We were on our way to Durgapur my in-laws place and my second home from Howrah station in Calcutta. And this time we had booked our tickets on Vande Bharat Express to get a first feel. While at the station I realized that the train’s final destination was a city still so close to my heart. So the dates were finalized that moment itself for a visit twenty days later. To Gaya the land of Gautam Buddha, Lord Vishnu and my birthplace. This time after almost two decades as we looked forward to visiting the top two attractions of Gaya and a bit of the city.
How to reach Gaya
If you happen to be traveling from Kolkata or Calcutta as it was earlier called, the newly launched Vande Bharat Express is the most convenient way to reach as you do not have to book tickets many months in advance. And with the train departing early morning you are there in less than six hours around noon. The same train departs from there at 3 PM and you can reach back to Kolkata at 9 PM.
There are also other direct trains from New Delhi, Varanasi, Prayagraj, Mumbai & cities from all around the country. Gaya is also well connected by road and air. The Gaya International Airport serves as a key point of arrival for Buddhist pilgrims from around the globe and from within India.
Where to Stay in Gaya
The city of Gaya has many hotels but our suggestion is to stay in Bodh Gaya as that’s where most of the action is. Moreover there are not many landmarks inside the main city. There are many nice 3* and 4* hotels in Bodh Gaya that you can choose from. There are couple of 5* hotels as well which are coming up shortly.
Where did we stay?
We decided to stay in this homestay with a rural setting just a couple of kms away from Mahabodhi Temple. And we found “Shangrila Stay” an awesome place to be in with great hosts in Santosh, his lovely wife and their two very sweet daughters. Add to that the fantastic home-made breakfast, spacious rooms with a balcony in each and a lovely terrace where we relaxed and had our breakfast everyday. And we found them on Booking.com.
The Top Two Attractions of Gaya
Bodh Gaya
Bodh Gaya is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most revered Buddhist pilgrimage centers in the world. It’s here that Prince Siddhartha attained enlightenment under a Bodhi Tree and became the Buddha. The Mahabodhi Temple complex in Bodh Gaya attracts millions of devotees and tourists every year from around the world.
Our walk to Mahabodhi Temple
After freshening up at our homestay and a coffee later we took a walk to the main temple. Bodh Gaya is full of other Buddha temples sponsored and built by Buddhists from various countries.
During our last trip and since my school days I had visited them numerous times. So we decided to skip them and head to the one which we had not seen. And also check our the other developments in recent years. You could get a feel of all the temples in my earlier post Bodh Gaya – The Land of Buddha.
The White Buddha Complex
Bodh Gaya Science Centre
Mahabodhi Cultural Center
Tibetan Refugee Market
During our childhood days this market was only operational during the winter months and there were very few vendors. And they would be selling some exclusive winter clothes sourced from Tibet at a throwaway price. But now things have changed with permanent stalls and many shops selling all types of clothing and textiles all sourced from India itself.
Mahabodhi Temple Complex
There is very tight security now in the complex after a blast in 2013 when ten bombs exploded injuring five people. Mobile phones and cameras are not allowed inside any more and there are counters outside for safekeeping. Come let’s enter.
The two Hindu Temples next door
Must Read- Travel Destinations near Bodh Gaya
Vishnupad Temple
The Vishnupad Temple is one of the key attractions of Gaya dedicated to Lord Vishnu. It is believed that this is the spot where he left his footprint.
For Hindus, Gaya is a major pilgrimage destination especially for the ‘Pind Daan’ ritual which is done to honor and bring peace to the soul of ancestors.
The temple lies on the banks of River Falgu which used to be mostly dry throughout the year except during the monsoon months. However in recent years dams have been constructed on two sides of the temple to retain water throughout the year. It was such a wonderful experience for me to witness the river full of water for the first time in my life.
Visiting Gaya City
Famous Winter Sweets of Gaya
Gaya is famous for some sweets which are only available during the few months of winter. They are known as Tilkut, Anarasa, Lei & Khaja. And Ramna Road in the center of town is the place to visit with shops one after the other selling these delicacies. We brought back quite a few kgs of each for family and friends.
And the best Kesariya Pera in Gaya
After your visit to the Vishnupad Temple take a short five minutes walk through the lanes to this famous shop ‘Kesariya Pera Bhandar’ for the best Kesariya peras of Gaya and many other varieties of pera and sweets. And in case you do not wish to take the walk just call up Aditya Gupta the owner on +91 91224 85216 and he will have it delivered to you in the temple complex.
Our awesome Veg lunch at Rajasthan Bhojanalay
My Temple, My Church – My School
This gate through which I walked in six decades back still stays fresh in my heart. And I can never forget the contribution of Sister James Leo our Principal in shaping my life to be the person that I am today. And Mother Mary’s statue behind which I used to sit and have my lunch everyday brought back so many nostalgic memories. It was so touching to experience the reception given to us by Sister Roselyn and Sister Reena, an ex-Principal.
Gaya is one of the most spiritually significant and historically rich cities of India. Revered by both Hindus and Buddhists, Gaya is not just a city. It’s a destination where history, devotion and culture converge.
If you loved this journey to Gaya, PIN it for planning & forward for friends!
