Road trips are exhilarating especially after humdrum lockdowns. A road trip to Bodh Gaya is a much-needed break that will refurbish your energy. The prime advantage of a road trip is that you can stop anywhere at your convenience and capture some priceless moments or even can enjoy some roadside scrumptious foods. Road trips to Bodh Gaya will embrace you with all excitement and opportunities that you are looking for to revive your energy and mood.
Bodh Gaya is a highly applauded Buddhist pilgrimage destination in the world. This place is located in Bihar, India. Bodh Gaya is the most venerated place where Lord Buddha became enlightened during stringent meditation under a Bodhi tree.
From Patna
You can reach Bodh Gaya from Patna (140 km) by road. If you can book a self-drive car rental from Revv, then it may take two and half years to reach Bodh Gaya from Patna.
From Varanasi
Another popular way to travel to Bodh Gaya is by taking a safe and sanitized car rental from Revv from Varanasi and you can reach your destination within six hours.
The pilgrimage prefers to visit this venerated place between September to January. The most ideal time to visit this place is between November and February. Don’t go there in the monsoon season because the weather becomes oppressive. Though the summer season (March to May) is sultry, still, a large number of devotees come to this place during this time because of Buddha Jayanti (Buddha’s birthday) that is celebrated in late April or May.
Let’s take a look at some of the best places to visit in Bodh Gaya that you can’t shun at any cost.
You must include the name of this place when you are making the list of places to visit in Bodh Gaya. This is the place where Siddharth Gautam achieved enlightenment and became Lord Buddha. This temple was built by the great Mauryan king Ashoka to highlight the spot of the Buddha’s enlightenment (Bodhi). In 2002, UNESCO declared it a World Heritage Site. The temple consists of four towers in the corners and a chatra on its top. The height of the temple is 180 feet. Every day, the temple opens from 5 am to 9 pm for visitors and aficionados. Carrying any mobile phone or electronic gadget is highly prohibited in the temple complex.
This sacred tree is situated just beside the Mahabodhi temple. Lord Buddha sat under this tree when he gained enlightenment. After gaining celestial knowledge, Lord Buddha meditated under this tree for 7 days without any interruption.
It is believed that Lord Buddha spent six weeks here and meditated at this place after attaining enlightenment. There is a fable associated with this place. When Buddha was meditating here an austere thunderstorm broke but he was indifferent. Seeing this, the snake king called ‘Muchalinda’ came out from his place and safeguarded Buddha with his hood from the showers. This holy pond got its name after the name of the snake king.
Are you desperately looking for some places to visit near Bodh Gaya? Then, never miss this place at any cost. This temple is located just opposite of Mahabodhi temple complex. The Chinese temple in Bodh Gaya perfectly blends Chinese architecture and Buddhist culture and traditions and that’s why it is a well-known tourist spot.
The temple consists of three golden statues of Lord Buddha and there were many Chinese engravings on the wall of the temple. This temple was built by Buddhist monks with support from the Chinese Government. Every day this temple opens till 6 p.m for visitors.
This sumptuously made Thai temple is another popular attraction in Bodh Gaya. In 1956, it was built by the then Thailand Monarch. This monastery replicates an astonishing blend of Thai Buddhist architecture. The monastery has a sloshing roof curved at the corners and they are ornamented with golden tiles.
The 25-meter high bronze statue of Lord Budhha will grab your attention once you enter the temple. This place brings serenity and tranquillity to the mind of visitors. This famous monastery is situated within walking distance of Mahabodhi temple and every day, it opens from 9 am to 6 pm for visitors.
The great Lord Buddha Status is located adjoining to the Mahabodhi temple in Bodh Gaya. This holy statue of Lord Buddha was hallowed by the 14th Dalai Lama in the year 1989. Almost 7 years were required to complete this astounding sculpture of Lord Buddha. In this sculpture Lord Buddha is sitting in a meditation pose on a lotus. Popularly known as an 80-feet Buddha statue, this place has become a landmark of Bodh Gaya.
This is one of the popular Bodh Gaya tourist places that you must visit on your trip. The Indosan Nippon Japanese Temple is adjacent to the Great Buddha Statue. To spread the teachings and wisdom of Lord Buddha around the world, this temple was built in 1972. The temple reflects the perfect Japanese architectural skill. All imperative events of the life of Lord Buddha are beautifully inscribed on the walls of the temple. Every day this temple remains open till 6 p.m for visitors.
These are popular Bodh Gaya places to visit on your road trips. Apart from Buddha Jayanti, other popular festivals like Buddha Mahotsava (a three-day celebration with cultural and religious activities), Kagyu Monlam Chenmo, and Nyingma Monlam Chenmo prayer festivals are also celebrated in Bodh Gaya ostentatiously.
To explore nearby places in Bodh Gaya, you can take a safe and sanitized car rental from Revv to make your trip memorable and cherished.
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