Overview
Bodh Gaya is a town in the northeast Indian state of Bihar. Considered one of the most important Buddhist pilgrimage sites, it's dominated by the ancient brick Mahabodhi Temple Complex a UNESCO World Heritage Site, built to mark the site where Lord Buddha attained enlightenment beneath a sacred Bodhi Tree. It enshrines a large golden Buddha, and is encompassed by an ancient railing, dating back to 100 BC. The Great Buddha Statue, Tibetan Monastery housing the Maitreya Buddha (future Buddha), Burmese Temple, Chinese Temple and Monastery, Buddhist Monastery of Bhutan, Thai Temple and Monastery, and many more temples are other places of worship. Nearby Gaya is a holy city beside the Falgu River. It's known for 18th-century Vishnupad Mandir, a riverside temple with an octagonal shrine and Mangla Gauri Temple on a hilltop. Hindu devotees visiting Gaya take bath in Brahma Kund Pond before honoring their deceased ancestors atop Pretshila Hill.
