Near the Mahabodhi Temple in Bodhgaya, if you walk towards your right, you’d find the Muchalinda Lake or the Lotus Pond.
Muchalinda Lake| Photo by Veri Ivanova on Unsplash
About
Surrounded by a charming and serene atmosphere, this lake is nestled among lush greens and in the midst of it all, is a beautiful statue of Lord Buddha, meditating while he sits on a coil of the snake, with the snake’s head protecting him from the sun. Bodhgaya hotels and private homes have a picture of this site hanging on their walls usually.
The story
Legend has it; Lord Buddha was sitting near the lake in deep meditation when a storm broke out, making waves crash at him, and disturbing his meditation. Upon seeing this, the Snake King, also known as Muchalinda, came to him and protected Lord Buddha from the storm.
When to go
The place is stunning at any time of the day, but if you want to witness magical exquisiteness, visiting the lake after the sun sets is advised. The water gets lighted up with the decor around the lake and with the shimmering water and statue of Lord Buddha; it sure is a sight for the sore eyes.
Location
The Muchalinda Lake is located within an easy travelling distance from places like Oaks Bodhgaya, and is, therefore, a must visit when you are at Bodhgaya.
Intrigued by history, art and food, Lavinia Woolf is a writer who is passionate about the extraordinary and writes of the exhilarating and enchanting. Google+
