Fodor's Expert Review Temple of 1,000 Lights

The Sakya Muni Buddha Gaya is better known by its popular name because of its lightbulbs surrounding a 50-foot Buddha. Sporting a fusion of Indian, Thai, and Chinese influences, the entire temple as well as the Buddha statue, was built by the Thai monk Vutthisasala. Until he died at the age of 94, he was always in the temple, ready to explain Buddhist philosophy. Among the relics he procured: a mother-of-pearl-inlaid cast of the Buddha's footprint and a piece of bark from the bodhi tree under which the Buddha is believed to have received enlightenment. Around the pedestal supporting the great Buddha statue is a series of scenes depicting the story of his search for enlightenment; inside a hollow chamber at the back is a re-creation of the scene of the Buddha's last sermon.