Page 228 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - India

226  CENTR AL INDIA

centre for Buddhism. Temples
and monasteries built by various
countries, including China, Japan,
Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Thailand,
Taiwan, Korea, Bhutan and Nepal,
dot the town. The Thai Temple is
the most picturesque, while the
modern Japanese Temple is
remarkable for the 25-m (82-ft)
high Buddha statue that towers
in front of it. The Bhutanese and
Tibetan Monasteries are filled
with colourful murals and prayer
wheels, and both are always
thronged by red-robed monks.
The Thai Monastery in Bodh Gaya, built like a traditional wat (temple) In the courtyard around the
Mahabodhi Temple, monks
0 Bodh Gaya by the Mauryan king Ashoka meditate at the stupas, novi tiates
in the 3rd century BC, but a have their heads shaved, and
Gaya district. 115 km (71 miles) SE
of Patna. * 30,900. £ Gaya, 13 km major reconstruction during the pilgrims pray before the Bodhi
(8 miles) N of town centre, then taxi 7th century AD gave the temple Tree. For three weeks during the
or bus. @ n Bihar Tourism, 34 its present form. In the 12th winter, a tented city springs up
Mahabodhi Market Complex, (0631) century, it was severely around the temple, as thousands
240 0672. _ Monlam Chenmo damaged by Muslim of monks and pilgrims
Prayers (Jan/Feb), Buddha invaders, but faithfully congregate here for the
Jayanti (May). restored in the 14th Monlam Chenmo Prayers,
century by Burmese often presided over by
The holiest site for Buddhists kings, who also added the Dalai Lama and
from all over the world, Bodh the replicas of the main other venerated figures
Gaya is the place where the spire at each corner of from the Buddhist
Buddha attained enlight enment. the temple. Then, as world. Across
The focal point of the town Buddhism went the street, the
is the Mahabodhi Temple, into near eclipse Archaeological
whose soaring pyramidal in northern Museum has
spire dominates the landscape. India, the temple fragments of the
The temple is enclosed on site was flooded The 25-m (82-ft) Buddha statue, beautiful original
three sides by a 1st-century BC and silted over, erected by the Japanese 3rd-century BC
stone railing, carved with lotus and effectively temple railing,
medallions and scenes from the “lost” for centuries. Some and from the 8th to 12th centu-
Buddha’s life, and it includes the Burmese Buddhists rediscovered ries, bronze and stone images
sacred Bodhi Tree, under which it in the late 19th century. The which were excavated during
the Buddha meditated before temple ruins were then the restoration of the temple.
he attained enlightenment. excavated and restored.
The original temple at this Today, Bodh Gaya once again E Archaeological Museum
spot was a circular stupa, built flourishes as an international Open Sat–Thu. &
The Sacred Bodhi Tree
According to local lore, the original Bodhi Tree (Ficus religiosa) was
cut down by Emperor Ashoka’s wife because she was jealous of the
time he spent at his Buddhist devotions.
The emperor then revived the tree by
nurturing its roots with gallons of milk,
and built a protective stone railing
around it. The tree that stands today
is said to come from the same stock as
the original tree. Ashoka’s son Mahinda
took a sapling from the original tree to
Sri Lanka on one of his proselytizing
missions. The tree flourished there, and
its sapling was later brought back to be
planted at Bodh Gaya after the original Pilgrims gathered around the
Beautifully carved stupas in the tree had died. Bodhi Tree
temple courtyard
For hotels and restaurants in this region see p696 and p709

226-227_EW_India.indd 226 26/04/17 11:44 am
Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Catalogue template “UK” LAYER
(Source v2.6)
Date 12th July 2013
Size 125mm x 217mm