes be naturally imprinted with seed syllable, for example, Manjushri’s letter ‘DHI’. It is extremely fortunate and a great blessing if we are the lucky one to receive this. Hence, you will notice that the ground around the Bodhi tree is amazingly clean and spotless!

Just outside the barrier gate of the Bodhi Tree, there is stone carving of Buddha’s footprints, which dates back to the 3rd century BC, during the reign of King Ashoka. King Ashoka declared Buddhism as the official religion of the land and with that he installed thousands of stone carvings of Buddha’s footprint all over his kingdom.

The Seven Sacred Sites

Within the Mahabodhi Temple, there are seven significant and sacred sites associated with Buddha’s Enlightenment which pilgrims can explore. You will find pathways leading to six sacred sites around the beautiful green landscaped lawn and flowering trees.

1. Vajrasana

This is the actual spot that the Buddha sat and meditated under the great Bodhi Tree until he was fully liberated. After attaining Nirvana, the Buddha remain here for another seven more days. This sacred spot and the Bodhi tree is now protected by a stone barrier around it. A red sand stone slab built by King Ashoka marks the Diamond Seat where Buddha sat which is between the Tree and the Mahabodhi Temple wall.

2. Animesa-locana (Animisa Cetiya)

Located on a small hill about 50 metres from the north-east side of the Mahabodhi Temple, towards the right side of the main entrance is Animesa-locana. The shrine here is shaped like a small stupa or a smaller version of the Mahabodhi Temple, with a small prayer hall that houses a beautiful Buddha image. It was here that the Buddha spent his 2nd week after he gained enlightenment, meditating in gratitude at the Bodhi tree. It is said that the Buddha gazed at the Bodhi tree without blinking even once, hence, the tree became known as animeshlochan or ‘unblinking’.

3. Ratnachakrama

This sacred place lies near the north side of the Temple wall, known as the Jewelled Ambulatory or ‘jewel walk’. It contains stone lotuses that are raised on a platform, marking the steps the Buddha took on the 3rd week after his enlightenment. It is believed that the Buddha took 18 steps back and forth near the Bodhi tree, and where he stepped, lotuses appeared under his holy feet.

4. Ratnaghar Chaitya

Located on the northwest of the main Temple, this small shrine or the Jewel House houses some small holy images of the Buddha. This is the spot where Buddha spent the fourth week in meditation, where he received visions of his future mission and blue, yellow, red, white and orange rays emanated from his body. These colours are now used in the present-day Buddhist flag.

5. Ajapala Nigrodha

As we enter the Mahabodhi Temple, there is a stone pillar located just before the descending stairs to the Temple that marks the spot of Buddha’s 5th week of meditation. Originally, there was a Banyan tree there, where Buddha sat and gave a discoursed due to a question a Brahman asked, on the importance of performing good action (karma) and the equality of mankind. Not far from the pillar, you’ll find a brass bell donated by pilgrims from Myanmar in the early 19th century. There are also two female deities, kneeling on each side of the gateway, supposedly left there by the Myanmar missionaries in the 1800s.

6. Muchalinda Pond

Towards the southeast corner of the Mahabodhi Temple, you’ll discover the remains of a 6 metre high stone pillar, believed to be erected by King Ashoka. It was built to mark Bodhgaya and was moved to its present location in 1956. The pillar has an elephant on top, and it stands just outside the temple railing, on the east gateway. Just south of this pillar is a pavilion and behind it, you will discover the huge Muchalinda Pond. It is said that this is where the Buddha spent his 6th week in deep meditation during which Mara had wanting to distract the Buddha by creating a huge storm. The Serpent King or Naga King appeared and protected the Buddha from the storm with its hood. Today in the middle of this pond, you can see an image of the Buddha with the Serpent King rising to protect him. The statue was donated in the 1990s by a group of pilgrims from Myanmar. There is also a pillar nearby with a semi circular top where people would throw coins on it, as it is believed it would bestow blessings if the coin lands on the top of the pillar. Others believe that if you rub the part of your body that has ailments on the pillar, it will heal itself over time.

7. Rajyatana

Buddha spent his 7th week under this small forest tree located on the south-east side of the temple. This is the place where Lord Buddha started teaching to passer-by and gained his first two disciples; merchants named Tapussa (Tapassu) and Ballika (Bliallika) of Ukkala, which is modern day Yangon of Myanmar. They had come to offer Buddha his first meal after being in meditation for seven weeks. In return, the Buddha gave them eight strands of hairs, which are now placed inside the Shwedagon Pagoda at Yangon.

