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BODHGAYA
INTRODUCTION
As the place of the Buddha's Enlightenment, Bodhgaya is the spiritual
home of Buhddhists. It attracts tens of thousands of believers from
all over the world. Bodhgaya situated near the river Niranjana,
is one of the holiest Buddhist pilgrimage centres since it was here
that Buddha attained enlightenment under the Bodhi tree.
PALCES TO VISIT
Parasnath Hill
40 km from Gaya, they are the earliest Buddhist rock cut caves.
It is believed that 22 'tirthankaras' out of 24 attained salvation
here, and is deemed one of the most sacred pilgrim centres for the
Jains.
Chotanagpur
 The
Chotanagpur plateau is one of the most beautiful areas in Bihar.
Studded with hills 300 - 900 m in altitude, and covered with verdant
virgin forests, this expanse of rivers, lakes, meadows and valleys
is an ideal retreat. Rich in wildlife, these forests are an anthropologist's
delight, as the clutch of ancient tribes, like Santhal, Ho, Munda,
Oraon, Koi, Chero, Kharia, Paharia, dwelling within them, still
retain their intriguing traditions and rituals.
Ranchi
The erstwhile summer capital of Bihar, Ranchi, is 676 m in altitude,
and is a wonderful hill station. Its significant landmarks are a
hill - top Shiva temple, with the Ranchi lake at the foothills.
General Information:
Population: 22,000
Altitude:113 m
Climate: Summer- Max 45-47 C Min: 27 C
Winter Max: 28 C Min: 4 C
Rainfall: 1,860 mm
The 25 m Great Buddha Statue in the Japanese Kamakura style was
unveiled by his holiness Dalai Lama in 1989.
HOW TO GET THERE
Bodhgaya is 12 km from Gaya, 140 km from Patna, 66 km from Rajgir
and 482 km from Calcutta.
Air :- Patna is the nearest airport with regular flights
to Delhi, Ranchi, Lucknow, Calcutta, Chennai, Mumbai. Calcutta,
482 km, has an international airport.
Rail :- Gaya is the nearest railway station. Several superfast
as well as express trains are available from Gaya. Gaya is on the
main Delhi to Calcutta line and there are direct trains to Delhi,
Calcutta, Varanasi, Puri and Patna.
Road :- Bihar State Road Transport Corporation (SRTC) has
bus services to Gaya, Patna, Nalanda and Rajgir. The main bus stand
is opposite the Mahabodhi Temple. Private buses and taxis are also
easily available.
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