 |
| |
| bodhgaya |
| |
|
Bihar |
Famous for |
Buddhist Pilgrimage |
|
|
|
This is where Prince Gautama attained enlightenment under the sacred Asvatta tree (Bodhi tree) and became known as Lord Budha. This is one of the four most sacred pilgrimage places for the Buddhists. The other three important places are his place of birth at Lumbini, Nepal; the site of his first lecture at Sarnath, near Varanasi; and the place where he left his body at Kushinagar, near Gorakhpur. Buddhists from all over the world have built temples here in Bodh Gaya. The Dalai Lama often spends time here. Tibetan pilgrims come here for the winter from Dharamshala. Bodh Gaya is located about 13 km from Gaya, 450 km west of Calcutta, and 90 km south of Patna.
|
|
Bodh Gaya is a place which should be visited or seen by a person of devotion and which would cause awareness of the nature of impermanence.
Siddhartha Gautama, the Buddha-to-be, had been dwelling on the banks of the Nairanjana River with five ascetic followers for six years practicing austerities. Realising that austerities could not lead to realisation he abandoned them. His five ascetic companions disgusted at his seeming failure, deserted him and left for Sarnath. |
| |
| When to go |
 |
|
|
| 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.
|
| |
| Getting There |
 |
|
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.
Alternately, 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.
Within Bodhgaya, ' tongas’, cycle rickshaws and autorickshaws are the main means of getting around. |
| |
| Accommodation |
 |
|
|
Bodhgaya offers a fairly extensive range of accommodation facilities which includes three star hotels, budget hotels, and a number of guesthouses and tourist bungalows. In addition to the regular accommodation offered by commercial establishments, rooms (or beds) are offered by some monasteries in Bodhgaya. These come minus the frills, but are usually comfortable and clean enough, besides being fairly cheap. Do note, however, that monasteries usually offer first preference to pilgrims of their own country.
Further information on Bodhgaya may be obtained from the Government of India Tourist Office, Room #151, 162 Tourist Bhawan, Birchand Patel Path, Patna (Tel: 2226721). The Government of Bihar’s tourism department has an office in Bodhgaya, opposite the Mahabodhi temple. |
|
|
|