International Buddhist Temples

Apart from the Mahabodhi Temple, there are other Buddhist temples from different nationalities situated nearby that are worth visiting. Some are within walking distance and some can be easily reached using rickshaws. Most of these temples are open from 6 am to 6.30pm and close between 12 noon to 2 pm. Here is a list of these temples:

1. Thai Monastery

The beautiful Thai Monastery in Bodhgaya was built by the Thai Monarch, at the request of the Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru in 1956. It marks the close relationship between India and Thailand. This temple is unique as it is the only Thai temple in India. Its architecture follows the traditional temples of Thailand with its curved shaped roof. The temple faces the main road and is next to the tourist bungalow.

As you walk into the main temple hall, you will notice the quiet and serene atmosphere of the temple. On its altar stands an exquisitely carved bronze Buddha image standing at 25-metre tall.

Inside the main temple hall of the Thai Monastery

Retreats are held in the monastery yearly especially in January. The monastery’s maximum capacity to accommodate retreatants is at 135 people. They will engage in meditation sessions such as Vipassana Yoga and attend teachings. Taking any kind of intoxicants such as alcohol and smoking is strictly prohibited during retreats.

Address: Bodhgaya, Bihar 824231, India
Phone: N/A
Opening Hours: N/A

2. Daijokyo Buddhist Temple

Another temple worth visiting is the Japanese Daijokyo Buddhist Temple. Built on a 2-acre land that was allocated by the Government of Bihar, the temple was inaugurated by the then President of India, His Excellency Gyani Zail Singh, on February 13, 1983. The temple enshrines a beautiful golden Japanese Buddha statue in the meditation posture. The statue is made from bronze and it was brought over from Japan.

Outside the temple ground, sits the Great Buddha Statue at 25-metre or commonly known as the 80-foot Buddha Statue. The Great Buddha Statue was inaugurated and consecrated on November 18, 1989, by His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama. This is the first large outdoor Buddha ever built in the history of India. Together with the Mahabodhi Temple, the statue is the symbol of holy Bodhgaya. It is also recognised as a World Heritage site and attracts pilgrims from all over the world.

The famous 80-foot tall Buddha Statue that is another symbol of holy Bodhgaya

Smaller statues of the Buddha’s ten great disciples can be seen on either side of the Great Buddha. Sariputra and Maudgalyayana were the first two statues presented and consecrated in November 1993. Following that was statues of the other eight great disciples; Mahakasyapa, Subhuti, Purna Maitrayani-putra, Mahakatyayana, Anuruddha, Upali, Rahula, and Ananda. They were all consecrated in March 1996. All of these statues were carved from sandstone which is the same material used for the Great Buddha Statue.

Address: Bodhgaya, Bihar 824231, India
Phone: +91 631 220 0747
Opening Hours: 7 am to 12 pm, 2 pm to 6 pm (to 5:30 pm in winter)

3. Royal Bhutanese Monastery

The Royal Bhutanese Monastery offers pilgrims a chance to appreciate the intricate and exquisite details of a traditional Bhutanese temple and Buddha images. Built by the King of Bhutan, the Monastery houses a 7-feet tall Buddha statue together with a statue of Guru Rinpoche and 4-armed Chenrezig. The monastery’s interior wall features intricate clay carvings depicting the life story of Lord Buddha.

The monastery’s exterior is beautifully landscaped garden with plants, trees and well-maintained lawn. The monastery also conducts discourses on the Buddha and dharma teachings, meditation sessions for individual and group, peace prayers and other requested prayers. The peaceful ambience makes it conducive place for anyone to do their prayers and meditation.

Three very beautiful Bhutanese style statues of Guru Rinpoche, Lord Buddha and Four Arm Chenrezig is enshrined in the Royal Bhutanese Monastery

The monastery also has a Guest House with 15 spacious rooms, either air-conditioned or without air-conditioned and attached bathrooms. They provide a 24-hour front desk, 24-hour room service, laundry and parking facilities. The monastery does not charge people for staying but donations are encouraged and welcomed which goes towards the upkeep of the monastery. The only conditions they have is that all guests respect and follow the rules of monastery, and to refrain from bringing in any kind of intoxicants during their stay.

