Incheon → New Delhi → Varanasi → Bodhgaya → Patna

Mahabodhi Temple is considered one of the most important Buddhist pilgrimage sites, built to mark the site where the Buddha attained enlightenment beneath a sacred Bodhi Tree. Gautama Siddhartha reached on the banks of the Niranjana river, Bodhgaya. There he sat in meditation under a peepul tree, which later became known as the Bodhi tree. Siddharta attained enlightenment under the Bodhi tree. The Buddha then spent the succeeding seven weeks at seven different spots in the vicinity meditating and considering his experience. Several specific places at the current Mahabodhi Temple relate to the traditions surrounding these seven weeks: The first week was spent under the Bodhi tree. During the second week, the Buddha remained standing and stared, uninterrupted, at the Bodhi tree. This spot is marked by the Animeshlocha Stupa, to the north-east of the Mahabodhi Temple complex. There stands a statue of Buddha with his eyes fixed towards the Bodhi tree. The Buddha is said to have walked back and forth between the location of the Animeshlocha Stupa and the Bodhi tree. According to legend, lotus flowers sprung up along this route; it is now called Ratnachakrama or the jewel walk. He spent the fourth week near Ratnagar Chaitya, to the north-east side. During the fifth week, Buddha answered in details to the queries of Brahmins under the Ajapala Nigodh tree, now marked by a pillar. He spent the sixth week next to the Muchlinda pond. He spent the seventh week under the Rajyatna tree.

Sujata Stupa, also Sujata Kuti stupa or Sujata Garh, is a Buddhist stupa located in the village of Senanigrama (Bakraur) slightly east of Bodh Gaya in the state of Bihar, India. It lies directly across the Phalgu River from the town of Bodh Gaya, where Gautama Buddha is said to have attained enlightenment. It is a walk of about 20 minutes, from Bodh Gaya to Sujata Stupa. It was initially built in the 2nd century BCE as confirmed by finds of Dark Grey polished wares and a punch-marked coin in the monastery nearby

The Sujata Temple (or Sujata Mandir/Stupa) in Bakraur, near Bodhgaya, honors the milkmaid Sujata who famously offered milk-rice to Siddhartha Gautama, ending his seven-year fast and enabling him to follow the "middle path" to enlightenment. The site, located across the Phalgu River, features an excavated 2nd-century BCE stupa ruin, accessible daily.

Dharmaranya (meaning "Forest of Dharma") holds deep historical and spiritual significance for Buddhist tourists as it is one of the ancient names for Bodh Gaya itself. Today, the name specifically refers to the Dharmaranya Vedi (or Temple) located in Bakraur, just across the Phalgu River from the main Mahabodhi complex. Ancient Roots of Enlightenment: Historically, the entire region surrounding the Bodhi Tree was known as Dharmaranya or Uruvela. It was a dense forest where Siddhartha Gautama practiced intense austerities for six years before realizing the "Middle Way".Encounter with Ascetics: Buddhist tradition identifies Dharmaranya as the site where the Buddha met the "Matted-hair Ascetics" (Kassapa brothers) and imparted teachings from the Dhammapada, showcasing the area's role in the early spread of Buddhist philosophy.Path to the Middle Way: The temple is located near the Sujata Stupa in Bakraur, marking the area where the village girl Sujata offered the Buddha rice milk. This pivotal act of compassion provided him the strength to reach enlightenment, making the vicinity a key stop on the "Footsteps of Buddha" pilgrimage.Interfaith Spiritual Heritage: While primarily known as a sacred Hindu "Vedi" for ancestor rituals (Pind Daan), it remains a place of veneration for Buddhists who visit to pay homage to the Buddha's long period of meditation in these woods.