Before attaining enlightenment at Bodh Gaya, Gautama is said to have practised austerities for six years at a place known as:

According to Buddhist tradition, Gautama practised severe austerities at Pragbodhi, in the Dungeshwari hills near Bodh Gaya, before his enlightenment.

About Pragbodhi:

• "Pragbodhi" means "before enlightenment".
• It is located in the Dungeshwari (Mahakala) hills, about 12 km north-east of Bodh Gaya, in the Gaya district of Bihar.
• There are caves on the hill where Gautama is believed to have meditated and fasted.
• A golden image of the "Fasting (emaciated) Buddha" is kept in one of the caves, showing how thin he became.
• The Chinese pilgrim Xuanzang described this place in the 7th century.
• There are Buddhist and Hindu shrines on the hill.

The story:

• After leaving his first teachers, Gautama practised extreme self-mortification (tapas) for about six years, with five companions.
• He ate very little, and became so weak that he almost died.
• He realised that extreme austerity was not the way to true knowledge.
• He came down from the hills, bathed in the Niranjana river, and accepted a bowl of rice pudding from Sujata, a village girl.
• He then sat under a pipal tree (the Bodhi tree) at Uruvela (Bodh Gaya), and attained enlightenment.
• This experience led to his teaching of the "Middle Path".

Bodh Gaya:

The Mahabodhi Temple at Bodh Gaya marks the place of enlightenment.

Other places in the Buddha's life:

• "Veluvana" (Bamboo Grove): a park at Rajagriha donated to the Buddha.
• "Isipatana" (Sarnath): where he gave his first sermon.
• "Jetavana": a monastery at Shravasti, donated by the merchant Anathapindika, where the Buddha spent many rainy seasons.

Why not the other options?

• ✗Veluvana, Isipatana and Jetavana are other places associated with the Buddha's life.