With its architecture being one of the finest, based on Bhutan’s culture and tradition, the Royal Bhutanese Monastery is definitely a must-visit when you are in Bodhgaya.

Address: Birla Road, Bodhgaya
Phone: N/A
Opening hours: 7 am to 7 pm

4. Indosan Nippon Japanese Temple

Just 15 km from the city Indosan Nippon Japanese Temple is perhaps one of the most popular temples in Bodhgaya. Located at Temple Road, it was built in 1972, assisted by the international Buddhist community. Carved from wood, the temple perfectly represents the beautiful fine architecture of traditional Japanese temples. The temple also showcases many traditional Japanese paintings illustrating the Buddha Shakyamuni’s life story.

The delicate traditional Japanese altar inside Indosan Nippon Japanese Temple

Daily activities held at the temple includes meditation at 6 am and 5 pm.
Address: Bodhgaya, Bihar 824231, India
Phone: N/A
Opening Hours: 5 am – 12 pm, 2 pm – 6 pm

5. Metta Buddharam Temple

This is a newly built Thai temple with a huge spectacular Buddha statue made from white marble. The peaceful and serene surrounding allows pilgrims to sit in quiet meditation. The architecture of this temple is amazing as its unique simplicity in colours draws you to look closely at its intricate detailed structure. The main temple floor is made from wood, giving it a feeling of warmth. The stairs and walkways are decorated with patterns that are made using semi-precious stones in the shape of flowers. There are also scenes of Buddha’s life story painted in the alcoves of the temple. Just below the temple, you’ll find a meditation room with cooling marble flooring, which is especially nice during the summer heat. The mirror tiles on its structure create beautiful reflections from the sunrays, forming a magical scene especially during sun set and sun rise.

Address: Sujata Bye Pass Road, Bodh Gaya 824231, India
Phone: +91 631 220 0090
Opening Hours: N/A

6. Burmese Vihara Monastery or Myanmar Buddhist Vihara

The Burmese Vihara Monastery offers pilgrims a glimpse of traditional Burmese temple architecture and culture. The temple is beautifully carved ornate roof and temple structure must be seen to be appreciated. It is one of the first monasteries you will notice if you are coming from Gaya. Try to visit this temple during the mornings or mid-afternoons as the temple gate closes by 4 pm. The main temple hall is spacious and it enshrines a serene Burmese style Buddha statue smiling down at you.

The monastery also has a huge guesthouse that offers accommodation to pilgrims at no cost, but donations are very much welcomed.

Address: Gaya Village, Bodh Gaya 824231, India
Phone: +91 631 2200 721
Opening Hours: Temple gate close by 4 pm
Website: http://bodhgaya.myanmarvihara.org/

7. Vietnamese Temple or Vien Giac Institute

Located just behind the Kalachakra Maidan, this beautiful Vietnamese style architecture temple offers and very calm and peaceful environment to do one’s meditation. All you need to do is request nicely. The tastefully decorated temple enshrines a small but beautiful Buddha statue. There are no monks in this temple but there is a caretaker who speaks rather good English, who is more than happy to show you around the temple.

The colourful altar inside the Vietnamese Temple

Address: Kalachakra Ground, Bodh Gaya, India
Phone: +91 631 2200 237/252
Opening Hours: N/A

8. Chinese Temple

The Chinese temple is located about 100 metres from the Mahabodhi temple. The temple was founded by Buddhist monk in 1997 but it has since been refurbished. It presents the beauty of traditional Chinese temple architecture with detailed Chinese elements carved all over the temple. Its woodwork is considered one of the oldest and most intricate. Inside the temple’s prayer hall housed three smiling golden Buddhas. The walls and ceiling have intricate Chinese paintings depicting Buddhist stories and mandala like flower motifs.

The Chinese Temple is enshrined with three smiling Amitabha Buddhas

Address: Bodh Gaya 824231, India (100 meters from the Mahabodhi Temple Complex)
Phone: N/A
Opening Hours: 7 am – 7 pm daily

Other Places to Visit

1. Barabar Caves 

The Barabar Caves located around 24 km north of Gaya, in the Makhdumpur region, is the oldest surviving rock-cut caves in India dating back from the Maurya Empire (322 – 185 BCE). It is an important archaeological site with inscriptions from the Ashokan era found in these caves.

