Bodhgaya, India Tourism

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11th C to the early 19th C.

Mahadobhi Temple is topped with a pyramidal spire and houses a large gilded statue of Buddha in the yogic posture. The best time to visit is October to March when Tibetan pilgrims travel from Dharamsala.

A pipal tree, a descendant of the original bodhi tree where Buddha continued to meditate for seven days after the Enlightenment is located near the Mahadobhi Temple. The tree is among the oldest and the most venerated trees in the world. A red sandstone slab is located under the tree to mark the spot. The slab is called the Diamond Throne.

Northeast of Bodhgaya is Nalanda, site of one of the world's earliest universities. It began as a Buddhist monastery and then became a center for learning from the 5th to 12th C. The stupas, temples and monasteries stand in ruins but still provide a great sense of the past for visitors!