New Delhi, August 1 (IANS) Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel will be deployed at the Maha Bodhi shrine in Bihar's Bodh Gaya town, union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde said Thursday.

The 1,500-year-old temple, Buddhism's holiest shrine, was rocked by a string of bombings last month.

"We have approved CISF cover for Bodh Gaya shrine as a special consideration. The Bihar government will pay for it," Shinde told reporters here.

The decision was taken as the Maha Bodhi temple is an international heritage site like the Taj Mahal, he said.

The minister said efforts would be made to train the state police so that they could take over from the CISF in a year or two.

The Mahabodhi temple where the Buddha, who was born in neighbouring Nepal, attained enlightenment around 2,500 years ago is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.