Gaya in Bihar is an important holy Hindu pilgrimage centre and tourist destination in India. This ancient city, located on the banks of the Phalgu Falgu River (or Niranjana, as mentioned in Ramayana), has got both mythological and historic significance. Gaya is the second largest city in Bihar and is around 100 km south of the capital city Patna. References to Gaya can be found is Indian epics Ramayana and Mahabharata. The place is considered sacred not only by Hindus but also by other Buddhist, Jain and Islam devotees.
According to Ramayana, Gaya is the place where Lord Rama, Sita and Lakshmana offered pind-daan to their father Dasharath. Gaya is refereed as Gayapuri in Mahabharata. The place is surrounded by small rocky hills Mangla-Gauri, Shringa-Sthan, Ram-Shila and Brahmayoni.
Important Places to Visit in Gaya Pilgrimage
Mahabodhi Temple
Mahabodhi Temple is a Buddhist temple in Bodh Gaya. Here Sri Buddha is said to have attained enlightenment. Bodh Gaya is located at Gaya in Bihar, India. Devotees can see gold-painted statue of Buddha in the sanctum shrine of the Temple, which is made of Black stone. Here Sri Buddha is seen seated in the Earth touching posture. Other images seen here include Avalokitesvara, Marichi, Yamantaka, Jambhala, Vajravarahi and also images of Lord Vishnu, Lord Shiva, Lord Surya and many other Vedic deities. The Bodhi tree at Bodhgaya is directly connected to the life of the historical Buddha. This temple has now been declared a World Heritage Property by the UNESCO.
Address: PO Box – 2, Buddhagaya, Gaya, Bihar 824231, India
Phone : +91 631 2200735
Bodhi Tree
The Bodhi tree at the Mahabodhi Temple is called the Sri Maha Bodhi. Bodh Gaya is located south of Patna in Bihar. The Bodhi Tree is also known as Bo or peepal tree. This is a very large and very old sacred tree located in Bodh Gaya. Here Gautham Buddha is said to have attained enlightenment. Bodhi Day is celebrated on December 8th every year. The celebrated Bodhi tree still exists in Bodh Gaya.
Vishnupad Temple
Vishnupada Temple is an ancient Hindu temple located in Gaya, India. The primary deity worshipped here is Lord Vishnu. The temple is 30 m high. Inside this temple we can see 40 cm long footprint of Lord Maha Vishnu. This is imprinted on solid rock and surrounded by a silver-plated basin. There is a gold flag. This temple is located along the Falgu River. This place is also believed to be the one under which the Lord Buddha meditated for six years.
Address: Chand Chaura, Gaya, Bihar 823001, India
Phone: +91 9304386077
Barabar Caves
The Barabar Caves are the surviving rock-cut caves located at Sultanpur in Bihar, India. This hill contains four caves namely, Karan Chaupar, Lomas Rishi, Sudama and Visva Zopri. All these caves are situated in the twin hills of Barabar and Nagarjuni. These caves are quite amazing and beautifully carved entirely out of granite with a highly polished internal surface. The first chamber was meant for worshippers to congregate and the second one is a small one used for worship. The caves were used by ascetics from Ajivika.
Address: Barabar Hill Road, Barabar, Sultanpur, Bihar 804405, India
Phone: +91 8271029503
Dungeshwari Cave Temples
Dungeshwari Cave Temples or Mahakala caves is situated near Bodhgaya, Bihar. There are three caves seen here in which Buddha is believed to have meditated. Gautama Siddhartha is believed to have piously meditated at this place for six years before he went to Bodhgaya for the final realisation. A golden Buddha sculpture is enshrined in one of the cave temples and a large 6 feet tall Buddha’s statue in the other cave. The Hindu Goddess Dungeshwari is also placed inside the cave temple. The nearest airport is in Gaya. The nearest railhead is Bodhgaya.
According to Ramayana, Gaya is the place where Lord Rama, Sita and Lakshmana offered pind-daan to their father Dasharath. Gaya is refereed as Gayapuri in Mahabharata. The place is surrounded by small rocky hills Mangla-Gauri, Shringa-Sthan, Ram-Shila and Brahmayoni.
Important Places to Visit in Gaya Pilgrimage
Mahabodhi Temple
Mahabodhi Temple is a Buddhist temple in Bodh Gaya. Here Sri Buddha is said to have attained enlightenment. Bodh Gaya is located at Gaya in Bihar, India. Devotees can see gold-painted statue of Buddha in the sanctum shrine of the Temple, which is made of Black stone. Here Sri Buddha is seen seated in the Earth touching posture. Other images seen here include Avalokitesvara, Marichi, Yamantaka, Jambhala, Vajravarahi and also images of Lord Vishnu, Lord Shiva, Lord Surya and many other Vedic deities. The Bodhi tree at Bodhgaya is directly connected to the life of the historical Buddha. This temple has now been declared a World Heritage Property by the UNESCO.
Address: PO Box – 2, Buddhagaya, Gaya, Bihar 824231, India
Phone : +91 631 2200735
Bodhi Tree
The Bodhi tree at the Mahabodhi Temple is called the Sri Maha Bodhi. Bodh Gaya is located south of Patna in Bihar. The Bodhi Tree is also known as Bo or peepal tree. This is a very large and very old sacred tree located in Bodh Gaya. Here Gautham Buddha is said to have attained enlightenment. Bodhi Day is celebrated on December 8th every year. The celebrated Bodhi tree still exists in Bodh Gaya.
Vishnupad Temple
Vishnupada Temple is an ancient Hindu temple located in Gaya, India. The primary deity worshipped here is Lord Vishnu. The temple is 30 m high. Inside this temple we can see 40 cm long footprint of Lord Maha Vishnu. This is imprinted on solid rock and surrounded by a silver-plated basin. There is a gold flag. This temple is located along the Falgu River. This place is also believed to be the one under which the Lord Buddha meditated for six years.
Address: Chand Chaura, Gaya, Bihar 823001, India
Phone: +91 9304386077
Barabar Caves
The Barabar Caves are the surviving rock-cut caves located at Sultanpur in Bihar, India. This hill contains four caves namely, Karan Chaupar, Lomas Rishi, Sudama and Visva Zopri. All these caves are situated in the twin hills of Barabar and Nagarjuni. These caves are quite amazing and beautifully carved entirely out of granite with a highly polished internal surface. The first chamber was meant for worshippers to congregate and the second one is a small one used for worship. The caves were used by ascetics from Ajivika.
Address: Barabar Hill Road, Barabar, Sultanpur, Bihar 804405, India
Phone: +91 8271029503
Dungeshwari Cave Temples
Dungeshwari Cave Temples or Mahakala caves is situated near Bodhgaya, Bihar. There are three caves seen here in which Buddha is believed to have meditated. Gautama Siddhartha is believed to have piously meditated at this place for six years before he went to Bodhgaya for the final realisation. A golden Buddha sculpture is enshrined in one of the cave temples and a large 6 feet tall Buddha’s statue in the other cave. The Hindu Goddess Dungeshwari is also placed inside the cave temple. The nearest airport is in Gaya. The nearest railhead is Bodhgaya.
bUDDHAM sARANAM gATCHAMI, sANGHAM sARANAM gATCHAMI...
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