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Indian City Travel Guide >>Bodhgaya |
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| Main Languages |
Bhojpuri, Hindi, and English |
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| Population | Approx. 27,000 | ||
| Area | 10 sq.kms | ||
| Best Time to Visit | October - February | ||
| Temperature | Summer - Max:
41°C Min: 23°C Winter - Max: 34°C Min: 10°C |
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| Main Attraction |
Pretshila Hill |
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About Bodhgaya |
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Bodh Gaya "The Land Of Enlightenment Of Buddha” is the place where Prince Gautama attained enlightenment and came to be known as Lord Buddha. Bodh Gaya was the place where his holy mission was achieved. It is situated on the banks of the river Niranjana (also called Falgu) and is 11 kms. from Gaya. |
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| Attractions In & Around | |||
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Bodhi Sarovar :- Situated in an attractive
place, this pond is towards the west of Bodhi temple and it is believed
that before going in for meditation Buddha took bath in this pond. Bodhi Tree :- It was here that the Sakya prince (then known as Gautama) first saw "light" under the Bodhi tree and became "Buddha", the enlightened one. It still holds a very important role to Buddhists of all traditions and acts as an inspiration and a symbol of peace. Chankamana :- Chankaramana or the Jewel Walk is a raised platform with foot impressions of Buddha. It is believed that Buddha pondered here on whether to reveal his knowledge to the world or not. Inside it is a Tibetan monastery with a large Dharma Chakra or the Wheel of Law. Maha Bodhi temple :- Situated about 13 kms from Gaya, it is one of the important places of worship for the Buddhists and is also a significant archaeological site. It is 15 metres square and rises to a height of 52 metres. There is a big statue of Lord Buddha inside with his hands touching the earth. Pretshila Hill :- This hill is about 10 kms from the Ramshila hill and just below the hill is the Brahma Kund. After taking bath in this pond people go for the Pind Dan (involving performance of some religious rites and rituals. This is done for peace of the departed soul of the ancestor.) The temple is an attraction for the tourists due to its unique architecture and magnificent sculptures. Surya Kund :- West of the Vishnu temple is the pond, Surya Kund. Here in the Hindu months of chaitya (March-April) and Kartikya (September-October) the festival of Sun God is held and a fair is also organized on these occasions at the Kund The Museum :- (Bodh Gaya)There is a large collection of stone sculptures and other artifacts in this museum maintained by The Archaeological survey of India. The bronze statues in the museum are very attractive. It also has a small collection of Buddha statues and pillars. Vishnupad Temple :- Situated about 3 kms. from the Gaya city is the Vishnupad temple. It is believed to have been built over the footprints of Lord Vishnu. The 40 cm long footprint of Lord Vishnu is imprinted in solid rock surrounded by a silver plated basin inside the temple. Getting in, Around & Away AIR : Patna is the nearest airport. Indian Airlines, NEPC and Sahara Airlines operate flights to major cities like Mumbai, Calcutta, Delhi, Varanasi, Hyderabad etc. RAIL : Gaya is the nearest railway station, which is well connected with the major cities of India. Tourist Information Center 1 Tourist Information Centers(Govt) Director of Tourism Govt.of Bihar Patna 800 015 Tel.:0612-224531 Managing Director Bihar State Tourism Development Corporation Tourist Bhawan, Veer Chand Patel Path Patna 800 001 Tel.: 0612-222622 Fax: 0612-236218 Government of Bihar Tourist Office Neel Kanth Bhawan, 26-B, Camac Street Calcutta Tel.: 033-2803304 Government of Bihar Tourist Office 216-217, Kanishka Shopping Plaza Ashok Road New Delhi 110 001 Tel.: 011-3368371 Government of Bihar Tourist Office Englishia Lane, Jawaharlal Nehru Market Varanasi Tel.: 0542-343821
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