According to Buddhist tradition, Siddhartha Gautama attained enlightenment at Bodh Gaya.
Bodh Gaya is a town in the Indian state of Bihar, near the Niranjana River, traditionally identified as the place where Siddhartha Gautama became the Buddha. The event is said to have occurred beneath the Bodhi tree after a period of intense meditation. The site is therefore one of the four principal pilgrimage places in Buddhism.
The Mahabodhi Temple stands at Bodh Gaya and commemorates the Buddha’s awakening. The temple complex includes a descendant of the sacred fig tree associated with the original Bodhi tree. The site has attracted pilgrims for centuries and is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Bodh Gaya is distinct from Lumbini, traditionally associated with the Buddha’s birth, and Sarnath, where he delivered his first sermon. Kushinagar is traditionally associated with his parinirvana. These four places are often grouped together because they mark major stages in the Buddha’s life.