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Before attaining enlightenment, Prince Siddhartha spent six years practicing severe self-mortification and fasting, believing extreme asceticism would lead to truth. The Dungeshwari Caves (or Mahakala Caves), located 12 km from Bodh Gaya, are the site of this phase of his life.
It was here he became emaciated and weak, eventually realizing that self-torture was not the path. He accepted rice milk from a village girl named Sujata and moved to Bodh Gaya to find the Middle Path. The caves house a golden statue of the emaciated Buddha (fasting Buddha), a rare depiction.
The climb to the caves is steep but rewarding. The atmosphere is stark and isolated, perfect for reflecting on the struggle required for spiritual attainment.
A UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the oldest brick structures in India. It marks the exact spot of the Buddha's enlightenment.
The sacred Ficus religiosa under which Siddhartha became the Buddha. The current tree is a direct descendant of the original.
An ancient Hindu temple on the Falgu riverbank dedicated to Lord Vishnu. It houses a 40cm footprint of the Lord stamped into basalt rock.
