Major city · India
Bodh Gayaबोधगया
Give Bodh Gaya one full day and one night: the Mahabodhi Temple at dawn and after dark, the Great Buddha Statue, then move on. Skip it if you want sightseeing, not pilgrimage.
Bodh Gaya is where the Buddha is said to have reached enlightenment, and it is the most revered site in the Buddhist world. The Mahabodhi Temple complex, the Bodhi Tree and a ring of national monasteries sit within a 2 km walk. It is a pilgrimage town, not a sightseeing city: one night covers it, and the town empties of restaurants from April to September.
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- INR
- Best months
- Oct–Mar
- avoid Apr–Sep (many restaurants and guesthouses close; pre-monsoon heat)
- Airports
- GAY · PAT
- Nights
- 1
Rules in force · 6
- South Asia ↗Trekking regions, border districts and several Indian states need separate permits on top of the visa; check the permit before you book transport into them.
- South Asia ↗Remove shoes (and in many Jain and Hindu temples, leather) before entering; cover shoulders and legs; ask before photographing people or rituals.
- India ↗Apply for the e-visa only on the official government portal (indianvisaonline.gov.in); lookalike sites charge extra. Check the current rules, fees and how far ahead to apply.
- India ↗Do not follow anyone who says your hotel is closed, the station ticket office is closed or a road is shut; use the prepaid taxi counter, the metro or an app car.
- India ↗Carry Indian rupees in small notes (10, 20, 50, 100); change for 500 is often refused.
- India ↗Parts of the Northeast, Sikkim, Ladakh, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and all border belts need a Protected or Restricted Area Permit or an Inner Line Permit for foreigners; check before you book the route.
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾
In this guide
Not in this guide yet
- Walking areas with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
- Field-checked times and prices
Emergency numbers for Bodh Gaya112 ▾
Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.
EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Bodh Gaya, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Indian rupees (INR, ₹) in small notes for autos, street food, tips and entry tickets.India-wide
- SIM or eSIMJio, Airtel and Vi sell tourist SIMs at airport counters and their shops; passport, visa and a photo needed; activation can take a few hours.India-wide
- Tap waterNot drinkable from the tap.India-wide
- TippingRestaurant: 5–10% if no service charge is on the bill.India-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets C/D/M. US/Canada (A/B): adapter · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 230 V: US 120 V-only devices (hair dryers) need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.India-wide
- SafetyBodh Gaya is calm inside the temple compound and manageable outside it.
Show all 12 answers
- RestroomsWestern toilets in hotels, malls and airports; squat toilets with a water jug or hose in stations and villages.India-wide
- Emergency numbers112 All services (police, fire, ambulance) · 1363 tourist police, bihar (not 911, 999 or 000)
- Sundays & holidaysThe Taj Mahal is closed on Fridays; many museums close on Mondays; banks close on the second and fourth Saturdays…India-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportcheckGAY Gaya Airport (About 10 km (6.2 mi) from town; seasonal and limited international service — check what is flying before you book.).GAY Gaya Airport (About 6.2 mi (10 km) from town; seasonal and limited international service — check what is flying before you book.).
- Getting aroundThe centre is walkable: most sights are within 2 km (1.2 mi) of the Mahabodhi Temple, about 30 min on foot.The centre is walkable: most sights are within 1.2 mi (2 km) of the Mahabodhi Temple, about 30 min on foot.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- CoffeeCoffee in a café₹60–150 (≈ US$1–2)
- BeerBeer at a hotel, indoors₹100–150 (≈ US$2)
- Museum or sight ticketMahabodhi Temple entryFree; camera ₹100 (≈ US$2), video camera ₹300 (≈ US$4)
- Budget bedMonastery dorm or guesthouse bed, a night, per person₹300 (≈ US$4)
- Mid-range bedSimple double room, a night, per room₹1,500 (≈ US$18)
- High-end bedSimple double room, a night, per room₹3,500 (≈ US$40)
A day, not counting the bed: Budget ₹1,200 (≈ US$14) · Mid ₹3,000 (≈ US$35) · High ₹6,000 (≈ US$70)
Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →
DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- GAY Gaya Airport (About 10 km (6.2 mi) from town; seasonal and limited international service — check what is flying before you book.) · PAT Patna Airport (About 110 km (68 mi); the main alternative air hub for the region — check current routes and schedules before you book.)GAY Gaya Airport (About 6.2 mi (10 km) from town; seasonal and limited international service — check what is flying before you book.) · PAT Patna Airport (About 68 mi (110 km); the main alternative air hub for the region — check current routes and schedules before you book.)
