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Bodh Gaya

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Asia : South Asia : India : Plains : Bihar : Bodh Gaya
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The Mahabodhi Temple
The Mahabodhi Temple

Bodh Gaya [1] is a village in the state of Bihar. As the site of the Buddha Shakyamuni's enlightenment, Bodh Gaya is the most revered of all Buddhist sacred sites. The main complex houses the famous Mahabodhi temple/stupa and a descendant of the original Bodhi Tree under which the Buddha gained enlightenment.

[edit] Understand

[edit] Get in

[edit] By plane

The nearest airport is at Gaya (16 km) - Druk Air flies from Bangkok once a week. Thai Airways flies to Gaya daily. Indian Airlines flies from Kolkata on Fridays at 10.00 a.m. and Returns back on Mondays from Gaya at around 15.00 hrs.

[edit] By train

The nearest Railway station is Gaya (16 km). From there you can take a bus or a three wheel taxi to Bodh Gaya. Three-wheel taxi price is extremely variable, depending on time of day, but should be between 80-120 Rs. You should bargain considerably, there is rarely a shortage of service.

The train from Patna (which as the nearest good size airport and railhead) to Gaya costs 34 rupees (as of January 2008). The express trains take about two hours. Best train travel from Calcutta is about 8 hours; from Delhi, about 15 hours.

The road from Patna is in condition at the moment, train is also recommended.

[edit] By bus

There is a main road connecting Bodhgaya and Gaya. The Bihar State Tourist Development Coporation (Tel: 0612-225411) runs daily deluxe bus services to and from Bodh Gaya.

[edit][add listing] See

80-foot Buddha Statue
80-foot Buddha Statue

Most temples open from 6 am to sunset and close between noon and 2 pm.

  • Bodhi Tree - it is believed that this tree is a direct descendant of the one under which the Buddha Sakyamuni attained enlightenment, inside the Mahabodhi complex.
  • Mahabodhi Stupa
  • Thai Monastery, [2]
  • 80-foot Buddha Statue
  • Japanese temple (Indosan Nippon), Temple Road, ☎ 2200743. 5am-6pm.  edit Daily meditation at 6 AM and 5 PM.
  • Archaelogical Museum, [3], closed Fridays, IR 2 (foreigners and locals alike)
  • Tergar Monastery, [4], Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche
  • Phowa Center, [5], Choeje Ayang Rinpoche
  • Gendhen Phelgyeling Monastery [6]
  • Root Institute, [8], Zopa Rinpoche
  • Kagyu Monlam Chenmo, [9], prayer festival, January
  • Nyingma Monlam Chenmo, [10], prayer festival, January/February

[edit][add listing] Do

Bodh Gaya is essentially a pilgrimage destination for Buddhists and all of its main attractions are related to this. The subsidiary tourist industry that has grown up around it (shopping, eating, and accommdation) is not really the main attraction. Most of the goods for sale in Bodh Gaya come from elsewhere in India and can be found for better prices and at better quality elsewhere. Perhaps unique to Bodh Gaya are the rather cheesy CDs for sale near the temple entrance that purport to be monks chanting Buddhist texts. You will know whether you want to take this home with you!

Whether you're a Buddhist or not, the main thing to do in Bodh Gaya is just to absorb the vibe of the place where the Buddha attained awakening: the vapor trail of that energy is still in the air!

[edit][add listing] Eat

  • Cafe Om. Excellent pastries, great food too. This is the place where everybody meets everybody.  edit

[edit][add listing] Drink

Bodhgaya may have been a "dry" town, without liquor outlets. Hotels and guesthouses will in their restaurants serve beer (100-150 IR), provided it is drunk indoors out of public view. However in 2009 there are government liquor stores selling Wine ($10 usd / liter) and Rum, Whiskey etc. approx same price as the wine. Beer is 60 Rs/can.

[edit][add listing] Sleep

Monastery guest houses offer a cheap option to hotels, though guests are expected to adhere to their house rules. They do not charge fixed nightly rates, but instead accept donations (ask other guests for the going rate).

  • Mahabodhi Society. Private rooms and dorms available.  edit
  • Bhutan Monastery. Pleasant but basic single and family rooms, some with private bathroom  edit
  • Burmese Vihara, Gaya Road. Very basic accommodation. The Vihara exists mainly to cater to groups of Burmese pilgrims, but there are often rooms available for others. Rules are posted prominently. Food service is only for those arriving in groups, and by prior arrangement.  edit

[edit] Budget

  • Siddhartha Vihar, Bihar Tourist Complex, ☎ ''+91 631'' 220-0445. Simple, but comfortable rooms.  edit
  • Rainbow Guesthouse, next to Burmese Vihara on Gaya Road. Basic rooms, are cleaned more thoroughly on request, friendly and reliable staff.  edit

Additionally there is a whole string of guesthouses just opposite the park from the Mahabodhi Temple. All pretty much the same well maintained with restaurants on the ground floor at around Rs 200 a single.

[edit] Mid range

  • Royal Residency, Domuhan Road, ☎ ''+91 631'' 220-0124 (fax: ''+91 631'' 220-0181). Comfortable rooms with Japanese style same-sex communal hot tub.  edit

[edit] Contact

[edit] Internet

[edit] Respect

  • Take off your shoes before entering the inner parts of the main temple/stupa complex.
  • Circumambulate the stupa and other sacred objects in a clock-wise direction.
  • Preserve the peace and tranquility.
  • Do not climb onto statues or other sacred objects.

[edit] Get out

  • Rajgir – The site of Gridhakuta (Vulture's Peak), where the Buddha stayed and gave teachings on the Mahayana (the second turning of the wheel), and Venuvana, the first Buddhist monastery. Rajgir is also an area known for its hot springs, which are open to the public. Buses depart from Bodhgaya, but often require a change in Bihar Sharif.
  • Nalanda – This Buddhist university was established in 450CE. Currently, there are extensive ruins, but no inhabitants. Nalanda Museum is open 10AM-5PM daily except Friday. Shared jeeps plying the route between Rajgir and Bihar Sharif make a stop at the turnoff for Nalanda. Rickshaws and other vehicles are available from there to the main gate, a distance of 2km. PWD operates a guest house near the gate.
  • Deo – Visit this place for a glimpse of Famous Sun Temple.
  • Patna - 130 km by Road, Deluxe Buses for Patna Available from BSTDC(Enquiry Phone No. 0631-2200672) Bodhgaya Hotel (7am & 2pm daily), you can also go By Train from Gaya Junction.

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