The sacred city of Bodhgaya is located in Bihar. It is 12 km away from Gaya city. Bodhgaya is where the wandering prince Siddhartha sat under a Bodhi Tree to meditate. The first three days of his meditation and the following seven weeks of enlightenment have been closely associated with various places in Bodhgaya. The history of this town can be traced back to 500 BC. History mentions Bodhgaya as Bodhimanda and the main monastery as the Bodhimanda-vihara.

It is one of the four most important sites related to the life of Gautam Buddha (Kushinagar, Lumbini, and Sarnath being the other three). Not much of the history is known after that. DO

The town became an important pilgrimage center and famous travelers like Fa Hien and Xuanzang from China visited this place between the 5th and 7th century.

Bodhgaya developed and prospered for many centuries before being attacked and conquered by the Turkish empire in the 13th century.

The present city is a delight for historians, tourists and those seeking spiritual enlightenment.

BEST PLACES TO STAY IN BODHGAYA

Hotels in Bodhgaya are full booked between October and March, when the weather is relatively pleasant. Affordable rooms are available within Rs 500 and they provide comfortable accommodation during winter but they can be quite uncomfortable during summer. Air-conditioned rooms are available at budget hotels for a little extra charge.

Deluxe rooms are cheaper in Bodhgaya than in other Indian towns. They cost around Rs 1200 and provide basic amenities like a double-bed and air-conditioner. Luxury hotels are available in Bodhgaya for prices ranging from Rs 2500 to Rs 4,000.

BEST PLACES TO EAT IN BODHGAYA

Bodhgaya offers a wide variety of food items and has many options in both vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes. Om restaurant serves multiple cuisines. Keep your eyes open for roadside stalls.

BEST TIME TO VISIT BODHGAYA

The average minimum and maximum temperature of Bodhgaya is as given below. The best time to visit Bodhgaya is also specified.