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Bodh Gaya
Historical city in Bihar, India

Bodh Gaya

Bodh Gayā is a religious site and place of pilgrimage associated with the Mahabodhi Temple complex, situated in the Gaya district in the Indian state of Bihar.

Plan a trip to Bodh Gaya→From Varanasi

It is famous for being the place where Gautama Buddha is said to have attained enlightenment under what became known as the Bodhi Tree. Since antiquity, Bodh Gayā has remained the object of pilgrimage and veneration for Buddhists. Archaeological finds, including sculptures, show that the site was in use by Buddhists since the Maurya period.

Get in

Getting to Bodh Gaya

The nearest airport is at Gaya (10 km) - Druk Air flies from Paro once a week from November to March. Thai Airways flies to Gaya daily. Indigo flies from several domestic destinations including Kolkata and Delhi and even far away places like Ahmedabad and Chennai.

See

Worth seeing

Most temples open from 6AM to sunset and close between noon and 2PM.

  1. 01
    Mahabodhi Temple

    The site where Gautama Buddha attained enlightenment.

  2. 02
    Archaeological Museum
  3. 03
    Bodhgaya Multimedia Museum

    Museum provides the historical and geographical context for the life of Buddha through a set of multimedia films and 3D animation movie.

  4. 04
    The Great Buddha Statue
  5. 05
    Japanese Temple
  6. 06
    Taiwanese Temple

    A peaceful temple that also serves as a great example of Chinese architecture.

Do

Things to do

Bodh Gaya is foremost a pilgrimage destination for Buddhists, and nearly all of its main attractions reflect this spiritual focus. While a secondary tourist industry has developed—offering shopping, dining, and accommodation — these are not the primary draw. That said, several shops in the main town sell inexpensive souvenirs unique to Bodh Gaya, which may interest some pilgrims.

Eat

Where to eat

Many restaurants and cafes are seasonal, and so from the beginning of April untito the end of September many of the places listed will be closed.

  1. 01
    Bowl of Compassion Cafe

    Newly set-up restaurant serving delicious Indian and international cuisine, with connections to the nearby Bowl of Compassion NGO.

  2. 02
    Fujia Green
  3. 03
    Hari Om Cafe

    Very cute cafe that offers a variety of food (they advertise themselves as offering "American (New), Chinese, Indian/Pakistani, Japanese and Thai").

  4. 04
    Lotus Restaurant

    A nice place with a lot of Indian options.

  5. 05
    Mahayama Restaurant

    Breakfast 6-11AM, lunch 11AM-3PM, dinner 5-11PM.

How locals move

Getting around Bodh Gaya the local way

  • Get inFrom there, visitors can travel to Bodh Gaya by bus or by autorickshaw.
  • Get inRickshaw fares vary, but tourists should expect to pay around ₹50 for a shared ride or ₹200-250 for private one.
  • Get inRickshaws are widely available, making transportation convenient.
  • Get aroundBy far the most convenient way to get around Bodh Gaya are the auto-rickshaws, cycle-rickshaws, and tourist taxis.
  • Go nextShared jeeps plying the route between Rajgir and Bihar Sharif make a stop at the turnoff for Nalanda.
  • Go nextRickshaws and other vehicles are available from there to the main gate, a distance of 2 km.

From Wikivoyage: Bodh Gaya, CC BY-SA. Not yet checked by us. Last edited 2026-09.

Text adapted from Wikipedia and Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photograph: Wikimedia Commons (see Commons), Wikimedia Commons.