Archaeological Site
🚶 25 min walk or 5 min auto from Glamour Palace
Sujata Stupa
Ancient stupa on the banks of Niranjana River
The Sujata Stupa marks one of the most significant episodes in the life of the Buddha — the spot where a village woman named Sujata offered rice pudding (kheer) to the emaciated Siddhartha after his six years of extreme asceticism, giving him the nourishment to meditate under the Bodhi Tree and attain enlightenment. Without Sujata's offering, the story of the Buddha might have been very different.
The stupa is located in the village of Bakraur across the Niranjana River from Bodh Gaya. Archaeological excavations have revealed this to be an ancient site of great significance. The existing mound is believed to date from the Pala period (8th–12th century CE), though the site itself is connected to events 2,500 years ago. Emperor Ashoka is believed to have originally built a structure here to commemorate the offering. The stupa fell into disrepair over centuries and was partially excavated by the Archaeological Survey of India. A small shrine with an image of Sujata is maintained nearby. The walk to the stupa along the banks of the Niranjana River is itself a meditative experience.