These caves are found in the twin hills of Barabar and Nagarjuni. The caves at Nagarjuni Hills date back to the 3rd century BC of Ashoka and his son Dasaratha Maurya period. They are younger and smaller compared to the Barabar caves. Although King Ashoka and his son were Buddhist, they allowed other religious sects such as the various Jain sects to flourish as the believed in religious tolerance. The caves were utilised by a group of ascetics from the Ajivika sect.

The caves in Barabar Hill consists of two chambers that are carved out of the granite rock. The first chamber is usually for devotees to congregate, which looks like a large rectangular hall. The second chamber is smaller and shaped like domed, which is meant for worship. These chambers had structures that looked like at one point there could have been small stupas in them. Amazingly, inside the cave’s surface is extremely smooth, like as if it has been polished, and it creates an echo type of effect.

The Barabar Caves are well known due to the author E.M. Foster’s visits to India which were featured in his best seller ‘A Passage To India’, calling them ‘Marabar Caves’ in his story.
Another unique thing that can be found in the Barabar caves is its magnanimous arches which are rare in ancient history.

The arch-like shape facade of Lomas Rishi Cave, presents a more contemporary timber type of architecture. Above its doorway, you’ll see a row of elephants carved out, proceeding towards what looks like stupas along the curved architrave.

The Sudama cave was dedicated by King Ashoka in 261 BC and the arches are of bow shape. These caves have a domed like chamber with a rectangular hall for gatherings.

Karan Chaupar has a single rectangular room with amazing polished surfaces with inscriptions dating back to 245 BC

These caves are quite an amazing sight and they are worth visiting. The carving of the entrance of Barabar caves are so sharp and precise, that it looks like it is being cut using modern laser cutting technology. These caves play an important role in Buddhist history as several Jataka tales are depicted on their walls. They help to educate as well as preserve the history and the development of Buddhism in different stages. Buddhist and Hindu sculptures can also be found around the area.

Address: Barabar Caves, Barabar hill, Jehanabad, Bihar, 804408, India
Phone: +91 612 2234194
Opening Hours: 6 am – 6 pm
Entrance Fee: Free

Note: If you intend to hire a local guide, be sure to ask them for their official ID which is a Bihar State’s Tourism Development Corporation ID card. The cost to hire a guide is around Rs.500-1000 (depending on how well you bargain) for an entire day trip on a motorcycle.

2. Dungeshwari Cave Temples

Dungeshwari Cave Temples also commonly called Mahakala caves is just around 12 km northeast from Bodhgaya. Here you’ll discover three ancient holy caves where Buddha meditated for six years. These are the caves where Lord Buddha went through self-mortification, eating only one grain of rice a day. After practising such extreme austerities for years, Buddha realised that the middle path is required to achieve supreme enlightenment. Hence, the Dungeshwari Caves commemorates this special event.

Many pilgrims would come to these caves to meditate, offer butter lamps and receive great blessings. Many say that the compassionate energy of the Buddha can be felt strongly in these caves.

Another Buddha statue found in Dungeshwari Cave Temples

These caves are also known as Sujata Sthan to the locals and very popular amongst Buddhist as well as Hindu pilgrims. It is said that you feel the energy of Buddha’s great compassion and humility when meditating in these caves. Hence, visiting such holy sites generates great blessings from the enlightened one.

Inside these three caves contain two Buddhists shrines as well as one Hindu shrine. One of the Buddhist shrines houses an emaciated Buddha covered in gold and the other shrine has a 6-feet tall Buddha statue. In the Hindu shrine, you will find the deity Dungeshwari.

Address: Bodhgaya, Bihar 824231, India. Located on the Phalgu River
Phone: N/A
Opening Hours: 10 am – 5 pm daily
Entrance Fee: Free

3. Archaeological Museum in Bodhgaya

Established in 1956, the museum has two main galleries, an open courtyard as well as two verandas showcasing various antiquities. You can find exhibits of Buddhist and Brahmin stone sculptures from the Pala period. Various scenes associated with the Buddhist pantheon, Zodiac signs on railings from the Sunga age and more.

In the first gallery, you will discover ancient sculptures such as a standing Yakshi (a female earth spirit), a crowned Buddha in bhumi sparsa (earth touching) mudra, Maitreya Buddha, various images of Lord Buddha in different poses, a standing image of Manjushri, just to name a few.