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
Best
25°C (77°F)77°F (25°C)
Feb
Best
28°C (82°F)82°F (28°C)
Mar
Best
34°C (93°F)93°F (34°C)
Apr
Avoid
39°C (102°F)102°F (39°C)
May
Avoid
41°C (106°F)106°F (41°C)
Jun
Avoid
38°C (100°F)100°F (38°C)
Jul
Avoid
34°C (93°F)93°F (34°C)
Aug
Avoid
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
Sep
Avoid
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
Oct
Best
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
Nov
Best
29°C (84°F)84°F (29°C)
Dec
Best
25°C (77°F)77°F (25°C)
Best: Oct–Mar. Avoid: Apr–Sep. Month by month →
Warmest May (41°C (106°F)106°F (41°C)), coolest Jan (8°C (46°F)46°F (8°C) low), wettest Jul (18 rain days), driest Jan (1). Averages, not a forecast.
Weather and climate
Bodh Gaya: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
25°C (77°F)77°F (25°C)
8°C (46°F)46°F (8°C)
1 rd
Feb
28°C (82°F)82°F (28°C)
11°C (52°F)52°F (11°C)
1 rd
Mar
34°C (93°F)93°F (34°C)
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
1 rd
Apr
39°C (102°F)102°F (39°C)
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
2 rd
May
41°C (106°F)106°F (41°C)
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
3 rd
Jun
38°C (100°F)100°F (38°C)
27°C (81°F)81°F (27°C)
10 rd
Jul
34°C (93°F)93°F (34°C)
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
18 rd
Aug
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
17 rd
Sep
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
25°C (77°F)77°F (25°C)
12 rd
Oct
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)
4 rd
Nov
29°C (84°F)84°F (29°C)
13°C (55°F)55°F (13°C)
1 rd
Dec
25°C (77°F)77°F (25°C)
8°C (46°F)46°F (8°C)
1 rd
High / low, both scales · rd = rain days
Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
The centre is walkable: most sights are within 2 km of the Mahabodhi Temple, about 30 min on foot. Cycle-rickshaws and auto-rickshaws cover the rest for a few rupees — agree the fare before you set off. Tourist taxis handle Gaya station and the airport.
Nearest full guides
Straight-line distance, not travel time
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Gaya
goDoor to door: 30–45 min
Auto-rickshaw or shared bus, about 16 km (9.9 mi)Auto-rickshaw or shared bus, about 9.9 mi (16 km)
Railhead for the region and the nearest town with a station; useful on arrival or departure day.
Rajgir
goDoor to door: 1.5–2 h (check)
Bus or taxi via NH22, about 70 km (43 mi)Bus or taxi via NH22, about 43 mi (70 km)
Hills, hot springs and Buddhist sites; a full day or an overnight. Transport and timings check.
Pawapuri
cautionDoor to door: 2–2.5 h (check)
Taxi or bus, about 90 km (56 mi)Taxi or bus, about 56 mi (90 km)
Jain pilgrimage site; long for a return day — pair it with Rajgir. Transport and timings check.
Patna
goDoor to door: Just over 2 h by car; train timing check
Car on NH22, about 110 km (68 mi); or train from Gaya (timing check)Car on NH22, about 68 mi (110 km); or train from Gaya (timing check)
State capital and the main air hub; the four-laned highway cut the drive to just over 2 h.
Bihar Sharif
cautionDoor to door: 2–3 h (check)
Train or bus via Gaya (check)
Historic town with a large Sufi shrine; better as a stop between Patna and Gaya. Transport and timings check.
Deo
cautionDoor to door: 3 h+ (check)
Train to Gaya, then road (check)
Sun temple town; only worth it if you are already heading that way. Transport and timings check.
