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Historical city in Bihar, India
Photo: Cacahuate, CC BY-SA 2.5 via Wikimedia Commons
Bodh Gaya, a city in the state of Bihar, holds immense spiritual significance as the site where Buddha Shakyamuni is said to have attained enlightenment. It is considered the most revered of all Buddhist sacred sites and forms a key part of the Buddhist Circuit.
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Maha Bodhi Maha Vihara
The site where Gautama Buddha attained enlightenment. This complex is large and contains a number of major attractions within it. One common way of visiting the statue is to "walk in the steps" of the Buddha. It is said that, after attaining enlightenment, the Buddha spent seven weeks in what is now Mahabodhi temple meditating on the nature of what he had discovered. There are several spots in the temple that relate to this tradition. Since the bombing incident in 2013, the temple has been under enhanced security. No laptop, mobile phone, or camera are allowed into the temple ground. The temple is open from 6AM to 9PM. There is no dress code, though visitors are expected to act in a way that respects the sacred nature of the site and expresses courtesy to others. See: Buddhism
Oppos. Jaiprakash Park
Museum provides the historical and geographical context for the life of Buddha through a set of multimedia films and 3D animation movie.
Namgyal Monastery, Bodh Gaya
A monastery with close ties to the Dalai Lama.
The 80-foot Buddha Statue
This statue is also called the "80-foot Buddha Statue" due to its impressive 25-metre height. Constructed by the nearby Daijokyo Buddhist Temple in 1989, the spectacular statue attracts pilgrims and tourists alike. Note: the contact information is for the Daijokyo Temple, which operates the statue.
Indosan Nipponji
A beautiful temple with a calm garden. Great place to meditate.
Beru Khyentse Rinpoche
Choeje Ayang Rinpoche
World Changhwa Buddhist Sangha
A peaceful temple that also serves as a great example of Chinese architecture. A short walk from Mahabodhi.
Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche
In January/February (it corresponds to the fourth through eleventh days of the first month on the Tibetan calendar), a large prayer festival (Monlam) takes place.
Prayer festival, January/February
A bi-annual event held in October or November, The festival aims to celebrate the life and teachings of the Buddha. Conducted under the auspices of Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche.
Newly set-up restaurant serving delicious Indian and international cuisine, with connections to the nearby Bowl of Compassion NGO. Patrons can choose special "Compassion meals", where the extra money goes towards helping the poor of the Tikha Bigha Village. Volunteers welcome.
The Japanese options are surprisingly good (although not authentic). Big portions.
Very cute cafe that offers a variety of food (they advertise themselves as offering "American (New), Chinese, Indian/Pakistani, Japanese and Thai"). Very inexpensive as well. Also offers free Wi-Fi.
Next to Fujia Green restaurant. A nice place with a lot of Indian options. Fairly inexpensive.
A restaurant inside Hotel Mahayama (but open to non-guests). Offers good food and is extremely close to the temple complex (~2 minutes walking).
Lovely restaurant with food options from a variety of countries. Good Wi-Fi and a fun atmosphere.
Fairly good Thai food for very good prices. Not authentic Thai, but still pretty good. Very close to Mahabodhi Temple.
Excellent pastries, specializes in Tibetan dishes.
A cosy cafe run by a Canadian woman. The cafe specializes in thin crust pizzas, Italian pastas, sandwiches in thick bread, freshly made cakes, homemade granola for breakfast and a variety of coffees. Shaded terrace seating among flowers.
A simple cafe with good coffee. Excellent breakfasts. Outdoor seating.
Minimalist and cosy. Great coffee. Friendly and helpful service.
Pleasant but basic single and family rooms, some with private bathroom
Very basic accommodation. The Vihara exists mainly to cater to groups of Burmese pilgrims, but there are often rooms available for others. Rules are posted prominently. Food service is only for those arriving in groups, and by prior arrangement.
Sri Lankan Temple
Private rooms and dorms available. 5 min walk from Mahabodhi Temple. Clean and comfortable. Observe rules and respect for the temple. Join them for daily Puja sessions (40 min) in the morning and evening.
Clean, simple, friendly, peaceful and calm environment.
Simple, but comfortable rooms.
Cosy twin bed rooms. Some with shared bathroom. Others with private bathroom.
A pleasant guesthouse.
Single rooms to full-service apartments, bike rentals, internet cafe, book, gift, and clothing shop, snooker bar, self-service kitchen, laundry facility, tour packages, and more
Simple, but well managed guesthouse.
Clean rooms, with medium customer service. Some rooms have access to common balconies.
Basic rooms, are cleaned more thoroughly on request, friendly and reliable staff.
Cheap and pleasant rooms in the center of town.
Clean environment and good restaurant.
Stylish rooms. Outdoor swimming pool. International restaurant.
Comfortable rooms with ofuro hot tub. Two-story building with acceptable quality and services. Dining facilities are good.
Spacious and elegant rooms. Individual cabins. Outdoor pool. International cuisine. Verdant garden.
8 rooms with AC and king-size beds, plus a large banquet hall. Parking available.
By car
The road from Patna to Bodh Gaya used to be very rough and narrow, making the three-hour journey feel much longer.
By train
The nearest railway station to Bodh Gaya is in Gaya, approximately 16 km away. From there, visitors can travel to Bodh Gaya by bus or by autorickshaw.
By bus
Private buses also leave in the morning from Varanasi, Nalanda, and Rajgir. In addition, from November to March, special services ply the route from Phuentsholing through Siliguri.
By foot
Bodh Gaya is very walkable. Most of the major destinations and are within 2 km (about a half-hour walk) from the Mahabodhi Temple complex.
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