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A township on the banks of the river Niranjana
(also called the Falgu), Bodhgaya is revered by Buddhists across the world as the place
where the Buddha preached, meditated and attained enlightenment. The religious centre of Bodhgaya- and the axis mundi for Buddhism-
is the Bodhi Tree, a fig tree descended from the original tree under which Lord Sakyamuni
meditated and finally attained enlightenment, becoming the Buddha. Below the tree is a
platform on which the footprints of the Buddha have been carved in stone; near it is a
slab of red sandstone, called the Vajrasan, which marks the spot where he sat in
meditation. |
The Mahabodhi Temple in Bodhgaya, marked by a 52 mt tall
spire and home to a large gilded statue of the Buddha, stands next to the Bodhi Tree. The
temple is believed to have been built by the Emperor Ashok, and is decorated with friezes
depicting the life of the Buddha. Along the northern wall of the Mahabodhi temple is a
raised walkway known as the Chankramana Chaitya- the `Jewel Path’- where the Buddha
meditated as he walked. Adjacent to the temple is a lotus pond believed to have been the
place where the Buddha performed his ablutions.
Other than the Bodhi tree and the Mahabodhi Temple,
Bodhgaya is known for its beautiful Buddhist monasteries. The Indosan Nipponji Japanese
Temple houses a spectacular Buddha statue, while the Thai temple has gleaming gilded roofs
and elegantly curved lines. In addition to these, there are at least three Tibetan
monasteries, and a number of houses of worship maintained by Sri Lankan, Bhutanese,
Chinese, Vietnamese and Nepalese monks. Each monastery is built in a distinctively ethnic
architectural style- retaining national identities yet united in faith.
Also a part of the complex is the Bodhgaya Archaeological
Museum which contains a large collection of Buddha statues, in terracotta and stone. Other
artifacts, including stone carvings, also figure in the museum’s display.
Bodhgaya- When to go
It is possible to visit Bodhgaya at any time of the year. The best time, however, is
between October and March, when the weather’s at its best. January and February, in
particular, are a good time to visit Bodhgaya, as the meditation and theological
institutes in the town hold special religious discourses and conventions.
The Mahabodhi temple is open to visitors every day from 6
am to noon and from 2 pm to 6.30 pm.
Bodhgaya- Getting There
Bodhgaya is 100 km from Patna, the state capital of Bihar, and about 15 km from Gaya. Gaya
has its own rail station, with train connections to a number of destinations across
India.
Alternately, you can get a bus from Varanasi (in UP), from
Patna, Gaya or any of the larger cities in Bihar. Patna is the nearest airport and has
flights coming in from most major airports in India, including Mumbai, Delhi, Lucknow,
Ranchi and Kolkata.
Within Bodhgaya, `tongas’, cycle rickshaws and
autorickshaws are the main means of getting around.
Bodhgaya- Accommodation
Bodhgaya offers a fairly extensive range of accommodation facilities which includes three
star hotels, budget hotels, and a number of guesthouses and tourist bungalows. In addition
to the regular accommodation offered by commercial establishments, rooms (or beds) are
offered by some monasteries in Bodhgaya. These come minus the frills, but are usually
comfortable and clean enough, besides being fairly cheap. Do note, however, that
monasteries usually offer first preference to pilgrims of their own country.
Further information on Bodhgaya may be obtained from the
Government of India Tourist Office, Room #151, 162 Tourist Bhawan, Birchand Patel Path,
Patna (Tel: 2226721). The Government of Bihar’s tourism department has an office in
Bodhgaya, opposite the Mahabodhi temple.
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