Why was the Mahabodhi Temple complex at Bodh Gaya named a UNESCO World Heritage site?

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The Mahabodhi Temple at Bodh Gaya, Bihar, India, features a tall, intricately carved central spire surrounded by smaller shrines, trees, and gardens. — Bihar Mahabodhi Buddhist temple, built in the 2nd century ce, Bodh Gaya, Bihar, India.

The Mahabodhi Temple complex in Bodh Gaya, Bihar, was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2002 because it is one of the holiest sites in Buddhism, marking the location where the Buddha attained enlightenment (bodhi).1

The site holds immense historical and religious significance as one of the oldest brick temples in India. The original structure was commissioned by the Mauryan emperor Ashoka to commemorate the Buddha's enlightenment. The complex includes the vajrasana (diamond throne), which marks the exact spot where the Buddha sat, and a descendant of the original Bodhi tree under which he attained his spiritual realization.1