4 / 5 - 2 reviews
How to get there
Six hours by train from Calcutta
When to go
From October to March
Minimum stay
1 to 2 days
Bodhgaya (India)
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Romain Beuvart
Practical information on Bodhgaya
Reviews of Bodhgaya
Bodh Gaya is a small city that is sacred to Buddhists. It was here that prince Siddhartha Gautamaattained enlightenmentunder a bodhi tree.
My suggestion:
Do more than just go to the Mahabodhi temple, walk around the city's back streets a little bit. But be cautious at all times because it's very poor. You may be asked for money quite often...
My review
It isn't too often that Bodh Gaya is included in an itinerary on a trip to India. But just for the simple fact that people can sleep for free in the Thaitemple ofBodh Gaya(since my wife is Thai), I enjoyed my visit here! Bodh Gaya is a Buddhist pilgrimage site and so there are several temples here of primarily Buddhist countries.
Each built its temple in a style typical of the country:Nepal,Vietnam,Bhutan, Japan, Sri Lanka, Tibet, andThailandamong others (even 2 temples for Thailand), enough to see the Buddhist world united here in one place.
However, it is a very poor place.Often, people looked at me and approached me, asking for a little change.I even had the experience of following some young people who took us to see some orphans, with good intentions because they didn't ask for anything in return, but I doubt the legitimacy of that orphanage... It seemed to be more of a "display" to enrich its benefactorNontheless, the walk was nice, as the streets ofBodh Ggaya are colorful and its inhabitants were just friendly and curious for the most part.
Aside from seeing the main temple ofMahabodhi, I recommend going to see the other small temple across the river, the temple of Sujata. It's not a requirement, but doing this will get you out of town to see the surrounding countryside.
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Romain Beuvart
The town in the state of Bihar where Prince Siddharta Guatama experienced awakening and became a Buddha.
My suggestion:
October to March is the best time to visit, when the town is transformed into a main site of pilgrimage.
My review
Bodh Gaya is THE destination for those with a strong interest in Buddhism. The town itself has little to attract visitors, apart from its meditation centers, where the rules are strict: no cigarettes, no alcohol, and it is prohibited to harm any living creature, even if that only involves killing a mosquito.
The main attraction, of course, is the sacred fig, or the Bodhi Tree, where Buddha attained enlightenment. The tree in question is located in a magnificent temple right in the center of the town. From morning till evening, pilgrims tour round it quietly chanting mantras and other prayers praising the wisdom of their idol. People come from all over the world to purify themselves, from the distant valleys of the Himalayas, from Thailand, from China, from Europe … it makes for a charming scene!
You can also take advantage of the time you spend here when visiting India to shop for nice, high-quality gifts at the Tibetan market that's held across the town at the height of the tourist season.
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Matt Stabile
344 travelers' photos
