He left an austere life for around six years and stayed at various places. One amongst these was a mountain that we today know as Dungheswara. At this mountain, almost halfway up, prince Siddhartha took shelter in a cave. It was after this that the mountain came to be known as Pragbodhi (prior to enlightenment) A temple, maintained by the Tibetan monks, stands closeby the cave today. If you continue your journey up the hill to the top, you can also see a number of ancient stupa ruins, not to forget the beautiful views of the surroundings. The spire of the Mahabodhi temple is also visible from this mountain top.
You can, or rather you will love stay for a couple of days in Pragbodhi. Do not worry about accommodation as the monks would be more than happy to provide you one. However, do take care that you carry your own water since this resource is quiet scarce in the area.
Quick Getaways
- Gaya : Gaya is the place
which is not only important for the Buddhists but also Hindus. Infact,
it is more important for the Hindus. It is believed that if the last
rites of a deceased is performed here, the soul of that person goes
straight to heaven. For Buddhists, the Gaya Museum is the most important
attraction.
- Bodh Gaya
: Located around 12 km from Gaya, Bodh Gaya is the place where the
Buddha became enlightened. The Mahabodhi Temple and the Mahabodhi tree
are the two major attraction for Buddhist tourists. Other attractions
for the Buddhists in the town are the various monasteries, the Bodh Gaya
Museum and the Lotus tank.
- Barabar
Caves : Located on Barabar Hills, at a distance of 20 km from
Gaya, the Barabar caves were first constructed during the reign of
emperor Ashoka. The caves are primarily of three types – the
Nagarjuna caves, Cave of five Pandavas and the Hut Caves. From a
distance, the barabar Caves give an appearance of wood.
Getting There
By Air - The closest airport to reach
Pragbodhi is located in Gaya. Flights from link to destinations like
Varanasi on domestic level and Yangon and Bangkok on international level.
By Rail - Gaya is well connected by major destinations both within and outside Bihar. Some of the most important destinations include, Delhi, Kolkata, Puri, Varanasi and Patna.
By Road - Buses from Old Gaya can be taken to reach Pragbodhi. You will need to get down at at the village of Kiriyama and walk from there. For those devotees who would like to walk all the way to the hill, start from Bodh Gaya and head towards east. The Neranjara and Mohana Rivers are on the way. On reaching the mountain, move towards northern direction till the time you reach the cave. The entire journey will require you to walk 6 km.
By Rail - Gaya is well connected by major destinations both within and outside Bihar. Some of the most important destinations include, Delhi, Kolkata, Puri, Varanasi and Patna.
By Road - Buses from Old Gaya can be taken to reach Pragbodhi. You will need to get down at at the village of Kiriyama and walk from there. For those devotees who would like to walk all the way to the hill, start from Bodh Gaya and head towards east. The Neranjara and Mohana Rivers are on the way. On reaching the mountain, move towards northern direction till the time you reach the cave. The entire journey will require you to walk 6 km.
