Bodhgaya

Bodhgaya, situated near the river Niranjana, is one of the holiest Buddhist pilgrimage centers. It was here that Prince Siddhartha attained enlightenment under the soothing shade of the Bodhi tree and became the Buddha or the All-Knowing one. It is believed that the tree once perished but was revived during the reign of Emperor Ashoka. A red stone slab under the tree is said to be the Vajrasana, or the diamond throne, on which the Buddha sat, cross-legged, and meditated till his efforts were finally crowned with success. Both Fa-Hien and Hiuen Tsang have mentioned this stone.

For 25 centuries Bodh Gaya has been a hallowed place of pilgrimage and worship where every tree, stone and pond is venerated.

Tens of thousands of believers from all over the world visit this site.

Most countries with a large Buddhist population have built a temple or a monastery here.
The 25 m Great Buddha Statue in the Japanese Kamakura style was unveiled by His Holiness the Dalai Lama in 1989.

Bodhgaya is 12 km from Gaya, 140 km from Patna, 66 km from Rajgir and 482 km from Calcutta