GAYA 24:50’;;85:0’
CONTINENT__Asia COUNTRY
India STATE_Bihar
DISTRICT__Gaya
Distance from country
capital Delhi—i0i0km
Distance “ state “ Patna----95km
Pin code—823001 STDCode—0631 HSL—500’
RIVER BANK__Falgu
APPROACH OVER THE
LOCATION __ Due to
its nearness with Bodh
Gaya and
its own importance
of Pitrpaksh pind dan
and Sradh festival
of Hindus Gaya
is well located
on national and
international tourism map. It
has its own
big railway Jn station
on Delhi-Moghulsarai-Howrah Grand
chord railway line
through which can be
directly reached
from any corner
of the counry.It
can also be
reached by roadways
by drive on NH2
or the Grand trunck
road taking north
turn near Dobhi, from
where it is
about 22 km .It
can be said
to be partly
connected with airways
in the sense
that Gaya airport has
been improved to
international standard for
landing boing aircraft
for tourists coming
from abroad.
LANGUAGE__Hindi
and Magahi. LODGING_Many middle
class hotels,rest
houses,inspection bunglows Dharam salas,lodges pandas
rest rooms and
temples rest shelters are available.FOODAll kind of food
from rice,pulse,sabji, bhujia, chokha,chapa
-ti (bread) etc
with variety of
veg and non veg
preparations along with
numerous original ocal
sweets like anarsa,sakarpala and
khubhi laee and snaks
are available.
DRINK__Sweet
water is available
for drinking purposes
in sufficient quantity. Other soft
and hard drinks
can be had
as per requirement. LOCAL TRANSPORT_
Cycle rickshaws and
auto rickshaws are
chief local conveyance.Besides it
horse carts and buggies
are also available.
ABOUT THE SITE__Entry
of Gaya township
starts in the bigning
itself showing its
religious cum tourists
heritages on the beautiful
scenic hilly terrains
monds and mountains. It
is bound by
five hills, In the
wesside is Katari
hii,NW is by Murali
pahar,NE is Ramshila
pahar completely denuded
due to excessive mining
of stone chipps, Abgila pahari
in East and
brahamjoni pahar in
South
GEOGRAPHICAL_The
township is situated
on the west river of
river Falgu which extends
from the confluence
of Mohna and
Lilajan rivers in
the south near
Mankosa village
PAURANIC__According to Mahabharat and
Padm puran it
was established by the
king Gay
of Chandrabansi dynasty, who
organized a many
years continued ygya
at this place
and established the
city.
MYTHOLOGICAL_There
was a noble
king GayasurHe meditated on
Kolahalgiri (Brahmjoni hill) of these
days with a
view to get
blessing be gifted
with such power
that if anybody
sees him or
touches him he
will be freed
from all sins
and get moksh or mukti.Brahma
was pleased with
his devotion and
meditation
and blessed him
with such powers
on the condition
that he donate
his body for
ygya.Gayasur
felt proud of
it and laid asleep himself
with his head
in SW direction on the
hill and
died over there.Yagya
was performed on
the body of
Gayasur As a result
different parts of
his body got
different status of bedikas of
pinddan and shradhkarm
like partof head became Gayasir, upper portion
of the head
is Mund prist, area
of right leg
is Ramshila e.tc etc , with
lapses of time. Other
important bedikas and
tirthas are as
below—
1 VISHNUPAD
TEMPLE__It is the
first and most
attractive site of the area.It
contains foot print
of lord Vishnu
the ultimate god of Hindus. The
temple was built
by queen Ahilyabai
of Indore in
1766 A D .The foot print
of lord Vishnu is
13 inches in
length and covered
by silver coats. The
face of the fingers
of the foot
is towards north.It
may be a
magic of religious
faith or meteorological enviro
-nmental
creation due to
location of the
temple amids
greens of trees
on th foot hills that
there is always
drizille drops of
water getting precipated
down from the
top of the
temple It is
said that water
drops of desired pilgrimage tirths can
be had on
the palm of
hands with such
meditation.This can be
tested by desiring
water drops of
Rameshwaram and Kanyakumari
and then that
of Haridwar.The
two must show
some difference in
test
The temple is
made of black
granite or Dolerite.Main
temple is an
open dome
Spread over in
about 58sqrft.Its outer
plinth is 88feet
long.It is in
form of hilly
cave in eight
facial shape. Height of the peak of the temple
from the ground
is 100’There is a stone
statue of big
elephant in front
of the main entry
gate of the
temple with flower
in its trunk
in worship pose
of the lord.The
peak is adorned
with gold jar
and gold flag.It
is also said
that a thief
yrtying to steal
these gold
dropped down from
above and
was converted into
stone.
