Bodh Gaya
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Overview
Bodh Gaya in Bihar's Gaya district is where the Buddha attained enlightenment under the Bodhi tree, the event its symbol stands for. The Mahabodhi Temple stands here. The Sri Lankan king Meghavarman sought permission to build a monastery here.
The Mahabodhi Temple complex was inscribed as a World Heritage Site in 2002, and its brick temple is one of the earliest surviving in India.
The Vajrasana, a stone seat, marks the spot where the Buddha sat, and the present Bodhi tree is believed to descend from the original.
Bodh Gaya lies on the Niranjana (Phalgu) river, and monasteries from many Buddhist countries stand around it.
Geography and key facts
- Gaya district, Bihar
- Enlightenment (Bodhi tree)
- Mahabodhi Temple
- WHS 2002
- Vajrasana
- Niranjana (Phalgu) river
Why it matters for UPSC
Asked on the four sacred places of Buddhism.
Note for UPSC
Bihar; place of enlightenment; Mahabodhi Temple.
Expect questions linking sites with events in the Buddha's life and later Buddhist history.
Asked in PYQs
No question in our Prelims bank names Bodh Gaya yet.
Key facts
- Type
- Buddhist site
- State / UT
- Bihar
- Coordinates
- 24.695°N, 84.993°E
From the Map Explorer data; positions are for orientation.