The four most holy places associated with the Buddha are Lumbini, his birthplace, in Nepal, Sarnath, near Varanasi, where he preached his first message, Kushinagar, near Gorakhpur, where he died, and Bodhgaya, where he attained enlightenment. Of these Bodhgaya is the most important Buddhist pilgrimage site in the world. Apart from being a significant archaeological site, it is also a vital Buddhist centre.

Bodhgaya, in the state of Bihar, reckoned as the most important Buddhist pilgrimage centre, is the place where Lord Sakyamuni (Gautam Buddha) entered into meditation after being moved by the sufferings of mankind. The giant Bodhi Tree (Peepal) that we see today is believed to have grown form the original Bodhi Tree under which, sitting on the raised platform, Prince Siddharth meditated and finally attained Nirvana. Then there is Chaukramana, the jewel walk, where it is believed that the Buddha strolled while in deep thought.

The focal point of Bodhgaya is the Mahabodhi Temple. A 50 metre high pyramidal spire crowns the Mahabodhi temple, inside which, is a large gilded image of the Buddha. The temple is believed to be standing on the site of a shrine, erected by Ashoka in the 3rd century B.C. Although the current temple was restored in the 11th century, and again in 1882, it is said to be the same as the one standing here since the 7th century. Legend has it that the Bo tree growing here is the direct descendant of the original tree under which the Buddha sat, mediated and attained enlightenment. A sapling from the original tree, was taken to Sri Lanka by Sanghamitra (Emperor Ashoka's daughter), when Ashoka took Buddhism to the island. The tree now flourishes in Anuradhapura in Sri Lanka. A cutting of this tree was brought back to Bodhgaya, when the original tree here died. A red sand stone under the tree is said to be the Vajrasan, or diamond throne, one which the Buddha sat on.

The magnificent Maha Bodhi temple in Bodhgaya is an architectural amalgamation of many cultures. The temple bears the stamp of the architecture of the Gupta Dynasty and subsequent ages. On the walls of the temple, one sees Buddha carved in different aspects, and in the sanctum sanctorum, a colossal Buddha, is seen touching the ground, which has mythological significance in the Buddhist lores. The temple carries inscriptions recording the visits of pilgrims from Sri Lanka, China and Mayanmar in the 7th and 10th Centuries A.D. Hieun Tsang, the Chinese traveler, also visited the temple in the 7th Century.

Devout Buddhists and tourists from all over the world visit Bodhgaya, to study Buddhism and the art of meditation, or to simply absorb the aura of solemn grandeur that surrounds the place. Bodhgaya is a quiet and peaceful place. You could visit Bodhgaya in a day, or even plan a long study leave, depending on your inclination. Either ways you won't leave Bodhgaya without absorbing some of its serenity.