About Bodhgaya
Bodh Gaya is a religious site and place of pilgrimage associated with the Mahabodhi Temple Complex in Gaya district in the Indian state of Bihar. It is famous as it is the place where Gautama Buddha is said to have obtained Enlightenment (Pali: bodhi) under what became known as the Bodhi Tree. Since antiquity, Bodh Gaya has remained the object of pilgrimage and veneration for both Hindus and Buddhists.
For Buddhists, Bodh Gaya is the most important of the main four pilgrimage sites related to the life of Gautama Buddha,[citation needed] the other three being Kushinagar, Lumbini, and Sarnath. In 2002, Mahabodhi Temple, located in Bodh Gaya, became a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
History
Bodhgaya is a small village town in the Gaya district of Bihar. One of the most sacred pilgrimages of Buddhist religion, Bodhgaya is the place where Gautama Buddha attained enlightenment in 534 BC under the Bodhi Tree. Followers of Buddhist religion come to pay this holy place a visit from all over the world. It was after 250 years of Buddha obtaining enlightenment here, that the prominent follower of Buddhism, King Asoka, visited this place and got the Mahabodhi Temple here.
Tourism in Bodhgaya is centred around the Buddhist faith with all other tourist attractions also dedicated to Lord Buddha. The government of Bihar has developed facilities for tourists to conveniently access this place from all corners and revel in the beauty of this holy land. The authorities have also successfully worked to restore the former glory of the Mahabodhi Temple. Bodhgaya is a home to many other Buddhist temples or monasteries from many other nations with a Buddhist tradition (Bhutan, Bangladesh, China, Japan, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Tibet).
Area: 249 km2
Main Languages: Bhojpuri, Hindi and English.
Population : As per the census 2011, Bodhgaya has a total population of 30,883 with males constituting 54% and females 46%.
Temperature : Summer – Max : 41�C. Min : 23�C.
Winter – Max : 34�C. Min : 10�C.
Climate and Geography
The climate is tropical. The summers of are very hot followed by heavy rains, which makes the atmosphere very sultry. The winters follow the monsoon and are also harsh.
Suitable Visiting Seasons ( months) : Between October and February.
Transportation
Bodhgaya is at a distance of 12km from Gaya city, connected by NH83. The place can be reached from Patna using State Tourism facilities. There are direct trains and buses available from Kolkata to reach Gaya. ‘Wonder on Wheel’ is a special caravan service between Patna and Bodhgaya, introduced by Bihar Tourism Dept.
Bodhgaya International Airport is 7km away and approximately 10km from Gaya Railway Station.