In the second gallery, you’ll find sculptures of Buddhist and Brahmanical faith. The museum’s courtyard displays a collection of 2000-year-old granite and sandstone railings, pillars, cross bars and stones that were salvaged from the Mahabodhi Temple.

There is a huge image of a standing Buddha in the abhaya mudra or the mudra of no fear at the outer veranda of the museum.

Address: Bodhgaya, Bihar 824231, India
Phone: +91 631 220 0739
Opening Hours: 10 am to 5 pm Closed on Friday
Entrance Fee: Rs. 10 (Adults) Children 15 years and below – Free
Website: http://asi.nic.in/asi_museums_bodhgaya.asp

Major Buddhist Festivals in Bodhgaya

Kagyu Monlam Chenmo

“In Tibetan aspiration is known as ‘monlam’ and dedication is known as ‘sngo ba.’ These two go hand in hand. Aspiration is the one that initiates our accumulation, and dedication is the one that completes our accumulation of merit and wisdom as well.”

~ Thaye Dorje, the 17th Gyalwa Karmapa

Source: http://www.kagyumonlamchenmo.org/

This is a large prayer festival known as The Great Prayer Festival held by the Kagyu School of Tibetan Buddhism in Bodhgaya. It usually falls in late December to early January, corresponding from the 4th to the 11th day of the first month of the Tibetan calendar.

In the sutra called “A Wall of Flowers”, it mentions that any aspiration prayers made near a stupa that contains one of the Buddha’s relics, their prayers will definitely be fulfilled. What better place is there in this world that is filled with Buddha’s relics and energy than the sacred Mahabodhi Temple in Bodhgaya.

The benefit from having a large number of people congregating in one holy place to do aspirational prayers would be that each individual gets to accumulate the amount of merit of every person that is present doing the prayers.

The great Indian Buddhist master Nagarjuna once said, “if one makes aspiration prayers together with a highly developed Bodhisattva, the resulting prayer is so powerful that one can avert famine, natural disasters, and purify a great amount of negative karma”. This is the reason why every year hundreds and thousands of Tibetan Buddhist pilgrims, from four different schools, come together to do these aspiration prayers in numerous holy sites in India.

Previously two high Lamas who made aspirational prayers during the Monlam festival were His Holiness the 17th Karmapa Thaye Dorje and Kunzig Shamar Rinpoche in 1996. Both are known to be great bodhisattvas. Hence, the Kagyus believe that reciting prayers even just once with such highly attained beings, have greater effect than if one were to do it on their own a million times over.

For more information, visit: http://www.kagyumonlamchenmo.org/

Nyingma Monlam Chenmo

Similar to the Kagyu’s Monlam Chenmo, every year from January to February, thousands of Nyingma practitioners from different lineages all around the world would gather here in Bodhgaya to make aspirational prayers during this great prayer festival.

The Nyingma’s pray for the preservation and continuation in turning the wheel of Dharma to benefit all beings, for the long life of great teachers from all Buddhist traditions as well as world peace. It is opened for all to join and booking is not required.

For more information, visit: http://nyingma-monlam.org/wordpress/

Vesakha or Wesak Day

Held on the full month of the month May, this is the biggest Buddhist celebration known as Buddha Purnima or Buddha Day. It is held during the full moon of the Vesakha month celebrating Buddha’s birth, enlightenment and parinirvana. Buddhist pilgrims from all over the world would flock to Bodhgaya and engage in numerous virtuous practices to collect enormous amount of merits on this holy day. It is said that one’s merit is multiplied a million times over during significant occasions associated with an enlightened being such as Buddha Shakyamuni or Lama Tsongkhapa. One can engage in any of the five preliminary practices, recite millions of mantras, prostrations and more during this special day. Some may even wish to observe the eight precepts.

Buddha Mahotsava Event

This is a Grand Buddhist Cultural Festival that is an annual three-day celebration, marked by cultural and religious festivities. Many renowned artists and cultural performances from all over India as well as other parts of the world would take part in this colourful celebration.

This celebration was started by the Prime Minister, Atal Bihar Vajpayee in 1999. Its objective was to promote Bodhgaya as an important pilgrimage as well as tourist destination.

Mahakala Puja

Another very popular festival in Bodhgaya is the Mahakala Puja. This puja is conducted in a Kagyu monastery by the Karma Kagyu Sangha community. A three days extensive Mahakala ritual is performed to purify and remove obstacles a few days before the coming new year.

