A Day in the Land of Buddha

On a not so cold winter day in January, we landed in Patna to surprise my parents on their Anniversary. An overnight plan and a 4 - hour bumpy drive brought us to the Land of Buddha, Bodhgaya.

Getting There

Bodhgaya is a small town and the nearest largest town Gaya is about 15km away. You can check for direct flights to Gaya (there are a few connections from some Asian countries). Else, you can take a flight to Patna and then drive or take a local train ride to Gaya. There is no dearth of taxis and autos running on hire from Gaya to Bodhgaya.

Best Time to Visit

We would recommend you to travel in between October to February as winter days are pleasant and it is easier to walk around. If you want to avoid the crowd, check the dates for the festivals before you plan your travel dates. If you don't mind the crowd, attending the prayer festivals here is a one-of-its-kind experience.

The best time to visit all the temples is early morning or evening. Chanting and mediation is held daily around 5:30 am and 6:00 pm. Luckily we were here during the World Peace Prayer Festival, so the entire day was full of the chanting and meditation.

Temple Hopping in Bodhgaya

You can easily walk around as all the temples are within two to three kilometre radius. Since we were there with our parents, we hired an electric rickshaw for the day (cost us around Rs 300 or $4).

We started our temple hopping at the Thai Temple. Built by the King of Thailand in the 1950s, Wat Thai exhibits the colors and tradition of Thai culture with its architecture. We reached here around 11am. It was a bright afternoon (almost) and the first thing which caught our attention was the beautiful gold rimmed rooftops dazzling under the sun.

The shrine houses a 'Ashtadhatu' (made out of eight metals) statue of Buddha. The walls are adorned with some really impressive frescoes representing the life of Buddha.

What after the Thai Temple?

This small town is peppered with dozens of temples and monasteries, reflecting the art and architecture of the respective Buddhist nation.

Keep hopping and you will be blown away by the beautiful architecture and serenity of the place. From the Royal Bhutan Temple with the massive golden statue of Buddha, the Chinese Temple beautifully decorated with red Chinese lanterns to the simple yet beautiful Japanese Temple, each temple transports you to another part of the world and gives you a sneak peek into the countries' tradition, art and architecture.

What after the International Temples?

Hop over to the centre of the Buddhist universe- Mahabodhi Temple. This elaborately carved temple houses the famous Bodhi Tree. At this time of the year, the temple was swamped with people from all over the world and yet there was a sense of tranquility.

Take your time, absorb the atmosphere as you circumambulate the temple complex. The harmonious blend of chanting and bells, fragrance of yellow and orange marigolds, rotation of the prayer wheels, monks praying under the Bodhi tree, devotees walking in and out of the main shrine and volunteers continuously serving tea to the monks- the warmth amidst the maroon and orange robes is bound to envelope you.

Make way to the main shrine to see the beautiful gold plated statue of Buddha. Offer your prayers or/and find a quiet corner for yourself in the complex to read or contemplate.

Mobile Phones and accessories like chargers and power banks are not allowed inside the temple complex. Deposit the same in the lockers outside the temple complex. Completely safe and free of charge. Cameras are allowed inside at a nominal fee.

Don't miss the GIANT BUDDHA

We can't really call it a day without watching a gorgeous sunset? Watch the sky turn to fifty shades of orange against the 64ft sandstone and red granite statue of Buddha. The total height of this construction is 80ft of which the Buddha is 64ft and the remaining is the lower pedestal and lotus on which he sits.

EAT

Wish we could say that Bodhgaya is flooded with options. Nevertheless, there are a few good cafes to take care of the hollow you feel in your stomach after all that walking. We stopped at a quaint and cosy Be Happy Cafe. Good coffee, delicious dessert and a decent pizza took care of us. It also has a beauteous roof top terrace garden.

One from Be Happy Cafe's roof top garden!

Also, there is a Barista right at the beginning of the Temple Road. We did not get a chance to try other cafes. May be next time !

A day trip can be a little overwhelming and packed, but you can always come back for more....

While this is a perfect one day itinerary, you can always extend this to over a weekend and spend some more time at the monasteries. And finally for those with a penchant for meditation there are quite a few good options for mediation retreats.

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