Bodh Gaya

Bodh Gaya is a spiritual and religious place in the Gaya district of the Indian state of Bihar. This religious place is well-known for the Mahabodhi Temple and also considered as the holy place for the Buddhists as Lord Buddha gained spiritual enlightenment under the Bodhi tree and hence becoming the epicentre for Buddhist.

The temple has a humongous Buddha Statue leaving the tourist awe stuck! It is 80 feet tall and surrounded by smaller statues of Shubuti and Shariputra. It was built in the year 1989 by Japanese Buddhists. There are several other destinations near Bodh Gaya which include Nalanda, Patna, Rajgir, and Gaya. It was also known as Uruvelain the past and located near the river Niranjana. It is also a major pilgrimage centre for Hindus as Buddha is considered to the Lord Vishnu ninth incarnation.

One needs to keep a day for Dungeshwari Cave Temples also known as Mahakala Caves, just 12 kilometres from Gaya, as Lord Buddha has meditated for a long time in three caves before relocating to Bodhgaya. One can still find calmness in these caves and can meditate here for hours.

For shopaholics, visiting the famous Tibetan Refugee Market to buy long-lasting woollen clothes is a must. The Kundan Bazaar is known for its range of souvenirs. For readers, Mahabodhi Temple has a bookstore where understanding the Bodh Gaya and its culture becomes easier and inculcates peace in the mind of readers.
Other famous attractions for the tourists to visit in Bodh Gaya are Thai Monastery, Bodhi Tree, Mahabodhi Temple, Royal Bhutan Monastery and Great Buddha Statue. For outdoor activities, one can visit Cankamana and Muchalinda Lake.

If you are looking to find tranquillity during your vacation, Bodh Gaya is one such place! We assure you to come back rejuvenated!

By Air: The nearest airport in Gaya is located 17 km away. Very few flights arrive at the airport. So, traveling via Patna Airport, which is 135 km away, is best.The airport has begun catering to both international and domestic markets. To begin with, Thai Airways flies to Gaya every day, Druk Air (an international carrier) flies from Bangkok once a week and few flights from Colombo and Singapore.

By Train: Gaya Junction is the nearest rail station, which is 13 km from Bodh Gaya. It is well linked to Patna, Varanasi, New Delhi, Kolkata, Puri and other locations.

The journey by train from Patna is about two hours and a half.

By Road: Another popular option is to travel from Varanasi to Bodh Gaya. It’s about 6 hours’ drive.

The season of pilgrimage starts in Bodh Gaya in September and reaches its height in January. Ideally, the perfect time to explore this place is between November and February.

Avoid going to this place during monsoons that are from the month of June to September. However, summers are hot and humid here that is from the month of March to May. But during the Lord Buddha Jayanti on the Vesak day, this place is most visited by tourist and devotees across the world.