Situated in the state of Bihar, Bodh Gaya is one of the most sacred places for the followers of Buddhism. Bodh Gaya is renowned worldover for its conncetion with founder of Buddhism Gautam Buddha who had spent many years of his life in the sacred town. Buddishts throng the town of Bodh Gaya from different parts of India and abroad from China, Tibbat, Bhutan, Japan, Thailand, Korea and many parts of the world. Bodh Gaya has an international airport which is served by flights from several cities of India and foreign destinations.
It took a 1,000 years post the sacred enlightenment for the authorities to build a monastery & temple where Buddha was blessed. The Mahabodhi Temple reaches up to 180 feet at its highest point and has the tree which sheltered Buddha. Though not the same tree from 2500 years ago, it is the descendant of the original Bodhi tree. Although the tree at Mahabodhi is considered a cutting from the original tree and in the original meditation location, a number of other cuttings exist around the world and are also frequently visited by Buddhist pilgrims.
Besides the sacred tree and temple, the area is similarly dotted with Buddhist relics, marking the locations where Buddha reflected on his enlightenment. One of the most prominent sites, is the the unblinking stupa, which stands in front of the tree. Following legend, the stupa is supposedly in the same place where Buddha stood and stared at the Bodhi tree after attaining enlightenment. In 2002, the entire area was nominated for preservation as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and is frequently visited by pilgrims and curious onlookers alike.