For more information, visit: www.facebook.com/KagyuMonlamChenmo

Kalachakra

Every year the Kalachakra initiation conducted by His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama attracts hundreds of thousands of pilgrims from all around the world. This event is organised by The Department of Religion and Culture of Central Tibetan Administration together with many international sponsors. It is usually held on the 11th month following the traditional Tibetan calendar, which is usually in the month of January. It is recommended that you check the official website to find out the latest details.

For more information, visit: http://www.kalachakra.in/

Do’s and Don’ts

• Mobile phones with camera are not allowed inside the Mahabodhi Temple. Security will check your bags.
• Cameras are allowed but you are required to purchase a camera ticket for Rs. 100 per camera. Video camera tickets are Rs. 500 per camera.
• You may keep your bags, mobile phones with cameras in the lockers provided. They are located just 50 metres west of the entrance.
• Circumambulate the stupas and other sacred monuments in a clock-wise direction.

Respect

• Please remove your shoes before entering the Temple complex. You may wear socks.
• Please be mindful to preserve the peace, tranquillity and sacredness of this holy area.
• Do not climb onto any statues, buildings or monuments as it is considered extremely disrespectful and inauspicious. Bear in mind these sites are sacred to many people and they are being preserved for future generations.
• Please dress decently, this is after all, a temple. It is recommended to wear loose comfortable clothing that are not revealing. Please do not wear shorts, or sleeveless tops, singlets to holy sites and temples.

Beware

• An unfortunate bombing incident occurred on 7th July 2013 within the temple complex. Five people were injured. One bomb exploded near the holy Buddha image and the other near the Bodhi Tree. Three other bombs were found and defused. Fortunately, the Buddha image and the main temple was not damaged. Hence, ever since then security has been extremely tight.
• Do not be fooled by people on motor bikes claiming to be tourist guides. They will charge you more than the actual cost which is supposed to be around Rs. 500 – 1,000 for a day trip on motor bike, no matter the distance. Request to see their official Bihar State – Tourism Development Corporation ID card first and then bargain for a better rate.
• Like any other tourist spots, street vendors and shops will usually charge more than the usual rate for their goods, just be prepared to bargain.
• Cows are sacred animals in India and even more so in a spiritual place like Bodhgaya. You will see many of them all along the streets. So be careful not to hit, harm or injure them in any way as it is illegal, and you can be heavily fine. There have been cases where foreigners are fined for such offences.

Beggars

Bodhgaya has a huge population of beggars and they are usually hanging around outside the entrance of temples. These beggars gather in different groups, controlled by gang members. Children as young as seven or eight years old are being used to beg as tourists would tend to have a softer spot for kids. However, at times, they can be quite aggressive and persistent. So beware and if you do decide to help them, it is better to give in kind, such as food or clothing. It is also wise to do it discretely, otherwise, you will be swamped with beggars crowding all over you. Try not to give them cash, as we do not know what they will end up using it for and they tend to return to beg for more. Word gets around fast and you will be targeted especially if they know you are generous and will donate in cash. Some of them may even be picky, requesting for certain things. So do watch out, smile, be polite if you do not wish to donate and move along.

How To Get There

By plane

To get to Bodhgaya is quite easy as there are planes that fly directly to Gaya airport which is around 17 kilometres to Bodhgaya. From the airport, you can take a taxi which is roughly 40 minutes to Bodhgaya.

Here are some examples of airlines that fly directly to Gaya:

• Druk Air
• Thai Airways
• Indian Airlines flies from Kolkata
• Air India fly from New Delhi
• Indigo fly from New Delhi

Note: Do check with your travel agent for the latest schedule, timing and other possible flights.

Alternative airport: Patna Airport (115 kilometres to Bodhgaya)

There are multiple flights from Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Pune, Bangalore, Lucknow and Hyderabad that flies into Bodhgaya. It is recommended that to check the latest schedule with your local travel agent or the airport. From Patna Airport it is around 3 hours and 42 minutes by car or taxi to Bodhgaya.

By train

Alternatively, you can take the train from New Delhi, which is a one night’s journey (15 hours) to Gaya. It would cost around Rs. 1630 – Rs. 3740 depending on the type of class carriage you are taking. For more details, you can check here: https://www.90di.com/trains/DELHI/GAYA

Another place to take the train from would be Patna, which is an express train and takes about 2 hours to reach Gaya. The cost is Rs. 34 as of January 2008.

