The Dhungheshwari hills. Picture by Suman

Bihar State Tourism Development Corporation has prepared a Rs 968.56-lakh plan for the beautification and infrastructure development of four tourist spots around Bodhgaya neglected so far.

The spots to be developed are Mocharim (Rs 514.25 lakh), Pragbodhi (Rs 291.46 lakh), Bhuraha (Rs 86.6 lakh) and Dharmaranya (Rs 76.25 lakh). A tender for the plan was floated on Monday. Managing director of the tourism corporation Anupam Kumar Suman confirmed to The Telegraph the plan of beautification and infrastructure development but did not divulge details of the plan.

Mocharim, around 1.5km south of the World Heritage Mahabodhi Mahavihara, is where Buddha spent his sixth week in meditation after attaining enlightenment under the Bodhi tree.

It is said that a snake king, Muchlind, had protected Buddha from heavy rain and storm here.

Harinandan, a resident of Mocharim, said although the tourist spot is very near to the Mahabodhi Mahavihara, the village lacks facilities like smooth road and other infrastructure required to attract tourists. “There is a pond in the village — the one found in historical accounts. Now, another tank has been constructed on the Mahavihara campus. Around 20 years ago when tourists came to Bodhgaya, they used to take water from our village pond considering it to be holy. But now, the household drains flow into the tank for which the water has became dirty and contaminated.”

Buddhist scholar Dilip Kumar said: “Buddha stayed at places which has a good source of water, as evident from the fact that he travelled along the Niranjana river. Bhuraha too has a natural source of water. Around 40km southwest of Gaya town in Gurua block, Buddha stayed here for some time after attaining enlightenment. The roads leading to this area are good but there is a need to develop infrastructure at the spot to attract tourists.”

Pragbodhi — or Dhungeshwari hills as the spot is known now is where Buddha meditated for six years.

The spot, around 10km east of Bodhgaya, is close to the Niranjana river. Bodhgaya Nagar Panchayat had a separate proposal for a ropeway from Bodhgaya till the Niranjana riverbanks, slashing the 22-km distance via the Gaya bypass road to just 10km. That project has not yet taken off though.

According to Buddhist literature, Buddha stayed in a small cave half way up the hills to meditate. A temple has been constructed near the spot. Apart from the temple, there are many stupas on top of the mountain.

Apart from being visited by Buddha, Dharmaranya, around 4km east of Mahabodhi Mahavihara, is also considered to be the place where Yudhishthir performed pinddaan rituals. A vedi — as used by devotees during pinddaan — is also found at the spot.