A township on the banks of the River Niranjana (also called the Falgu), Bodhgaya or Gaya is revered by Buddhists across the world as the place where the Lord Buddha meditated, preached and attained enlightenment.

The religious centre of Bodhgaya - and the axis mundi for Buddhism- is the Bodhi Tree, a fig tree descended from the original tree under which Lord Sakyamuni meditated and finally attained enlightenment, becoming the Buddha. Below the tree is a platform on which the footprints of the Buddha have been carved in stone; near it is a slab of red sandstone, called the Vajrasan, which marks the spot where he sat in meditation. Travel to Bodhgaya and explore the religious sanctity of this place.

How to Reach Gaya?

By Air : The nearest airport is Patna which receives flights from Delhi and Kolkata. From Patna, which is 100kms away, take bus or hire ataxi to get to Bodhgaya.

By Rail : Bodhgaya is 100 km from Patna, the state capital of Bihar, and about 15 km from Gaya. Gaya has its own rail station, with train connections to a number of destinations across India.

By Road : You can get a bus from Varanasi (in UP), from Patna, Gaya or any of the larger cities in Bihar. Patna is the nearest airport and has flights coming in from most major airports in India, including Mumbai, Delhi, Lucknow, Ranchi and Kolkata.

Best Time to Visit Gaya

It is possible to visit Bodhgaya at any time of the year. The best time, however, is between October and March, when the weather’s at its best. January and February, in particular, are a good time to visit Bodhgaya, as the meditation and theological institutes in the town hold special religious discourses and conventions.

The Mahabodhi temple is open to visitors every day from 6 am to noon and from 2 pm to 6.30 pm

Things to do in Gaya

Bodhgaya is a spiritual town and every corner you turn here exudes a serene calm air. Naturally the things to do here revolve around the Buddha and his teachings. A visit to the Mahabodhi temple is definitely going to be on your must visit list as is the Bodhi tree under which the Buddha sat and attained nirvana.

Places Near Gaya

Rajgir situated at a distance of 60kms is an interesting place near Bodhgaya that you can visit. Rajgir is famous for its various hot springs and Griddhakuta also known as the Vulture’s Peak and you can reach Rajgir either by bus or taxi.

Hotels in Gaya – Choice is Yours

There are numerous hotels in Gaya ranging from 3-star, 4-star and 5-star deluxe to budget hotels.