Evening meditation under the Bodhi tree
In the evening, after day visitors leave, the temple complex settles into a different mood. Butter lamps burn in glass houses at the edges of the courtyard, the tower is softly lit, and groups of monks sit in rows chanting. The air is cool from October to March and the sound of prayer carries over the stupas.
We arrange a teacher from one of Bodh Gaya's meditation centres to guide a simple session in a quiet corner of the complex or the adjoining meditation park. Beginners learn basic breathing and posture; experienced meditators can sit in silence. The session lasts about 45 minutes.
Afterwards you may light a lamp in the lamp house, a traditional offering, and walk once more around the temple before returning to the hotel. The meditation park beside the complex has a small fee and is quieter than the main courtyard.
Questions travellers ask
Good to know
Can I meditate at the Mahabodhi Temple?
Yes. Visitors and pilgrims meditate throughout the day in the courtyard and around the Bodhi tree. The adjoining meditation park, with a small entry fee, is quieter. Sit on a cushion or mat, keep phones away and respect the space of others. Evenings and dawn are calmest.
Are there meditation courses in Bodh Gaya?
Yes. Several monasteries and centres in Bodh Gaya offer meditation instruction and retreats, especially between October and March, including Vipassana and Tibetan traditions. Courses range from a single session to ten days. We can arrange a private teacher or help you find a course; check current status before you travel.
Is the Bodhi tree in Bodh Gaya the original tree?
It is believed to be a descendant of the original tree under which the Buddha reached enlightenment. Tradition holds that a cutting of the original was taken to Sri Lanka in the 3rd century BCE, and that the present tree at Bodh Gaya grew from that line after the earlier tree was lost.
Also in Bodh Gaya
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