Main Temple: Mahabodhi temple has been constructed by bricks and it is one of the oldest brick structures in eastern India. It is also considered as a precursor of the later brickwork in India. The original structure was built by king Ashoka who is said to have constructed a raised platform, known as the Diamond Throne, at the exact place where Buddha was sitting when he gained enlightenment. Various stupas were added to the place later. Under the Sungas, additional structures were added such as the columns with pot-shaped bases around the Diamond throne. The stone railings around the Mahabodhi Temple were also added at this time. These are about two metres high. The ones made of sandstone, belong to the Sunga period while those made out of unpolished coarse granite, are believed to be of the Gupta period. It was during the Gupta period that the current pyramidal temple structure was first built around the 5th–6th century CE. This style was adopted from the Gandharan way of making a tower by using ... More

Main Temple: Mahabodhi temple has been constructed by bricks and it is one of the oldest brick structures in eastern India. It is also considered as a precursor of the later brickwork in India. The original structure was built by king Ashoka who is said to have constructed a raised platform, known as the Diamond Throne, at the exact place where Buddha was sitting when he gained enlightenment. Various stupas were added to the place later. Under the Sungas, additional structures were added such as the columns with pot-shaped bases around the Diamond throne. The stone railings around the Mahabodhi Temple were also added at this time. These are about two metres high. The ones made of sandstone, belong to the Sunga period while those made out of unpolished coarse granite, are believed to be of the Gupta period. It was during the Gupta period that the current pyramidal temple structure was first built around the 5th–6th century CE. This style was adopted from the Gandharan way of making a tower by using a succession of steps. There were niches in the tower which contained Buddha images. In between the towers are pillars in the Greco-Roman style. The tower is topped by a hemispherical stupa, and over it are the finials. The central tower has four smaller towers on its sides which have been constructed in the same style. The main tower rises to a height of over 55 metres (180 feet). The survival of this temple structure is of great wonder as it was mainly built out of brick covered with stucco, and these materials are not as durable as stone.

In 2013, the upper portion of the temple was covered with 289 kg of gold, which was gifted by the King and people of Thailand. The work was done under the supervision of the Archaeological Survey of India. 

Other Structures: The temple complex also has prayer halls or chaityas to mark the places associated with Buddha’s activity here. The Animeshlochan Chaitya stand to the north of the central path, at a place where Buddha has spent the second week. As he had spent the third week walking eighteen paces back and forth near the north wall of the main temple, that area is called Ratnachakrama. In the north-east direction, near the enclosure wall where Buddha spent the fourth week, stands the Ratnaghar Chaitya. There is a spot which marks the place where Buddha meditated under the Ajapala Nigrodh tree and answered the queries of the Brahmans during his fifth week here. A lotus pond to the south of the enclosure marks the place where he spent his sixth week and the Rajyatana tree that is located to the south-east of the main temple is the place where he spent the seventh week.

Sujatagarh Stupa: Sujatagarh stupa has been built on the place where Sujata (a local tribal woman) offered Kheer (rice cooked in milk and sugar) to Buddha after his enlightenment. Now it is seen as a large mound, with the plaster worn off. It was originally made of bricks and its shape is not completely hemispherical. This stupa was built in various phases from the Gupta to the Pala period. A lot of antiquities from this excavated site are now displayed in ASI museum. As this stupa lies in the middle of a village, there is a boundary walls which protects it.

Bodhi Tree: The giant Bodhi Tree is located to the west of the main temple, where Buddha spent his first week and had his enlightenment. It is a large and ancient sacred fig tree (Ficus religiosa) also known a ‘peepal’ tree in Hindi language. It is represented with heart-shaped leaves in Buddhist iconography. Buddhist texts state that Buddha meditated for seven weeks (49 days) under this tree, without any movement. Later, the Animisalocana chaitya, was erected on the spot where he had sat. Buddha himself sanctioned the planting of a seed from this Bodhi tree in front of the gateway of Jetavana Monastery near Sravasti. Later King Ashoka used to pay homage to the Bodhi tree, and held a festival every year in its honour. His daughter, Sanghamittra, took a branch of this tree with her to Sri Lanka where it was planted and is said to be continuously growing to this day in the island's ancient capital, Anuradhapura. The original tree at Bodh Gaya was felled down and new one was planted in its place. This process continued for some time over the years as whenever there was an attack the tree was chopped off and later a new one was planted in its place. Branches of this tree have also been taken to other places in and outside India from time to time. Prayer beads are made from the seeds of this tree and are considered sacred because of the tree’s connection with Buddha and his enlightenment.