The Mahabodhi temple is a Buddhist temple in Bodhgaya, Bihar, India. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The temple is located in the Mahabodhi temple complex, which includes the Mahabodhi tree, the Bodhi tree under which the Buddha is said to have attained Enlightenment. The historical Buddha Siddhartha Gautama, who acquired enlightenment or perfect understanding while meditating under the Bodhi tree at Bodhgaya, is directly associated with this tree. 

According to traditional accounts, Siddhartha Gautama, a young prince who observed the suffering in the world and desired to put an end to it, arrived at the forested banks of the Phalgu river, close to the Indian city of Gaya, around the year 589 BCE. He did his meditation there, beneath a sacred fig tree known as a peepul tree (Ficus religiosa or the Bodhi tree). According to Buddhist texts, Siddharta found enlightenment and the solutions he was looking for after three days and three nights. Emperor Ashoka constructed the Mahabodhi Temple there in about 260 BCE.

The Bodhi tree, which is purported to be a direct descendent of the original Bodhi Tree, is direct to the east of the temple. The Mahabodhi temple was built by Emperor Ashoka in the 3rd century BCE. It is believed to be the first temple built by Ashoka. The Mahabodhi temple was destroyed by the Huns in the 5th century CE and was rebuilt in the 6th century CE by the Gupta Empire. The temple was restored in the 19th century by the British. 

It is a large complex that consists of a central shrine, a stupa, a monastery, and a number of other buildings. The central shrine contains a statue of the Buddha. The stupa is the most sacred part of the complex and is said to contain the Buddha's ashes. The Mahabodhi temple is a popular pilgrimage site for Buddhists from all over the world. Every year, thousands of people come to Bodhgaya to pay their respects at the Mahabodhi temple. The Mahabodhi temple is a beautiful and peaceful place. It is a great place to meditate and reflect on the teachings of the Buddha. If you are ever in Bodhgaya, Bihar, India, be sure to visit the Mahabodhi temple.