CENTER FOR ART AND ARCHAEOLOGY

The Mahabodhi temple marks the site of Buddha’s enlightenment. The temple’s structure was rebuilt in several phases. The Kushan or Gupta period temple was the foundational structure and the most significant construction phase was during the Pala period. In early fourteenth century, the Burmese mission to Bodhgaya carried out repairs but the present structure is largely a product of the late 19th century. This collection covers the seven monuments that are said to be associated with Buddha’s first seven weeks after his enlightenment-The Bodhi Tree, Animeshalochana Chaitya, Ratanachankrama, Ratangraha Chiatya, Ajapala Nigrodha Tree, Muchilinda Lake and Rajayatana tree.