Young novice monk in maroon robe meditates beside candles in the afternoon sun at Mahabodhi Temple, India.
Bodh Gaya's Mahabodhi Temple gained its UNESCO World Heritage Listing in 2002.
A religious site and place of pilgrimage, Bodh Gaya (in Bihar State) is where Gautama Buddha is said to have obtained enlightenment; after meditating under the Bodhi tree, for 49 days.
For Buddhists, Bodh Gaya is the most important of the main four pilgrimage sites related to the life of Gautama Buddha; something akin to Mecca for Muslims.
Bodh Gaya is about 12km from Gaya City, where overnight trains connect with Kolkata (Calcutta).
The best time to visit is November to March; with December and January considered the high season.
