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Bodhgaya

Bodh gaya is locatedin the central part of the state of Bihar, in the northeastern part of India. It is the part of the great Ganges plains. It is situated on the west of the Falgu River, which is a tributary of River Ganga (Ganges). It is 13 km south of Gaya and 113 km south of Patna city. Theclimate of Bodh gaya is tropical. Summers are generally hot (April-June), while winters are cool (October-February). It experiences southwestern monsoonrains from July until September.

The life of Gautam Buddha, the founder of Buddhism, is associated with the small town of Bodh gaya. It is one of the four holiest cities of Buddhist faith. The Mahabodhi temple is the main attraction of this town and is located near the spot whereLord Buddha attained spiritual enlightenment. Bodh gaya is not only an important Buddhist pilgrim center, but it is also an important center for the study of Buddhism.

History
The history of this small town isassociated with Buddhism since ancient times. The region around Bodh gaya formed the part of the first small kingdoms of India in the 7th century BC. It came into limelight in 6th century BC, when a local prince Siddharth (also known as Gautam) renounced all material possession and, after practicing rigorous penances for years, attained Enlightenment or Nirvana under a Bodhi (Bo) tree here.

After gainingEnlightenment, Gautam became Buddha (The Enlightened One) and spread his message of love and peace. To mark the spot where Gautam Buddha had attained Enlightenment, the great Mauryan ruler King Ashoka built a small shrine here in the 3rd century BC. Subsequentrulers left their mark on this shrine, which finally took the shape of the Mahabodhi temple that still stands.

Tourist Attractions
The main touristattraction in Bodhgaya is the Mahabodhi temple. The original Bodhi tree under which Buddha gained enlightenment had died, but the present tree is a descendant of the original tree, which was obtained from Anuradhapura in Sri Lanka, where it was taken by Sanghamitra, King Ashoka's daughterin 3rd century BC. The red sandstone slab under this tree is said to be the throne on which Buddha sat.

The Mahabodhi temple stands on the 3rd-century-BC shrine, erected by Ashoka. It is intricately carved and houses a large gilded image of Buddha. The present temple has beenrestored to its past glory.

A number of countries like Japan, Burma, China, Sri Lanka, Korea, Nepal, etc., where Buddhism is an important faith, have built their respective monasteries and temples in Bodh gaya. Theses monasteries and temples offer to the tourist differentarchitectural styles of these countries. The Archeological Museum of Bodh gaya is another important place to visit in this small town.

Thousands of Buddhist pilgrims fromall over the world throng to Bodh gaya every year. Bodh gaya is not only an important Buddhist pilgrim center and an archeological site, butit also for famous for the various meditation courses offered by a number of institutes, in and around the town. Most of the courses are conducted in winters (October-February).

Fairs & Festivals
The meditation institutes of Bodh gaya organizea number of conventions, special meetings and discourses. These are usually held in the months of January and February. Travelers seeking peace of mind and spiritual upliftment must visit these programs. Important Buddhist religious festivals are celebrated with great fervorin Bodh gaya.



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