Mahabodhi Temple Complex

The Mahabodhi Temple Complex in Bodh Gaya is easily reached nowadays in about 2 hours from Patna via a 4-lane highway that bypasses the city of Gaya. The town of Bodh Gaya is essentially a slum, with desperately poor living conditions and full of people whose main goal in life is to get the most out of the Buddhist pilgrims. India shows itself here at its worst: noisy rickshaws, begging children, severely deformed people hoping for compassion, con artists of all kinds, and dirty children made to perform circus acts by their mothers. They all ply the main street leading up to the temple.

The entrance policy confused me when I tried to find out about it online beforehand, but despite the tiresome stroll through town, it’s actually not chaotic at all. Entrance is free, except when you want to take pictures; then a 100rs fee is required, payable at the "Camera Ticket Counter". Phones are not allowed in, but it seems that when you buy a camera ticket this is waived as well (I did not try).

First going through a new gate with the reassuring label "World Heritage Site" overhead, you will be patted down twice before you enter the temple grounds. These additional security measures were taken after bombs were placed here in 2013 (and two went off) by an Islamic militant group. You only need to take your shoes off in the inner circle of the temple, so leave them on as long as …

Being an Indian and a history student, I've always been inclined towards these icons and iconic places.

Siddhartha Gautama as the Buddha was named at the time of birth had a sheltered upbringing within the palace away from all the harsh realities of the world. And one day when he visited the city with his charioteer , it turned out to be traumatic. He was sad after seeing so much sadness and destruction around. Soon after this he left the palace and went out in search of his own truth. Thus , Gautama Buddha meditated for several days under a banyan tree which is famously known as Bodhi tree and had attained enlightenment. Hence, Emperor Asoka visited this site and thus got this temple constructed. Mahabodhi temple is thus one of the few surviving examples of early brick architecture in India.

Thus this place is very peaceful and worthy enough to be visited. When one visits this place , there the ambience is very mesmerising and calm.

I visited this WHS in January 2012 during the 32nd Kalachakra when the Dalai Lama visited the Great Stupa in Bodh Gaya. It is a great place of gathering, recollection, sacrifice, prayer and helps you get in touch with your inner self. The Tree of Life and the prostration of Buddhist people coming from all over Asia was the highlight of my visit. The Sitting Buddha inside the Great Stupa is simply beautiful and a monk constantly changes the Buddha's orange robe with others offered by different worshippers. A unique WHS for its religious, historical and cultural importance.

The Mahabodi Temple complex provided us with an interesting visit and, in conjunction with prior and subsequent study, a number of surprises regarding its historical and current status!

It is situated in the state of Bihar around 12kms south of the railhead of Gaya (which we reached by “fast” overnight train from Kolkata - dept 22.00 arr 05.20) in what has become the significant pilgrimage/tourist town of "Bodh Gaya" in which many Buddhist countries/sects (including China, Tibet, Japan, Bhutan, Thailand, Vietnam and Burma/Myanmar) have, in relatively recent years, built their own temples. There are also meditation centres and a Buddhist university etc. So the town is a hive of people who are there for religious purposes – mere “tourists” are very much in the minority!

The first notable aspect for us was the realization that the structures one views were all largely built since the site’s “rediscovery” in the 19th C. The restoration work was led in the 1880s by the British archaeologist Sir Alexander Cunningham (he set up the Archaeological Survey of India which today runs many of the Indian Cultural WHS). The original temple on the supposed site of Buddha’s enlightenment around 480BC goes back to Ashoka in 250BC, with further construction over it in the form of a mainly brick structure during the later Gupta empire in the 5th/6th Century AD. Buddhism however gradually declined as a force in India and, with the Mogul invasion, faced virtual extinction there by the 13th C. The temple …

Bodhgaya was not particularly interesting or visually attractive but was an important and symbolic destination for me. To see the descendant of the tree of enlightenment and to make this personal pilgrimage was a once in a lifetime act. Bodhgaya was done as a day trip from Patna by train.

As a 17 year old girl I visited the Mahabodhi Temple in Bodhgaya along with all my family members(which included my mother,father,brothers,sister,Uncle and Aunty)in 1986.

The journey till Gaya was by train ,and we had to take a local tourist bus to get to Bodhgaya.We arrived two days prior to the Vaisakh Purnima (the birthday,Enlightenment day,and the Mahaparinirvana)day of the Buddha.

Our experience of visiting the Mahabodhi complex was exclusively an interesting,special,and very spiritual one.

Just for the sake of a spiritual experience we decided to stay in the Buddha Vihara run by the Tibetan Lamas.

There were some tourist from France,and Germany, who were also living in the same Vihara.My family made friends with the tourist from France called Shantimati(thats the name she used for herself even though she had a French name).One thing I remenber of Shantimati saying was ,if given a choice she would like to stay near the Mahabodhi complex forever with tears in her eyes.The feeling and the Spirituality of someone who travelled seven seas just to see the Mahabodhi temple really touched me.Being born and brought up in India I was aware of the spirituality of the Buddhists for Mahabodhi complex but the spirituality of the foriegn tourists was a lot amazing and touching.

This Vihara is about five to ten minutes away from the Mahabodhi complex,quite a convenient place for many people.

The Lamas were so generous and so happy with the time spent with my family that they refused to accept any …

Mahabobodhi Complex is very interesting. You can feel the anciant atmosphere and the "faithful buddhist scenario". Is it possible to see old stupas, little and big Buddha statues, tibetan devots, monks, tourists, prayers, poor people, children and dogs (!)living in peace inside complex.

The train travel between Varanasi and Gaya is, too, absolutly interesting. Trains are old, ugly, dirty...sensational!