bodh gaya, in the state of bihar in india, is considered by many adherents of buddhism to be their most holy site. gautama, who achieved enlightenment some time around 528 bce, became the buddha and founded buddhism. the buddha is said to have attained enlightenment while sitting under a peepal tree, called the bodhi tree, located in bodhgaya. at this site of his purported enlightenment the mahabodhi temple now stands. every year, many buddhists make pilgrimages from all over the world to visit and meditate at the temple.