Les meilleurs hôtels à Bodh Gaya

Bodh Gaya is the birthplace of Buddhism. About 2,500 years ago, Prince Siddhartha Guatama sat down under a pipal tree here and received the enlightenment that would inspire one of the world's great religions. Situated in the Bihar state, Bodh Gaya remains the most important Buddhist pilgrimmage destination on Earth. Bodh Gaya's main attraction is the Mahabodhi Temple, featuring a 150 foot high pyramid spire on site of Siddhartha's orignial Bodhi Tree, along with a golden image of the Buddha. Impressive, indeed, and yet this 1,000-year-old shrine had to be rescued from neglect and even oblivion by a Hindu leader, given Buddhism's decline in India over the past couple centuries. Modern Bodh Gaya is also a cosmopolitan religious center. Just about every nation with a substantial Buddhist population maintains a temple here. Courses and instruction in meditation draw visitors to the city as well. Bodh Gaya lies about 65 miles south of Bihar's capital of Patna, and 7 miles from the city of Gaya. Despite its rich religious heritage, Bihar remains one of India's poorest states economically. Friction between the castes and widespread poverty make for a chaotic social climate, though prudent travel and pilgrimages are still considered safe in Bihar.