The city of Gaya is situated 105 km from Patna in the state of Bihar. Bodhgaya is 7 miles south of Gaya. Considered to be extremely sacred this is the site where Lord Buddha gained enlightenment. The Bodhi tree under which Buddha reached the enlightened state is the most revered tree in the world. Another attraction of Bodhgaya is the ancient Mahabodhi Temple. The original shrine is said to have been constructed by the great Emperor Ashoka. The temple contains a magnificent gilded image of Buddha as well as a 150 feet high tower and the walls of the temple are covered with scenes from Buddha's life. Take some time out to visit the museum near the temple, which has some more images of Buddha in gold, bronze and stone. People believe that the platform below the Bodhi tree where Buddha meditated is the center of the universe. The platform is called Vajrasana.
To get the full experience of Bodhgaya a trip to the Tibetan, Japanese and Burmese monasteries is a must. The Tibetan monastery houses the massive Dharma Chakra (the wheel of law) and is a popular destination for Buddhist from all over the world