Bodh Gaya, about 15 km south of Gaya in Bihar, is where Siddhartha Gautama meditated under a pipal tree and attained enlightenment, becoming the Buddha, around the 5th century BCE. The Mahabodhi Temple, first built by Emperor Ashoka and rebuilt in brick in the 5th or 6th century, marks the spot and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The things to do in Bodh Gaya centre on the Mahabodhi Temple complex, where pilgrims from Sri Lanka, Thailand, Tibet, Japan and elsewhere pray, chant and meditate around the Bodhi Tree. Buddhist countries have built monasteries in their own styles around the town. Nearby are sites linked to the Buddha's life before enlightenment, the Hindu pilgrimage town of Gaya and India's oldest rock-cut caves at Barabar.
One to two days is enough for the town; add days for Rajgir and Nalanda. October to March is the pilgrimage season and the most comfortable time.
For how to get there, when to go and where to stay, see our Bodh Gaya travel guide.
Quick answer: best things to do in Bodh Gaya
- Visit the Mahabodhi Temple
- Sit under the Bodhi Tree
- Walk the temple's meditation sites
- Visit the international monasteries
- See the Great Buddha Statue
- Visit the Archaeological Museum
- Cross to Sujata's village
- See the Dungeshwari (Mahakala) caves
- Visit the Vishnupad Temple in Gaya
- See the Barabar Caves
Planning a pilgrimage? See our guide to the Buddhist Circuit.
Mahabodhi Temple
Visit the Mahabodhi Temple
The Mahabodhi Temple's pyramidal tower rises about 55 metres above a sunken courtyard, with a gilded image of the seated Buddha inside. It is one of the earliest brick temples surviving in India. The complex is open from early morning until evening; the mornings and evenings, when monks chant and lamps are lit, are the most atmospheric.
Phones are generally not allowed inside the complex, though cameras may be permitted with a fee; check current rules. Remove shoes at the entrance.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Best time
- Early morning and evening
- Good for
- Everyone
Sit under the Bodhi Tree
Behind the temple, the Bodhi Tree, a descendant of the tree under which the Buddha sat, spreads over the Vajrasana, the diamond throne marking the place of enlightenment. Pilgrims sit and meditate here for hours, and prayer flags and offerings surround it.
Walk the meditation sites
The complex marks the seven weeks the Buddha spent after enlightenment, including the Animesh Lochana Chaitya, where he gazed at the tree, the Chankramana, a jewel walk where lotus flowers sprang from his steps, and the Muchalinda lake, where a serpent king sheltered him from a storm.
Monasteries and museums
Visit the international monasteries
Around the town, monasteries built by Thailand, Japan, Bhutan, Tibet, Vietnam, Myanmar and other countries each reflect their own architecture. The Thai monastery has a gilded roof in classic Thai style, the Japanese Indosan Nipponji is calm and minimal, and the Tibetan monasteries are colourful and full of prayer wheels.
- Time needed
- Half a day
See the Great Buddha Statue
The Great Buddha Statue, about 25 metres tall and unveiled in 1989, shows the Buddha seated in meditation, surrounded by statues of his disciples.
Visit the Archaeological Museum
The ASI museum near the temple has the original stone railings from the Mahabodhi complex, with carvings from around the 1st century BCE, and bronze and stone images. It is closed on Fridays.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
Join a meditation course
Centres such as the Root Institute and the Vipassana centre run courses of a few days to several weeks, mostly in the winter season. Book in advance.
- Good for
- Spiritual travellers
Around Bodh Gaya
Cross to Sujata's village
Across the Niranjana (Phalgu) river is the village of Bakraur, where the milkmaid Sujata is said to have offered the Buddha a bowl of rice pudding that ended his fasting. A large brick stupa marks the site.
See the Dungeshwari caves
The Dungeshwari (Mahakala) caves, about 12 km away, are where the Buddha is believed to have practised severe austerities before coming to Bodh Gaya. Small shrines and a Tibetan monastery sit on the hillside.
- Time needed
- Half a day
Visit the Vishnupad Temple in Gaya
Gaya, 15 km north, is an important Hindu pilgrimage town. The Vishnupad Temple, rebuilt by Ahilyabai Holkar in 1787, enshrines a footprint of Vishnu, and pilgrims perform pind daan rites for ancestors on the Phalgu ghats, especially during Pitru Paksha in September or October.
See the Barabar Caves
The Barabar Caves, about 40 km north of Gaya, are the oldest surviving rock-cut caves in India, carved in the 3rd century BCE under the Mauryas for the Ajivika sect. Their granite interiors are polished like glass, and the Lomas Rishi cave has a carved doorway imitating wooden architecture.
- Good for
- History lovers
By season
October to March
The pilgrimage season, with monasteries busy and many teachings; December and January are the busiest.
April to June
Very hot; visit early and late.
Festivals
Buddha Purnima in April or May celebrates the Buddha's birth, enlightenment and passing, with prayers and processions.
Things to do in Bodh Gaya by type of traveller
Pilgrims: Mornings and evenings at the Mahabodhi Temple, the monasteries and Dungeshwari.
Spiritual travellers: A meditation course and quiet hours under the Bodhi Tree.
History lovers: The museum, Barabar Caves and a trip to Nalanda and Rajgir.
What to do in Bodh Gaya with one day
Visit the Mahabodhi Temple at dawn and sit under the Bodhi Tree. Visit the museum and the Great Buddha Statue, then spend the afternoon at the Thai, Japanese and Tibetan monasteries, and return to the temple for the evening chanting.
Practical tips for Bodh Gaya
- Gaya airport, about 12 km away, has flights from several cities and seasonal international flights; Gaya Junction is the nearest major railway station.
- Dress modestly and remove shoes at monasteries and the temple.
- Bihar is a dry state; alcohol is prohibited.
- Book rooms early for December and January.
Plan the rest of your Bodh Gaya trip
Bodh Gaya things to do: FAQs
What are the best things to do in Bodh Gaya?
Visit the Mahabodhi Temple and the Bodhi Tree, walk the meditation sites, see the international monasteries and the Great Buddha Statue, visit the museum, Sujata's village and the Dungeshwari caves, and see Gaya's Vishnupad Temple.
How many days are enough for Bodh Gaya?
One to two days, plus days for Rajgir and Nalanda.
Is the Mahabodhi Temple a UNESCO site?
Yes, since 2002.
What is the best time to visit Bodh Gaya?
October to March.
Things to do near Bodh Gaya
- Things to do in Rajgir: Vulture's Peak and hot springs
- Nalanda: the ancient university
- Gaya: Vishnupad and pind daan
- Things to do in Varanasi: and Sarnath, where the Buddha first taught
More things to do in Bihar
Published by the Kudozz Club editorial team · Last updated · How we research our guides
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