Bodhgaya Travel Guide
The city of Gaya is situated 105 km from Patna in the state of Bihar.
Bodhgaya is 7 miles south of Gaya. Considered to be extremely sacred
this is the site where Lord Buddha gained enlightenment. The Bodhi tree
under which Buddha reached the enlightened state is the most revered
tree in the world. Another attraction of Bodhgaya is the ancient
Mahabodhi Temple. The original shrine is said to have been constructed
by the great Emperor Ashoka. The temple contains a magnificent gilded
image of Buddha as well as a 150 feet high tower and the walls of the
temple are covered with scenes from Buddha's life. Take some time out to
visit the museum near the temple, which has some more images of Buddha
in gold, bronze and stone. People believe that the platform below the
Bodhi tree where Buddha meditated is the center of the universe. The
platform is called Vajrasana.
To get the full experience of Bodhgaya a trip to the Tibetan, Japanese
and Burmese monasteries is a must. The Tibetan monastery houses the
massive Dharma Chakra (the wheel of law) and is a popular destination
for Buddhist from all over the world.
Getting There:
Bodhgaya is 12 km from Gaya, 140 km from Patna, 66 km from Rajgir and
482 km from Calcutta.
By Air : Patna is the nearest airport with regular
flights to Delhi, Ranchi, Lucknow, Calcutta, Chennai, Mumbai. Calcutta,
482 km, has an international airport.
By Rail :Gaya is the nearest railway station. Several
superfast as well as express trains are available from Gaya. Gaya is on
the main Delhi to Calcutta line and there are direct trains to Delhi,
Calcutta, Varanasi, Puri and Patna.
By Road: Bihar State Road Transport Corporation (SRTC)
has bus services to Gaya, Patna, Nalanda and Rajgir. The main bus stand
is opposite the Mahabodhi Temple. Private buses and taxis are also
easily available.
Tourist Attractions:
Deo
20 km from Gaya, the Surya temple, here, is the site of the famous
Chhath Puja in November.
Parasnath Hill
40 km from Gaya, they are the earliest Buddhist rock cut caves. It is
believed that 22 'tirthankaras' out of 24 attained salvation here, and
is deemed one of the most sacred pilgrim centres for the Jains.
The Bodhi Tree
At the western side of the Mahabodhi Stupa in Bodhgaya stands the large
and historic Bodhi Tree under which Shakyamuni Buddha, then known as
Gautama, attained enlightenment some 2540 years ago.
Ranchi
The erstwhile summer capital of Bihar, Ranchi, is 676 m in altitude,
and is a wonderful hill station. Its significant landmarks are a hill -
top Shiva temple, with the Ranchi lake at the foothills.
Chotanagpur
The Chotanagpur plateau is one of the most beautiful areas in Bihar.
Studded with hills 300 - 900 m in altitude, and covered with verdant
virgin forests, this expanse of rivers, lakes, meadows and valleys is an
ideal retreat. Rich in wildlife, these forests are an anthropologist's
delight, as the clutch of ancient tribes, like Santhal, Ho, Munda,
Oraon, Koi, Chero, Kharia, Paharia, dwelling within them, still retain
their intriguing traditions and rituals.
