One need not be a devotee of Buddhism in order to visit and enjoy the spirituality of Bodhgaya.

Tourism in Bodhgaya is already strong as each year sees a number of pilgrims visiting the place.  The visitors are not limited to believers in Buddhism, as some people also visit the place for exposure to the Buddhist and Indian culture.  For cultural exposure, this is definitely the place to go.

History of Bodhgaya

Bodhgaya is the most important pilgrimage place for all Buddhists, as this is where the religion was born.  This is where Gautama Siddhartha, the founder of Buddhism, first gained enlightenment.  Sitting underneath a bodhi tree, he found the answers to the questions he had and then continued to meditate in several areas in the vicinity.  The place was given several names until the late 1800s, which was when it was known as Bodhigaya.

Tourism in Bodhgaya

Being a pilgrimage spot, the main area to visit will of course be the Mahabodhi temple complex, which spans all seven sacred spots where Gautama Siddhartha meditated after gaining enlightenment.  Built in 250 BCE and then restored in the late 1800s, it is one structure built entirely of brick.  Meditation sessions are held for those who travel to the temple.  These start one hour after opening and one hour before closing.

The temple also features an archeological museum, and this features a considerable amount of relics, scriptures and ancient statues of Buddha. Definitely worthy to be added to any tour plan for visitors.

Several other Buddhist temples exist around the Mahabodhi temple, and these are maintained by different Buddhist countries around Asia and around the world.  Each temple is a site worth seeing, and additional value is given by the fact that some of the offer meditation and Buddhism courses for those tourists who are interested to learn more.  Some even offer ten day retreats for the purpose of spiritual rejuvenation.

Bodhgaya is a spiritual place that any tourist can visit in order to learn more about the religion, or just to find peace of mind.  In a world where people have too much to do with too little time, one has to take a break every once in a while in order to recharge.  Bodhgaya is the perfect place for that break, as it would heal not just the physical body but the spiritual portion of any tourist as well. Make it a part of your package tour to India and you would not regeret it.