Patna, Nov 23 (IANS): India's five reputed architectural companies have showed keen interest to develop and beautify the over 1,500-year-old Mahabodhi temple in Bihar's Buddhist holy town of Bodh Gaya, an official said Friday.

"Five architectural companies have presented their plans to develop and beautify Mahabodhi temple in accordance with UNESCO guidelines before the Bodh Gaya Temple Management Committee," committee secretary N. Dorjee said.

Radhika Dhumal, the conservation architect of archaeological department in New Delhi, was present at the site management project, he said.

Dorjee said six architectural firms from Delhi, Mumbai, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh had applied for contract after the publication of expression of interest in August by the committee.

"Only the best among the five of them would be selected for the work," Dorjee told IANS by telephone.

Mahabodhi temple was declared a World Heritage Site in June 2002 by the UNESCO. Lord Buddha had attained enlightenment 2,500 years ago near this temple.