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| Mahabodhi Temple, By Mohsin Javed |
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| Monks & Nuns in Mahabodhi Temple, By Mohsin Javed |
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| Monks in Mahabodhi Temple, By Mohsin Javed |
The site contains a descendant of
the Bodhi Tree under which Buddha gained enlightenment and has been a major
pilgrimage destination for Buddhists for well over two thousand years, and some
elements probably date to the period of Asoka.
The most eye-catching sight in Bodh
Gaya is a giant image of the meditating Buddha in the dhyana mudra – sitting
cross legged, his eyes closed and with his hands in his lap. This giant image
sitting under the open sky is twenty-five metres tall. The impressive image is
carved in the Japanese Kamakura style and was unveiled by His Holiness the XIVth
Dalai Lama in 1989.
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| The Great Buddha Statue, By Mohsin Javed |
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| A Women Praying in Metta Buddharam Temple, Mohsin Javed |
And it was the first great Buddha ever built in the history of India. The Statue is now a symbol of the holy place Bodhgaya, next to Mahabohdi Temple which is a World Heritage site and enjoys constant visits of pilgrims from all over the world. Among local people, it is nicknamed "the 80-foot (25-meter) Buddha Statue."
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| Metta Buddharam Temple, By Mohsin Javed |
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| Inside Tibetan Monasteries, By Mohsin Javed |
Several Buddhist temples and
monasteries have been built by the people of Bhutan, China, Japan, Myanmar,
Nepal, Sikkim, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Tibet and Vietnam in a wide area
around the Mahabodhi Temple. These buildings reflect the architectural style,
exterior and interior decoration of their respective countries.
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| Wat Thai Monastery, By Mohsin Javed |