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Bodhgaya is the sacred place where, under the Bodhi Tree, Gautama
attained supreme knowledge and became Budhha - the 'Enlighted One'. This
place is rightfully called, 'A land blessed by Buddha's touch'. It is a
sacred pilgrimage place for both Buddhists and Hindus. Buddha attained
enlightenment in Bodhgaya, under the Bodhi tree, 10 km from Gaya, the
ancient Hindu pilgrimage centre. The tree from the original sapling
still stands in the temple premises. The magnificent Mahabodhi temple in Bodhgaya showcases many centuries of cultures and hermits that came to pay their homage here. Inscriptions describe visits of pilgrims from Sri Lanka, Myanmar and China between 7th and 10th century AD. It is perhaps the same temple Hiuen Tsang visited in 7th century.
Several centuries after Buddha, the Mauryan emperor Ashoka (234-198 BC) contributed tremendously towards the revival, consolidation and spread of the original religion. It is the monasteries Ashoka built, for the Buddhist monks and the pillars erected to commemorate innumerable historical events associated with the Buddha’s life, mostly intact to this day, that helped scholars and pilgrims to trace the life events and preachings of a truly extraordinary soul.
The
Mahabodhi Temple is the hub of this land. This temple is a pilgrimage
center for all Buddhist. A 50 mt 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 BC. Although the current temple was
restored in the 11th century, and again in 1882. The stone railings
around the temple, parts of which still stand, is considered to be from
the Sunga period. 
