Bodh Gaya Buddha Pilgrimage Mahabodhi Bihar

Bodh Gaya in Gaya district is the most sacred site in Buddhism — where Gautama Buddha attained enlightenment under the Bodhi tree. The Mahabodhi Temple (UNESCO WHS) stands at the site of the original temple built by Emperor Ashoka in the 3rd century BCE. Today millions of Buddhist pilgrims from Thailand, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Japan, and Korea visit annually. The pilgrimage economy supports thousands of monastery guesthouses, craft vendors, and guide workers. The Bodhi tree is a direct descendant of the original tree.