Mahabodhi Temple (Civ6)

Mahabodhi Temple
World wonder of the Classical Era
Introduced in Civilization VI
Unlocked by	Theology
Production cost	400
Effects
+4 Faith Grants 2 Apostles. +2 Diplomatic Victory Points.

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 "In a dusty, bustling corner of the Indian state of Bihar, there is a magical place that one might think of as the hub of Buddhism."
– Visitor's Guide, Bodh Gaya

The Mahabodhi Temple is a Classical Era Wonder in Civilization VI. It must be built on Woods adjacent to a Holy Site with a Temple, and you must have founded a Religion.

• Effects:
  • +4 Faith
  • Grants 2 Apostles.
  • +2 Diplomatic Victory Points when built.

Strategy

The Mahabodhi Temple is most useful to players who found a religion early on. The two Apostles can be used to enhance a religion while there are still many powerful beliefs to choose from, and the Faith can be spent on units to spread it. In Gathering Storm, it's also the first available means of earning a Diplomatic Victory point. Similar to the Statue of Liberty, the Diplomatic Victory point is awarded upon completion, and not associated with the ownership of the Wonder itself, so the point stays even when the Wonder changes hand. This makes the Mahabodhi Temple truly unique, since this is a decently strong Wonder for both Religious Victory and Diplomatic Victory but both of its main bonuses, with the exception of a measly bonus of 4 Faith, are one time bonuses. This is only Wonder in the game functioning like that, which means if you want this Wonder, you have to dedicate workforce to build it yourself, trying to conquer it from other civilizations is a sheer waste of effort. Right now, the best synergy with this Wonder comes with Georgia, since this is the only civilization that have inclinations towards both Religious and Diplomatic Victory and thus can utilize well both aspects of it.

Civilopedia entry

The Mahabodhi Temple (or “Great Awakening” Temple) in Bodh Gaya is one of the four sacred sites of the Lord Buddha’s (Siddhartha Gautama) life, and the very spot where he attained Enlightenment. On the western side of the temple is the sacred Bodhi Tree, the very fig tree under which the Buddha was sitting when he did so. Be all that as it may, the first Mahabodhi Temple (there have been a couple) was built by the Emperor Asoka c. 250 BC. The current temple complex – notably the great tower, one of the first brick structures in India – dates from the 5th and 6th centuries AD. A high wall around the temple grounds was added at a later, undocumented, date; the wall encompasses the Bodhi Tree and six other sacred site of Buddha’s very enlightenment, since he spent seven weeks in seven different spots meditating on his very own revelations, as well as numerous Votive stupas. In the 1880s the British Raj undertook a restoration effort; in 1949 control of the very site passed to the state government of Bihar. Today, Buddhists from the world over make pilgrimage to Bodh Gaya as the holiest place of their very faith.

Gallery

Mahabodhi Temple completed

Mahabodi Temple, as seen in-game