Temples in Bodh Gaya
Bodh Gaya's temples are nearly all Buddhist, and nearly all open to anyone who comes quietly. The Mahabodhi Temple is the centre, and the national monasteries around it each show how a different country builds for the Buddha.
Mahabodhi Temple
The Mahabodhi Temple is open to everyone, usually from about 5 am to 9 pm. Entry is free. At the gate you pass metal detectors and hand in your phone, which is not allowed inside. Cameras are allowed with a camera ticket. Shoes come off at the entrance.
Inside, walk clockwise around the temple, and keep to the outer edge of the path if people are prostrating. The Bodhi Tree is behind the temple, and you can sit on the platforms around it to meditate. Keep your voice low.
The monasteries
Countries with Buddhist communities have built their own temples here. The Thai monastery, from the 1950s, was the first. Nearby are the Royal Bhutan Monastery, with its painted clay panels, the Japanese temple, and several Tibetan monasteries. Most are free to enter, open from morning to early evening, and ask for shoes off and quiet inside. Some close around midday.
The Great Buddha
The Great Buddha Statue is an 80-foot seated figure, built by a Japanese Buddhist group and unveiled by the Dalai Lama in 1989. It is outdoors, but part of a temple complex, so dress modestly.
Dungeshwari caves
The Dungeshwari caves are where the Buddha fasted before coming to Bodh Gaya. One cave has a Buddhist shrine and another is a Hindu shrine to a local goddess, so you may see both kinds of worship on the same hill.
Vishnupad Temple in Gaya
Gaya, about 15 km away, is a major Hindu pilgrimage city. Its Vishnupad Temple is the centre of the rites Hindus perform for their ancestors. Non-Hindus are not allowed inside. It is busiest during Pitru Paksha, a two-week period in September or October.
Questions
Bodh Gaya — FAQ
What should I leave behind before entering the Mahabodhi Temple?
Your phone and bag, which go into lockers at the entrance, and your shoes. Cameras are allowed only with a camera ticket.
Which way should I walk around the Mahabodhi Temple?
Clockwise, keeping the temple on your right. Keep to the outer edge of the path if people are prostrating.
Can non-Hindus visit the Vishnupad Temple in Gaya?
No. Entry is limited to Hindus. Non-Hindus can see the area around the temple and the Falgu riverbank.
Are the monasteries in Bodh Gaya open to visitors?
Most are open and free, usually from morning to early evening, with some closing for a break at midday.