Neomaxer helps you discover extraordinary journeys — explore trails, experiences, activities, hotels, and flights, all curated to inspire your next trip.
Neomaxer helps you discover extraordinary journeys — explore trails, experiences, activities, hotels, and flights, all curated to inspire your next trip.
Neomaxer helps you discover extraordinary journeys — explore trails, experiences, activities, hotels, and flights, all curated to inspire your next trip.
Mahabodhi Temple is the holiest site in Buddhism, marking the exact location where Gautama Buddha attained enlightenment. Located in Bodh Gaya, it is one of the most significant pilgrimage destinations in the world and a central focus of Bodh Gaya tourism. The present 50 metre pyramidal structure was built in the 6th century CE under the Pala dynasty, over earlier foundations attributed to Emperor Ashoka in the 3rd century BCE. The temple’s vertical spire and layered design represent early Indian temple architecture and have influenced Buddhist structures across Asia. Beside the temple stands the sacred Bodhi Tree, regarded as a direct descendant of the original tree under which Buddha meditated. This lineage is traditionally traced through cuttings from the Sri Lankan Bodhi Tree, itself grown from a sapling sent by Sanghamitta in 288 BCE, linking the site to an unbroken spiritual continuum. At the base of the tree is the Vajrasana, or Diamond Throne, marking the exact seat of Buddha’s enlightenment meditation. The entire complex is UNESCO World Heritage listed and remains one of the most powerful spiritual spaces for pilgrims, monks, and visitors engaging in Bodh Gaya sightseeing and meditation.
What makes this place special
At Bodh Gaya, the Bodhi Tree beside the Mahabodhi Temple is regarded as a direct descendant of the original tree under which Gautama Buddha attained enlightenment. It has been continuously regenerated over roughly 2,500 years through carefully preserved lineages of saplings, most famously traced through a cutting from the Sri Lankan Bodhi Tree, which itself originated from a sapling sent in 288 BCE. Despite cycles of damage and replanting across history, the tree is maintained as part of an unbroken spiritual tradition, making it one of the most revered living symbols in Buddhism and a central focus of Bodh Gaya tourism and pilgrimage.
At Mahabodhi Temple in Bodh Gaya, the Vajrasana or Diamond Throne is a red sandstone seat placed by Emperor Ashoka in the 3rd century BCE to mark the exact spot of Gautama Buddha’s enlightenment. This sacred platform is believed to indicate the precise meditation point where the Buddha attained awakening under the Bodhi Tree. Made from polished red sandstone, it remains one of the most revered objects within the Mahabodhi complex and is considered among the holiest spots in Buddhism. Today, it sits directly beneath the Bodhi Tree and continues to be a focal point for pilgrims engaged in prayer and meditation, making it an essential highlight of Bodh Gaya tourism and spiritual pilgrimage.
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Neomaxer helps you discover extraordinary journeys — explore trails, experiences, activities, hotels, and flights, all curated to inspire your next trip.