Bihar
Bhutan Prime Minister Visit to Bodh Gaya
- 06 Sep 2025
- 1 min read
Why in News?
The Prime Minister of Bhutan visited the Mahabodhi temple in Bodh Gaya, offered prayers before Lord Buddha’s statue, and meditated under the sacred Bodhi tree.
Mahabodhi Temple
- About: The Mahabodhi temple marks the site where Gautam Buddha attained enlightenment under the Bodhi Tree.
- The original shrine was built by Emperor Ashoka in the 3rd century BCE, while the present structure dates back to the 5th–6th centuries CE.
- Architectural Features: The complex comprises the 50 m high main temple (Vajrasana), the sacred Bodhi Tree, and six other associated sacred sites of Buddha’s enlightenment, surrounded by ancient votive stupas.
- It is among the earliest surviving brick temples of the Gupta period, with the Vajrasana (Diamond Throne) installed by Ashoka to mark Buddha’s meditation spot.
- Sacred Sites: Key sites include the Bodhi Tree (a direct descendant of the original tree), the Animesh Lochan Chaitya (where Buddha meditated after enlightenment), and other related spots.
- Recognition: The Mahabodhi Temple was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2002.
