If by leaving a small pleasure one sees a great pleasure, let a wise man leave the small pleasure, and look to the great.....sounds out of the world, right? Well! not really because our past is the witness of great men who have been true followers of this teaching of Buddha and many are trying hard to be one. The teachings of Buddha have a magical appeal which encourages people to follow the right path of life. The religion of Buddhism has spread all over the world with great fervour and India is no exception.


The Buddhist sites in India have become a favourite hunt for all the people who crave for peaceful mind, body and soul. The Mahabodhi temple complex in Bodhgaya is one of the four holy sites related to the life of the Lord Buddha and his attainment of enlightenment. The temple is said to have been built by Emperor Ashoka in the third century. In the inner sanctuary of the temple there is a huge Buddha. In the centre of the temple is also a Siva-linga that was installed long time back. This temple holds special significance for the Hindus because Lord Buddha is said to be the ninth incarnation of Lord Vishnu. The walls inside the temple are decorated with friezes depicting Buddha's life. There is also a lotus pond along the temple, which is believed to be the place where Lord Buddha performed his ablutions. The temple has a 52 meter dome or central tower, which was renovated in the 19th century CE. The dome consists of several horizontal bands of mouldings and arch motifs, which further extend upward to an 'amalaka' with its top in umbrella-shaped forms, very much similar to those found in the early Buddhist stupas.

The Bodhi Tree here is said to be a descendent of the tree under which Buddha attained enlightenment. A sapling of the original bodhi tree that the Buddha sat under was carried by Emperor Ashoka's daughter to Sri Lanka. A cutting from the tree was planted here in Bodhgaya. This tree is located just behind the temple.The tree is about 80 ft high and 115 years old.

The Jewel Walk - It is a raised platform where Buddha walked up and down in meditation during the third week of his a stay in the area of Bodhi Tree. This platform was built in the 1st century B.C and is 3 ft high and 60 ft long.

The Mahabodhi temple was renovated and extensively built in the 19th century CE, but it still looks very original.

Year Of Kudos

The Mahabodhi Temple Complex was included in the list of World Heritage Sites of UNESCO in the year 2002. It is an important attraction of the tourists from all over the world.

Peppery Bulletin

• The Mahabodhi temple is one of the earliest temple constructions existing in the Indian sub-continent.
• The Mahabodhi Temple is one of the few surviving examples of early brick structures in India.
• The site of Mahabodhi temple provides exceptional records for the events associated with the life of Buddha.
• The Dalai Lama often spends December here.
• In the year 2000, plans were initiated to erect the largest statue of the 'Buddha of Compassion'.
• In 1891, the Mahabodhi Society was founded with the aim of reclaiming Bodhgaya and the Mahabodhi temple from Hindu to Buddhist control.
• The Bodhgaya Act of 1949, recognises the site as a Buddhist holy place.
• UNESCO recommended to the Indian authorities to develop an overall management plan to protect the values of the World Heritage site.
• The Mahabodhi temple is overseen by the Bodhhgaya Temple Management Committee.