Mahabodhi Temple

Bodh Gaya is the most sacred of the four principal pilgrimage sites of Buddhism, being the place of the Buddha's enlightenment. Pilgrims and monks from across the world gather here to meditate under the Bodhi Tree in the footsteps of the Awakened One. The temple embodies the birth of a spiritual tradition that spread across Asia. As a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is treasured as a landmark of human spiritual history.

The towering Mahabodhi temple, its pyramidal spire rising about 55 metres, stands beside the sacred Bodhi Tree — a direct descendant of the very tree under which the Buddha gained enlightenment. Beneath the tree lies the Vajrasana (Diamond Throne), a sandstone slab marking the seat of awakening. The complex, with its ancient railings, votive stupas and meditating pilgrims from every Buddhist nation, hums with a profound sense of peace. Originally established by Ashoka and rebuilt over the centuries, it is one of the earliest brick temples still standing in India.