Gaya lies 12 kms from Bodhgaya between Pretshila and Ramshila hills and is washed by the shores of river Phalgu. Gaya has a large number of Buddhist temples also. While Buddha was doing severe penance, he became weak, tired and hungry. He rested under a tree where, he was offered food by a condemned village woman named Sujata. To everybody's surprise Buddha accepted her offerings.
Legend has it, that after having consumed the food, Buddha's countenance assumed a divine glow and he realized the Supreme Truth; that neither extreme self indulgence nor self mortification is ever required. What is needed is to follow the Middle Path. Sujata Sthan or Durgeshwari Temple stands as a symbol commemorating this event. In the vicinity of Bodhgaya, there are several other places of tourist interest such as the Surya Temple at Deo, 20 kms from Gaya, the Sun God Temple at Urnya; the Konchishwar Maha Deva temple at Konch; Barabar Caves just 40 kms away; the Buddhist Rock-Cut Caves of 3rd Century B.C. at Sasaram, 123 kms away.
As a pilgrimage centre, Gaya is second only to Varanasi, for Hindus believe whoever makes offerings here will free their ancestors from bondage to the earth.
HOW TO GET THERE :
Air: Gaya has a airport for chartered flights and nearest domestic airport is at Patna 135 kms. Indian Airlines and Sahara Airlines connect Patna to Calcutta, Bombay, Delhi, Ranchi, Lucknow and various other cities.
Rail:- Gaya has a railway station.
Road:- Gaya is well connected by road to Bodhgaya (17km), Nalanda (101 km), Rajgir (78 km), Patna (135km), Varanasi (252 km), Calcutta (495km)