MahaBodhi Temple at Bodhgaya, India

Listed as one of UNESCO World Heritage Site, the MahaBodhi Temple in Bodhgaya, India, is a strongly recommended Holy place for pilgrimage visit by Buddhists and religious/spiritual visitors. Its location marks where prince Siddhartha Gautama, the Buddha, is said to have attained Enlightenment under a Bodhi tree.
Located in Bihar's Gaya district, the recommended season to visit Bodhgaya is November to March when it is cool winter season.
The MahaBodhi Temple comprises of a Hugh compound with a main tall tower (189 feet ) that houses a serene statue of the Buddha.

Behind this tall tower shrine which houses a serene Buddha statue (where photography is generally not allowed inside ) are the Diamond Throne and Bodhi Tree.

Glimpse of Diamond Throne from outside protected area of Bodhi Tree now.

In my first trip in 2004, they used to allow visitors into the protected area to have closer look at the Bodhi tree and Diamond Throne which was more elaborately decorated compared to now.

Offerings of Floral decors by devotees.

Green Tara

Full prostration zone 

Relaxing green...

Offering of flowers at Holy Place !

Night scenes of MahaBodhi Temple with laser lights has some feel of Disneyland... :-)

Opening from 5am-9pm, it is a serene place of good energy, especially early in the morning. One can do circumambulation, prayers, meditate and many also perform full prostration around the compound or one may simply just relax and walk or sit down at a spot.

Surrounding the MahaBodhi Temple, there are many temples from different countries of different architectural designs at Bodhgaya that are also worth visiting. 

Bodhgaya is a spiritual place that one can spend at least a week there with repetitive visits to the MahaBodhi Temple and many had travelled to Bodhgaya repetitively.

How good is the place? Only by travelling there can one experience for oneself...

A good reference of MahaBodhi temple can be :

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahabodhi_Temple
For info on Vegetarian food round Bodhgaya, one may refer to: http://vegefoodhunt.blogspot.sg/search/label/Oversea%20Delights-India-Gaya
For more tips on travelling in Bodhgaya, may scroll to bottom of post:
http://sunny-vegetravel.blogspot.sg/2014/09/monlam-pavilion-at-bodhgaya-india.html

Tergar Monastery at Bodhgaya, India

The Tergar Monastery located at the suburb, is about 20 minutes away via car or Tuk Tuk (three wheeler mototaxi) from the MahaBodhi Temple at Bodhgaya.

The serene simple yet Majestic monastery can be seen from afar.

Junction with left to Tergar Monastery & right to Monlam Pavilion.

The relaxing Tergar Café located near the gate

Turning Wheels surrounds the Monastery building

Impressive internal décor in contrast with the simple external structure

The Monastery ambience is serene and one feels blissful circumambulating the building. :-)

Construction of Tergar Monastery at Bodhgaya was completed in 2006 by Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche under the instructions of his teacher, Tai Situ Rinpoche.

Mingyur Rinpoche who is well known for his candid way of teaching meditation had also published New York Times Best-sellers: Joy of Living and Joyful Wisdom.

These are really gems, easy to read and good guides to new meditators and good complements to his series of "Joy of Living" Meditation retreats. It was after watching one of his You-tube videos, in which he greatly praised the 17th Gyalwang Karmapa that motivated me to attend the 31st annual Kagyu International Monlam at Bodhgaya when a friend encouraged me to embark on the trip.

Little did I know that the Kagyu Monlam is just held next to his resident monastery at Bodhgaya and I am always happy to visit the monastery when I could.

Hopefully, I would be able to meet Mingyur Rinpoche at Bodhgaya or Singapore soon when he is out of his retreat.

Reference of Mingyur Rinpoche could be read here:

http://yongeyfoundation.org/India.html
http://tergar.org/about/mingyur-rinpoche/mingyur-rinpoche-bio/
More info here:
http://yongeyfoundation.org/Mingyur_Rinpoche_files/Wandering%20Yogi.pdf
Copies of his Teachings under :
http://www.youtube.com/user/MingyurRinpoche?gl=SG&hl=en-GB
Attached also a Very good QnA session between Mingyur Rinpoche & Venerable Haitao on Vajra practices. :-)

很棒的问答！详解藏传修行法！

Watch "海濤法師與明珠仁波切智慧座談" on YouTube - 海濤法師與明珠仁波切智慧座談: http://youtu.be/Q_D_tobL_Ls

Address of Tergar Monastery:
Sujata Bypass,
Bodhgaya, Gaya, Bihar 824 231, India

Monlam Pavilion at Bodhgaya, India

Just nearby Tergar Monastery is the Monlam Pavilion which has been venue for hosting the Kagyu International Monlam at Bodhgaya, India since 2009.(http://www.kagyumonlam.org/English/News/Report/Report_20120308_4.html)
It is presided by His Holiness, the 17th Gyalwang Karmapa.
(http://kagyuoffice.org/karmapa/)

It is a Hugh spacious tent alike building which hosts thousands of pilgrims from all over the world taking part in the Kagyu Monlam event presided by Karmapa himself.

