Located in the northeastern part of India, in Bihar in the area of ​​Gaya, Mahabodhi Temple is one of the most revered Buddhist religious places associated with the name of Buddha. It is believed that this is where he achieved enlightenment.

According to historians, about 250 BC, 200 years after the origin of Buddhism, Ashoka Maurya emperor visited this place and decided to establish a monastery and temple. That ruler Ashoka and is considered the founder of the Mahabodhi. But the temple in the form in which it is preserved to this day, was built somewhere in V-VI century.

Mahabodhi Temple is considered one of the oldest brick buildings eastern India, which has kept to our time. The central temple tower rises 55 meters, it is decorated with geometric patterns and carved panels. The tower is surrounded by four towers are much smaller. On all sides the building is surrounded by a kind of stone railing, more than two meters in height. In the older parts, made of sandstone, carved images of bathing with elephants Hindu Goddess Lakshmi and the health of the sun god Surya, riding on a chariot drawn by four horses. The new part of the railing decorated with carved figures of lotus flowers and eagles.
The temple was rebuilt in the late XIX century, still under British leadership, at the initiative of Sir Alexander Cunningham.

Not far from the sanctuary, the west wall, increasing the sacred Buddhist Bo tree, or as it is called, ficus sacred (religious), under which are believed to be meditating Buddha.

Mahabodhi Temple is on the list of world heritage by UNESCO.