Gaya, Religious pilgrimage city in Bihar, India.
Gaya is a city in Bihar, India, surrounded by rocky hills on three sides. The Phalgu River flows along its eastern edge and divides the urban area into sections with temples, ghats and residential neighborhoods.
The city is considered a sacred place where Rama is said to have performed a ritual for his father Dasharatha, which explains its religious importance since ancient times. Over the centuries it developed into a major pilgrimage center for Hindus and Buddhists, as it also lies near Bodhgaya.
The name comes from the legend of the demon Gayasura, whose body is said to form the site. Pilgrims arrive in large numbers to perform ancestral rites and ceremonies at the ghats, which have been part of daily life for centuries.
Most travelers arrive by train at the railway station, which is well connected to the Indian rail network, or by plane at the airport that receives Buddhist pilgrims from abroad. Many hotels and lodgings are located near the ghats, so visitors can walk to the main religious sites.
The hills surrounding the city are dotted with rocks that are considered sacred and interpreted in religious stories as body parts of the demon Gayasura. These rocks attract worshippers who climb them to recite prayers and leave offerings.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
