Known as the crucible of Buddhism, Bodhgaya is located in Bihar and said to be where the wandering Prince Siddhartha attained enlightenment beneath a bodhi tree and became Buddha 2600 years ago. With history tracing back to 500BC, this small temple town is to Buddhists what Mecca is to Muslims, attracting thousands of pilgrims from around the world every year. A visit to the hallowed site of the Bodhi tree is a must-visit on the grounds of the Mahabodhi Temple. There are many other sacred sites to visit in this colourful city including the 80ft tall Great Buddha statue made of sandstone and red granite.