Each and every name has different connotation broadly associated with the life history of Lord Buddha. The name of Sambodhi refers to "complete enlightenment" whereas Bodhimanda refers to the spot under the Bodhi Tree where the Buddha attained Enlightenment. Vajrasana simply means the "Diamond Throne" where Lord Buddha sat to attain the Enlightenment and the name of Mahabodhi is most enduring name which stands for "great enlightenment". However, with the passage of time, the place came to be known as the Bodh Gaya and the tree where he attained Enlightenment as Bodhi Tree.

Location:

Bodh Gaya is located about 13 km from Gaya, 450 km west of Calcutta, and 90 km south of Patna.

Mahabodhi Temple - The World Heritage Site at Bodh Gaya The Mahabodhi Temple is one of the four holy sites related to the life of the Lord Buddha and the other three being Kushinagar, Lumbini and Sarnath. It is believed that Ashoka the Great visited to the site of Bodh Gaya after 250 years of Buddha's Enlightenment and he laid the foundation of Mahabodhi temple. But after the decline of Buddhism this temple was abandoned which was later restored by "Sir Alexander Cunningham along with J.D. Beglar and Dr Rajendralal Miitra" who worked for British Archaeological Society in 19th century.