Bodhgaya is the place were Siddharta Gautama reached enlightenment under the Bodhi tree to become Buddha the enlightened. We used a package tour of Indian Airlines and booked this through TCI.
The package included:
Flight DELHI PATNA DELHI with Indian Airlines
Transport PATNA NALANDA - RAJGIT BODHGAYA PATNA
Sightseeing of RAJGIT & NALANDA (Entry fees not included)
All meals
Cost of the package 2 Pax: 21.740 INR (off tax)
Indian Airlines Flyaways
Booked through
TCI NEW DELHI
Patna - Nalanda Rajgir Bodghaya takes 6 hours over 180 Km. Until Nalanda the road is more or less comfortable, but from Nalanda to Bodhgaya the road is in very bad condition, a little bit a collection of holes. The north-south running road from Patna to Bodhgaya takes 3 hours over 125 Km. The transport was done by TCI in a A/C Ambassador. The driver was excellent.
WHAT TO SEE
NALANDA
Founded in the 5th century BC, Nalanda was one of the worlds great universities and an important Buddhist center until it was sacked by the Afghans in the 12th century. When the Chinese scholar and traveler Xuan Zjhang was here in the early 7th century AD, there were 10.000 monks and students in residence. The entry fee is 2 USD/100 INR for foreigners. There is also a Thai temple situated close to the ruins of the university.
RAJGIR
Was the capital of the Magadha Empire until Ajatasatru moved to Paliputra (Patna) in the 5th century BC. Today, Rajgir is a minor Indian holiday center. In winter, visitors are drawn by the hot springs and the healthy climate of this hilly region, 19 Km south of Nalanada. Rajgir is an important Buddhist pilgrimage site since Buddha spent 12 years here and the first Buddhist council after Buddha attained nirvana was held here. The main attraction is the Japanese Shanti stupa reached by chairlift on the top of the Ratnagiri hill.
BODHGAYA
The latter is the most important Buddhist pilgrimage site in the world. The focal point is the Mahabodhi temple. The bo tree growing here is said to be a direct descendant of the original tree under which Buddha sat, meditated and achieved enlightenment. Most of the Buddhist countries have a temple or monastery here usually built in a representative architectural style.
HOTEL
BODHGAYA ASHOKE/ NIKKO HOTEL (***)
Bodhgaya, Bihar 824231
Tel: 0631/400700
Fax: 0631/400788
Near the Mahabodhi temple
Comments: Bodhgaya Ashoke is an Indian Government (India Tourism Development Corporation) owned hotel, which is the equivalent as what you see of most of the other Indian Government maintained constructions being dirty, unhygienic and facilities only half working. There were more mosquitoes in the room than channels on the (good working) TV. Even after having killed 20 of them before going to bed, the others terrorized and vengeanced their brothers and sisters throughout the night. It is clearly a no-star hotel, what so-ever has been published prior. The hotel has been taken over by the private Indian NIKKO group. Likely there will be a positive change in the accommodation in the future.
INTERNET LINKS
www.mahabodhi.com