Generally it is held around year-end to beginning of following year.

As it is winter period, the cement floor will be covered with thin mattresses for Sangha and devotees who will be sitting on the floor. (Due to tight security during Monlam period, no hp & cameras are allowed into the premise except authorised personnel)

There will be direct translation of several languages (English, Mandarin, German, French, Poland, Vietnamese, etc.) from Tibetan language teachings given by Karmapa which can be received via tuning to a normal FM transmitter radio.

Live telecast is available too over internet (http://kagyuoffice.org/webcast/) for those who cannot attend personally in India. However it is advisable to attend at least once personally to experience the unique international atmosphere where you can interact with devotees of different countries.

And the opportunity to meet Karmapa close up via public or private audience!

(remember to bring more photocopies (at least 2) of your passport and passport size photos for submissions to register for audience at the Kagyu office located at the front-gate of Tergar Monastery during Monlam period.)

One may check up the latest Monlam schedule via: http://kagyuoffice.org/schedule/.

Oh, if one is interested, one may also register as Friends of Kagyu Monlam (http://www.kagyumonlam.org/English/Monlam/monlam_membership.html), whereby one not only supports the event as a member but enjoys certain privileges during Monlam period such as free transportation from certain venues to Monlam Pavilion, free meals and extra Public audience opportunity to meet up with Karmapa, the Charismatic, Majestic, Wise and Compassionate yet no fuss Dharma Prince who has authored several books.

More information/sharing could also be found in https://www.facebook.com/pages/Kagyu-Monlam/118320059445;

https://m.facebook.com/karmapadevotees?v=timeline&filter=1

A great documentary in progress: 

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/355400373/thongdrol-liberation-through-seeing-the-feature-fi

A good touching sharing by Venerable Hai Tao on Karmapa: 

http://mp.weixin.qq.com/s?__biz=MzA3MTYyODYyMw%3D%3D&mid=201112559&idx=8&sn=e4ac22a6cde0e798c2723ebe4236a212#rd

Attached also a Very good QnA session between Mingyur Rinpoche & Venerable Haitao on Vajra practices and Karmapa. :-)

很棒的问答！详解藏传修行法！

Watch "海濤法師與明珠仁波切智慧座談" on YouTube - 海濤法師與明珠仁波切智慧座談: http://youtu.be/Q_D_tobL_Ls

(It is mainly due to both Venerable Hai Tao and Mingyur Rinpoche 's praise for Karmapa which motivated me on this trip with friend, Gratitude to them _/|\_ )

----------------------------------------------------------------

Despite rejoicing in all the wonderful sites to visit in India, one must take necessary precaution when travelling in India. Below will be some tips to consider.
Avoid travelling in the dark alone. Best to travel in groups.
Always lock your room door, even in Hotels.
Always have a good torch light (it is not readily available in shops at Gaya so best to get a good one with good supply of batteries from your country) with you, even in your Hotel or Guesthouse as the electricity supply can be unstable.
Bring an anti-surge adaptor so that when electricity supply is cut-off abruptly due to unstable current which is common, it will not spoil your electrical products.
A ready press light for your bathroom is recommended.
Never drink un-boiled, unfiltered water unless you have a really strong stomach. Avoid even brushing your teeth with tap-water.
Bottled water is quite easily available at shops there or get a Thermal boiler/kettle (can also be purchased at electrical shops near the market beside Main temple) to boil bottled water (not tap water). 
Bring plasters and medicine for food poisoning, flu , fever and a good supply of  your regular medicines. 
Bring Face mask as protector (air is very polluted and dusty there unless after rain) which can also be bought on street but quality not as good as the cloth ones in Taiwan or China.
Bring Lip-gross and Sun block as UV high there. Sunglasses are also advisable.
Bring Hair-dryer, heat packs, Thermal water bottles which are useful in winter.
Umbrella, rain-coat and insect repellent are advisable too.
Winter hat, socks and night socks, hand gloves, scarf/neck protectors, necessary Thermal wear for winters.
Sleeping bag too is recommended.
Oh, a cheap, manual tuning FM radio (auto-scanning type not advisable) with good supply of batteries to last for days of teachings if attending Monlam.
Bring a cup too if attending Monlam as nice butter-tea or milk tea will be served during breaks. 
And a soft shoe-bag will be useful when visiting many places where footwear is disallowed. Never leave your shoes/slippers unattended unless you are already prepared  to donate them to someone who needs them more than you do without formally requesting from you. The slippers there may be as expensive or cost more than in your hometown especially if you approach the vendors barefoot.; -0
Once you are equipped and settled down, it will be a good trip.
Take care and enjoy...