About six months ago, I put up a post on Bodhgaya (which you can find here if you wish to read it again), and promised I would find a few more photos to post another time.
This is another time.
My first picture is of the entrance to the Mahabodhi Temple, which is built on the site where the Buddha achieved enlightenment. The first temple was built by Emperor Ashoka, in the third century BC, and the present one was erected in the fifth or sixth century AD. Visitors remove their shoes (or face a one hundred rupee fine) and descend the steps from the garden that surrounds the temple.
Just before reaching the entrance itself, they will pass this small chorten – one of dozens surrounding the temple – garlanded with marigolds.
Many more chortens surround the temple and can be found around the gardens themselves, these ones beside a carved sandstone balustrade.
But the Mahabodhi Temple is by no means the only Buddhist temple in Bodhgaya. As the place where the Buddha attained enlightenment, it has naturally been the focus for many Buddhists from around the world, and there are many other temples built by those from the various different branches of Buddhism. This one is one of two Tibetan temples.
On the edge of Bodhgaya, this twenty five metre tall statue of the Buddha was erected in the grounds of the Japanese Daijokyo temple in 1989.
But Bodhgaya, naturally, is more than simply its temples. Although it is quite naturally a major tourist attraction, it is also home to many people, and daily life is not much different from other towns in Northern India.
As you approach the temple areas from the northern side of the town, this is a fairly typical scene. In the distance, the share auto that plies between Bodhgaya and Gaya is filling up with passengers, and men and women shop for essentials.
A woman carries a basket of dried cattle dung, which will be used to fuel the cooking fire.
And on the edge of the town, the scene quickly becomes rural once again.
From Thursday I shall be away for a few days, but will catch up with comments and other blog posts once I am back.
Absolutely incredible, Mick. I love these posts 🙂 Have a lovely few days away, catch up soon.
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Thanks, Lucy. All the best.
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Thank you for this lovely post Mick Sir! ☺☺ Next time you came india please visit Rajgir,pawapuri,and Nalanda.
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Thank you! Certainly Rajgir and Nalanda are on my list, although I know nothing of Pawapuri beyond its name – I shall have to look that one up.
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Sir..Pawapuri is city name and it’s famous for jain(Lord Mahavir) temple.
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That should certainly be on my list, then. Thank you!
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And Mick Sir Patna is also a holy destination for sikh…Takht hari mandir sahib is biggest gurudwara..☺👍
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Patna I did go to, although I did not have much chance to look around. I learned a lot more about it since, though, and there are certainly things there I would like to see.
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The Mahabodhi Temple is certainly stunning, The Buddha is awesome but I love the shot of cattle dung lady going about her daily task…lovely to see it all, thanks, Mick.
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Thanks, Vicky. Yes, someone else’s ‘ordinary’ is frequently of interest!
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Lovely clicks Mick and yes I remember that post. The temple is sure awesome. Must visit. And the Buddha is majestic. The rural captures are too good. Have a good rest. See you soon.
Meena.
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Thanks, Meena. Unfortunately, it wasn’t a rest – I had to go on a course. However, back now and catching up!
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Welcome back. I might be gone for the next two weeks. Off to India for my sisters wedding. All excited. 😉🙂
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Hope it goes well, Meena. Have a fantastic trip!
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Thanks a lot Mick.
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I don’t know about that 25-foot statue, Mick. Makes me feel Big Buddha is watching me.
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Ouch!
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Yep, but Buddha is a benevolent soul, so I think he’ll forgive me.
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I’ve often thought it’d be fun to have a visitor from another time…
I also wonder how folks are able to balance unstable looking loads of whatever on their heads, then walk with it. I’m doing well to balance my head on my shoulders. (Although hopefully my head is stable.)
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I’m sure that if you are used to carrying loads that way all your life, it’s fairly easy. Unfortunately, I’m not – I’ve attempted it a couple of times and the less said about the results the better!
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Beautiful so nice to see this place and stunning pictures too. Great 👍 post.
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Thank you!
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Lovely read, Mick. Brought back memories of my own visit.
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Wow, that really is a rural looking village. Do you know why they use marigolds specifically?
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I’m not certain – I believe it is simply because it is common, but also because it resembles the sun, and also its strong odour tends to keep insects away.
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What super photos, Mick! Bodhgaya seems like a stunning place. I must get over to India during the next few years – it’s long overdue!
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It is stunning, Descartes. Well worth the trip.
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