The Bodhi tree, or ficus religiosa, is a species of fig tree that provided shelter to the Buddha during his struggle for liberation, ultimately leading to the highest victory. For that reason, the Bodhi tree is not only a symbol of the Buddha’s Awakening, it is reverenced on a level equal to that of a Buddha image, or a Buddha footprint. 

The original Body-ghara (see photo below) was constructed when Prince Mongkut was abbot of Wat Bowon, and the Bodhi tree within was nurtured from seeds brought from Sri Lanka. In the early 1980s, the Bodhi-ghara was renovated (see photo above). Unfortunately, the Bodhi tree died, and later removed. In 1982, King Bhumibol Adulyadej (Rama IX) planted a new Bodhi sapling, which is the tree was see today.

Prince Mongkut’s original Bodhi-ghara