Simultala
skipDoor to door: 4 h+ (check)
Train via Gaya and Jhajha (check)
Hill station far east; not a day trip from Bodh Gaya. Transport and timings check.
Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Around the Mahabodhi Temple
Guesthouses and monastery rooms within a 5–10 min walk of the gate; the quietest and most convenient.
Kalachakra Maidan and main town
Cafés, shops and budget guesthouses; 10–15 min on foot from the temple.
Bhagalpur Village / Mastipur
Cheaper guesthouses and monastery stays a rickshaw ride out; quieter, fewer places to eat.
PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- ₹1,200–2,500 (≈ US$14–30) excl. bed
- Mid
- ₹2,500–5,000 (≈ US$30–60) excl. bed
- High
- ₹5,000 (≈ US$60)+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Simple double room1 × 1 night × ₹1,500 | ₹1,500 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × ₹3,000 | ₹6,000 |
| Auto-rickshaw, Gaya station to Bodh Gaya1 × ₹250 · 2026 estimate, check. | ₹250 |
| Cycle-rickshaw around town, per hop2 × ₹50 · 2026 estimate, check. | ₹100 |
| eSIM, about a week of data2 × ₹700 · 2026 estimate, check. | ₹1,400 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | ₹930 |
| Trip total≈ ₹5,090 per person per day, bed included | ₹10,180≈ US$120 |
2026 estimate, check.
2026 estimate in rupees; flights and long-distance trains excluded. Figures are unconfirmed — check. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Café meal (Indian, Tibetan or Thai) | ₹100–350 (≈ US$2–4) |
| Bottled water, 1 litre | ₹20–40 (≈ under US$1) |
| Coffee in a café | ₹60–150 (≈ US$1–2) |
| Beer at a hotel, indoors | ₹100–150 (≈ US$2) |
| Mahabodhi Temple entry | Free; camera ₹100 (≈ US$2), video camera ₹300 (≈ US$4) |
| Archaeological Museum entry | ₹10 (≈ under US$1) |
| Auto-rickshaw, Gaya station to Bodh Gaya | ₹200–250 (≈ US$3) private, about ₹50 (≈ under US$1) shared |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- Hustlers, fake guides and beggars cluster near the temple; walk on and do not hand over money for unsolicited help.
- Security is strict at the Mahabodhi complex: phones, laptops and cameras are not allowed inside — check where you can leave them before you go in.
- Most restaurants and cafés shut from April to September; check before you plan a low-season trip.
- There is no alcohol shop in town; hotels serve beer indoors only.
- Book trains and flights early for Monlam season (Jan–Feb) and the October–November festival.
Emergency numbers
- All services (police, fire, ambulance)
- 112
- Tourist police, Bihar
- 1363
Pocket card
Fill in, then print or save as PDF
Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.
Bodh Gayaबोधगया
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
कृपया मुझे इस पते पर ले चलिएPlease take me to this address
Emergency
- All services112
- Tourist police, Bihar1363
Embassy
No embassies in Bodh Gaya; most are in New Delhi. The nearest foreign missions are in Patna (check).
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Gaya station → Bodh Gaya, auto-rickshaw: ₹200–250 (≈ US$3) private, about ₹50 (≈ under US$1) shared
- Patna → Bodh Gaya, car on NH22: just over 2 h
- Patna → Gaya, passenger train: about ₹25 (≈ under US$1), express non-reserved about ₹50 (≈ under US$1)
Say or show
- नमस्ते — Hello / Namaste (namaste)
- धन्यवाद — Thank you (dhanyavaad)
- कितना है? — How much is it? (kitna hai)
- बहुत महंगा — Too expensive (bahut mehnga)
- शौचालय कहाँ है? — Where is the toilet? (shauchalay kahan hai)
- कृपया मुझे इस पते पर ले चलिए — Please take me to this address (kripya mujhe is pate par le chaliye)
Temple compound: no phones, laptops or cameras inside — check where you can leave them before you go in.
Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Bodh Gaya. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: Oct–Mar · avoid Apr–Sep (many restaurants and guesthouses close; pre-monsoon heat) · month by month →
- 2 airports and 3 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 7 day-trips, door to door
- 5 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- An airport-to-bed path that says whether a late landing still works
- Walking clusters with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Field-verified times and fares