Bodhgaya
260 km from Varanasi · 5–6 hours · 2 nights
Bodhgaya is the anchor of any Buddhist circuit and the site that most rewards a second night. The Mahabodhi Temple at 06:00, during morning chanting and before the tour groups arrive, is a different place from the same courtyard at midday.
What is there, and how long it takes
Mahabodhi Temple
2–3 hours, best split across two visits
The UNESCO site and the Bodhi tree. Morning chanting from around 06:00.
Great Buddha Statue
45 minutes
The 25-metre sandstone and granite figure.
The international monasteries
2 hours to see several
Thai, Japanese, Bhutanese, Tibetan — each built in its own national style.
Sujata Stupa and Dungeshwari caves
Half a day with the drive
Where the Buddha practised austerity before abandoning it.
What a brochure would not tell you
The road from Varanasi is five to six hours and mixed in quality. It is the longest single leg most groups do, and vehicle comfort stops being a luxury on it — this is the route where an Urbania's air suspension earns its price difference over a tempo traveller.
When to come
October to March, and December to February in particular, when the Dalai Lama's teachings sometimes draw very large gatherings. Summer is severe and the site offers little shade.
Packages covering Bodhgaya
Questions
- How far is Bodhgaya from Varanasi?
- About 260 km, five to six hours by road. It is the longest single leg on most Varanasi itineraries, which is why circuits usually put it on day two.
- How many days do I need in Bodhgaya?
- Two nights. The Mahabodhi Temple at 06:00 during morning chanting is a materially different experience from the middle of the day, and one night means you only get one of them.
- What does a Buddhist circuit tour from Varanasi cost?
- ₹24,999 per person for our 6 nights / 7 days circuit covering Sarnath, Bodhgaya, Rajgir, Nalanda, Kushinagar and Lumbini, including hotels, the vehicle for the full loop and the Nepal permit.
Planning to include Bodhgaya?
Send your dates and group size and we will build the days around it — including what to drop if the time does not stretch.