Mahabodhi Temple
UNESCO site · 2–3 hoursDawn is the hour. Phones and shoes are restricted — check at the gate.
Buddhist pilgrimage · Bihar
Bodh Gaya travel guide & tour packages
The Bodhi tree at Bodh Gaya is where the Buddha is held to have attained enlightenment, and the Mahabodhi Temple around it is a UNESCO site and one of the four principal Buddhist pilgrimage places. What makes the town unusual is the ring of monasteries built by Buddhist nations — Thai, Bhutanese, Japanese, Tibetan, Burmese — each in its own national architecture, within walking distance of each other. Visiting them in an afternoon is the closest thing to a tour of Buddhist Asia available in one place. Go at dawn when monks from every tradition are circumambulating together; it is quiet and it is the reason to stay overnight rather than pass through from Gaya.
What to see
Things to do in Bodh Gaya
The Bodhi Tree
Sacred site · Within templeA descendant of the original. Sit rather than photograph.
International monasteries
Experience · Half dayThai, Bhutanese, Japanese, Tibetan and more, all walkable.
Great Buddha Statue
Monument · 45 minutes25 metres, carved from sandstone and granite. Consecrated by the Dalai Lama in 1989.
Durations
Realistic trip lengths
Bodh Gaya works well as a 1–2 night stay. Tell us your dates and party and we'll price a tailored itinerary.
Multi-city
Circuits including Bodh Gaya
Buddhist Circuit
Bodh Gaya, Rajgir, Nalanda, Varanasi and Sarnath — the sites of the Buddha's enlightenment and first sermon.
Price on enquiryView itinerary
Good to know
Bodh Gaya FAQs
When do the Tibetan teachings happen?
The Dalai Lama has historically taught at Bodh Gaya in December or January, though not every year. Dates are announced late and accommodation vanishes immediately — ask us early if this is why you are going.
Is Bodh Gaya worth an overnight?
Yes. The temple at dawn is a different place from the temple at midday, and a day trip from Gaya misses it entirely.
Nearby
Combine with
Holy city
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View guide →Plan it properly
Tell us the party and the dates.
We price the real configuration rather than an average — exact adults, children and rooms — and come back within one working day.