Mahabodhi Templeमहाबोधि मंदिर

About Mahabodhi Temple

The Mahabodhi Temple stands at Bodh Gaya in Gaya district, Bihar, near the Niranjana (Phalgu) river. It marks the place where Siddhartha Gautama attained enlightenment and became the Buddha, and it is the holiest of all Buddhist pilgrimage sites. Pilgrims from India and from Buddhist countries across Asia come to meditate, chant and offer flowers here. The site is inscribed by UNESCO as the Mahabodhi Temple Complex at Bodh Gaya, a World Heritage Site.

According to Buddhist tradition, Siddhartha sat in meditation under a pipal tree here, on a seat now called the Vajrasana, and attained enlightenment. Emperor Ashoka is traditionally said to have built the first shrine at the site in the 3rd century BCE. The present brick temple is generally dated to around the 5th to 6th century CE, in the Gupta period, and is among the oldest brick temples surviving in India. It declined for some centuries and was restored in the 19th century. The Bodhi tree that grows here today is believed to be a descendant of the original tree.

The temple has a tall, straight-sided pyramidal tower rising above the sanctum, with four smaller towers at its corners. Inside is a large gilded image of the Buddha seated in the earth-touching gesture. Behind the temple grows the Bodhi tree, with the Vajrasana beneath it. Around the complex are places linked with the weeks the Buddha spent here after enlightenment, such as the Animeshlochana chaitya, the Ratnachankrama walkway and the Muchalinda lake. Parts of old carved stone railings, some very early, are also preserved, with originals in the site museum.

Mahabodhi Temple timings & aarti

Usually open from about 5:00 AM to 9:00 PM. Times may vary; check locally before visiting.

Timings change on festivals, eclipses and special days. Please confirm locally before you travel.

How to reach Mahabodhi Temple

Festivals at Mahabodhi Temple

• Buddha PurnimaApr/May
• International Tipitaka ChantingDec
• Kagyu and Nyingma Monlam prayersDec/Jan
• Buddha Mahotsav (held in some years)Jan/Feb

Visitor tips

Dress code

Modest clothing covering shoulders and knees is recommended. Footwear must be removed before entering the temple area.

Entry

Free entry. Mobile phones are usually not allowed inside and must be deposited; a fee may apply for carrying a camera.

• Visit early in the morning or in the evening, when the chanting and lamps create a peaceful atmosphere.
• Leave your phone at your hotel or deposit it at the counter; phones are not allowed inside.
• Walk clockwise around the temple and maintain silence near meditating pilgrims.
• Do not pluck leaves from the Bodhi tree; fallen leaves may sometimes be collected.
• Book accommodation early for the winter pilgrim season.

Places to visit near Mahabodhi Temple

• Great Buddha StatueLarge seated Buddha statue, about 1 km away
• International monasteries (Thai, Japanese, Bhutanese and others)Temples built by Buddhist countries, about 1 km away
• Sujata Stupa (Bakraur)Linked with Sujata's offering to the Buddha, about 3 km away
• Vishnupad Temple, GayaFamous Vishnu temple and centre of pind daan rites, about 15 km away

Frequently asked questions