You can also catch the train from Calcutta, which will take around 8 hours. Tickets in the Second Class carriage with air conditioning will roughly cost Rs. 1,600.

Gaya Station is just 16 kilometres to Bodhgaya. From the station, you can take a bus or a rickshaw to Bodhgaya. Rickshaw prices may vary depending on time of day and how well you bargain. It roughly cost between Rs. 80 -120.

By bus

Bodhgaya and the town of Gaya are connected via the main road. There are regular bus services between these two towns. The Bihar state of Tourism Development Corporation has buses running daily to the holy site and its township. They can be reached via phone: 0612 222 5411

Buses also run to and from Varanasi, Nalanda, Rajgir, and Kathmandu. A good website to check availability, pricing and schedule for various transportation for your travels is: https://www.makemytrip.com/

Accommodation

Spending a day in Bodhgaya is not enough to cover all the sites and soak in the blessings. Some pilgrims would stay here for months like H.E. Tsem Rinpoche who went there to do retreats. It was during this time that Rinpoche met and made friends with a Malaysian monk, Rev. Khoon, and this led to Rinpoche’s visit to Malaysia later on and the rest is history.

Below are a few recommended accommodation. We would advise you to book in advance, especially during peak seasons, and to do further research based on your budget and requirements.

1. Burmese Vihara

Situated on Gaya Road, the monastery offers basic but clean accommodation. It mainly caters to Burmese pilgrims, however, if you can still enquire as they often have rooms available for others. They do not charge for their rooms, hence donations are encouraged.

Address: Gaya Village, Bodh Gaya 824231, India
Phone: +91 88043 92995
Website: N/A

2. Mahayana Guest House

Very clean rooms with hot showers and just a 5-minute walk to Mahabodhi Temple. They also have free Wi-Fi, airport transfers, a book shop and a coffee house. It is very safe to stay there and you can leave your things in the room while you head down to the temple. It is recommended to book at least a month in advance, as it can be full during peak season.

Address: Opp. Jai Prakash Park, Bodhgaya, Gaya, Bihar 824231, India
Phone: +91 631 220 0756
Website: N/A

3. Kundun Bazar Guest House

Comfortable and clean room with hot showers. Located near the old Vietnamese Temple, they provide many types of rooms, from single rooms to fully serviced apartments. Amenities include bike rentals, an internet cafe, snooker bar, self-service kitchen, laundry facility, tour packages, money exchange service and more.

Address: Bhagalpur Rd, Bhagalpur, Belsar, Bodhgaya, Bihar 824231, India
Phone: +91 95467 93434
Website: http://kundanbazar.in/

4. Rainbow Guesthouse

Clean rooms with TV with hot showers and a 24-hour front desk service. The guesthouse also offers car rentals and is just 600 metre to Bodhgaya Bus Station.

Address: Temple Street, 824231 Bodh Gaya, India (Near Burmese Monastery)
Phone: +91 94312 80810
Website: N/A

5. Hotel Tokyo Vihar

The hotel is located opposite the Japanese Temple and around 300 metres to the Mahabodhi Temple. Rooms are clean, with comfortable beds and nice bathrooms. The hotel was recently renovated and the rooms look new. Amenities include, free Wi-Fi, laundry service, postal service, safe deposit, telephone conference system, doctor on call service and transport as well as 24-hour room service.

Address: Opposite to Japanese Temple, 824231 Gaya, Bihar, India
Phone: +91 631 220 1141
Website: http://www.hoteltokyovihar.com/index.html

Sources:

• https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/travel/my-bodhgaya-vajrayogini.html
• http://wikitravel.org/en/Bodh_Gaya
• http://www.mahabodhi.com/History/history.html
• http://bstdc.bih.nic.in/bodhgaya.htm
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bodh_Gaya
• http://www.buddhanet.net/e-learning/buddhistworld/bodgaya.htm
• http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Bodh_Gaya#Name
• http://www.bhantedhammika.net/essays/the-buddhas-true-face
• http://www.bodhgayatemple.com/?pg=premises
• http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1056
• http://bodhgaya.myanmarvihara.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=14&Itemid=26
• http://www.cpreecenvis.nic.in/Database/BarabarCaves_2412.aspx

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