Sujata village and the Niranjana river
Before his enlightenment, the Buddha had practised extreme fasting for years. Tradition says that a village woman named Sujata offered him a bowl of rice cooked in milk, and that this ended his fasting and led him to the middle way. A large brick stupa at Bakraur, across the river from Bodh Gaya, marks her home.
We drive or walk across the bridge over the Niranjana, called the Phalgu lower down, which for most of the year is a wide bed of sand with streams. The stupa, excavated by archaeologists, stands in the fields with children playing around it. Your guide tells the story and explains its place in Buddhist teaching.
The walk back through rice and mustard fields, with the Mahabodhi tower visible across the river, is especially fine at sunset. Several schools and community projects work in these villages; we can arrange a visit to one for those interested.
Questions travellers ask
Good to know
Who was Sujata in the story of the Buddha?
Sujata was a young woman from a village near Bodh Gaya who, according to tradition, offered the Buddha a bowl of rice cooked in milk after years of fasting. The meal gave him strength and is linked to his turn towards the middle way between indulgence and austerity, shortly before his enlightenment.
How far is the Sujata Stupa from the Mahabodhi Temple?
About 2 to 3 km, across the Niranjana river in Bakraur village. It is a short drive or a pleasant walk across the bridge and through fields. The stupa is open through the day, and late afternoon is the best time to visit for light and cooler temperatures.
Can I visit the Dungeshwari caves from Bodh Gaya?
Yes. The Dungeshwari or Mahakala caves, where the Buddha is said to have practised austerities before coming to Bodh Gaya, are about 12 km north-east. A short climb leads to small shrines in the rock. It pairs well with Sujata village in a half-day.
Also in Bodh Gaya
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