Top 06 Must Visit Places in Bodhgaya – The Land of Nirvana

The Mahabodhi Temple is the most important icon in Bodhgaya; the 7th century complex was built to surround the bo-tree under which the Buddha attained Nirvana, hence, it is also called the 'Great Awakening Temple'. Standing at a height of 55 metres the temples complex encompasses a total of 4.8 hectares. To the left of the shrine is a bo-tree, believed to be a sapling of the very tree, the Gautama Buddha sat to meditate under. Built by the Emperor Asoka, the UNESCO World Heritage Site is just a 5 minutes' drive from Oaks Bodhgaya, a fine example of nearby venues for paying the place a visit over a course of days.

Instated by the Dalai Lama in 1989, this seating Buddha statue is the tallest in all of India. Created out of red granite and sandstone, the statue is of a meditating Buddha, who is depicted to be seated on a lotus flower. This is one of the first sights you will see when visiting the site from your modern Bodhgaya hotel.

This is probably India's most sacred tree, revered and cherished due to its great link to the Buddha. The tree is believed to be a direct descendant of the very bo-tree, Prince Siddhartha attained nirvana under, and he was later known as the Buddha. The prince meditated for seven days under this tree, where, later, in the 7th century a shrine was erected. The tree makes up one of four main Buddhist pilgrimage sites in the world and is visited by millions of devotees and tourists.

When visiting Bodhgaya, one cannot stop to admire the culture and traditions, which seem to have frozen in time; one place that takes you back to the ancient world is the Tibetan Refugee Market. A colourful hodgepodge of trinkets and artefacts, the market is any holiday shoppers dream come true. The best place to pick up curious souvenirs, the place offers a variety of traditional handicrafts, winter wear and interesting knick-knacks.

Located in the north-east of Bodhgaya, in the hills of Pragbodhi, this cave is cherished as the site the Buddha spent seven years of his life, as an ascetic; during which period he almost died of starvation. The cave is as simple as the purpose it was used for and does not have much to offer in terms of 'attractions', although it is the essence and serenity of the cave which many journey to experience.

This is a huge shrine dedicated to Sujata, the cow herder, who gave the Buddha a meal of milk rice, as an end to his seven years of asceticism. A mere 20 minutes' walk from Bodhgaya, the Sujata Kuti stupa sits across the Fagu River.