RAMSHILA HILL__This mound
of reic hill
of older granitic
rocks is north
of the town
and by the
side of the
railway line There is
temples of Ram ,Lakshman
And Pataleshwar
on this hill.It
is about 372’feet
high from the
ground levelandthere are 357
steps to rise
over this hill Pind
than and shradh
function is also
done here.This lace
is about 4km
from Visnupad.Temple of
Kakbali deity is in
the foot hill
of Ramshila hill.This
is also place
of pind tarpan
and shradh karm.
PRETSHILA HILL_IT
is further 9km
west of Ramshila
hill.It is of
Quatzoze rock.Three golden
veins veins of
Chalcopyrite on it
are said to
be writing of
Brahma.Brahm tank is in the
foot hill Pind dan
and shradh of
those dying untimely
death by accident and
disease etc is
done here Height
of the hill
is about 450’ and
there are 400steps
to rise atop
the hill There
is a Dharamsala
in the foot
hill also for
the pilgrim.
BRAHMJONI HILL_This
hill is in
south of the
city It is about
2km west of
Vishnupad temple The hill
is about 450’
high from the
ground level.There are
424 steps to
rise over the
hill.There are two
conjusted tunnel on
the hill called
Matriyoni.Mythological say is
that one who successfully
passes out the
tunnel bcomes free from
brth and death.This
hill finds mention
in
Budhist
literatures also.
IMMORTAL TREE OR
AKHAY BUT_It lies
between Vishnupad and
Brahmjonj hill Close
to this on
west side is
Rukmini kund Last
ritual of pind dan
and shradh rituals
is done here.After
that devotees get
blessings from the
purohit and pandas
which is called
“”Sufal”
MANGLA GAURI
__It is situated
in Eastern side of
Akshaybut tree One
has to rise
to about 125
steps to reach
the place.It is
daily worshipping place with
special day of the godess
on Tuesday.Further special
festive season is
Sardiya navratra.
SUN POND
OR SURYA KUND__It
is situated in
NW corner side
of the Vishnupad
temple Its south
side is called
Matam ,central is
Kankhal north is
Vrinda Statue of four
handed Sungod is
situated in west
side. It is covered
by high boundry
walls from all
side.Festive seasons are
Khasti or Chath
of kartik and
Chait. Besides it is
one of the
many places of
Sradh karm.
NORTH MANAS__It
is a pond
situated in Sahabganj main
township It is also
one of the
vedikas for pid
dan and sradh
karm.
DUKH HARNI
DEVI _Poverty remover
deity A big
gate about 3
furlongs from Sahabganj
chowk there is
a temple.Name of
the deity is
Dukh harni mother fatak
SITA KUND
RAM GAYA _It is in front of
Vishnupad temple just
opposite side of
Falgu river.There is
a temple in
which statue of
one hand is
worshippedThis is called
hand of Dasrath
father of Ram.Sita
gave pind dan
to him by
Falgu sand at
this place..
In
olden days there
were more than
365 ie about 370
sacred platforms(bedikas) where
sradh karm and
pind dan was
done for perod
of more than
one year..With passing
of time and faith maintenance
of these places
were marred and
only about 45 platforms
or bedikas are
being maintained Important
among these are
Vishnupad,Bageshwari,
Sitakund,Kak bali,
Kakdip,,VVaitarni,Mangalagauri,Bodh Gaya,Akshaybat,Brahmjoni,Ruptpad,Gaya
kup
Matangwapi,Kayapad,Dhautpad,Gayatrighat
,Falguriver,Brahmkund ,Brahmsarovar,Utarmanas,Panchirth,Rukminitalab,Ramsagartalab,Jihwalol,Punpun,Udhichi,Suryakund,Gayasir,Kankhal,
Now a
days sradh karm
and pinddan is
done for 17,9, 7.5,3,and1 day
FESTIVE SEASON__Pitrpaksh Mokshdaini
Sradh karm festival from
Bhadrapad
Purnima(fullmoonday) to Ashwin
Amawashya(darkmoonday)Besides
it all other
festivals of different
communities of India
is celebrated here
as per
announcements of
their peers, prophets,, and priests
with gaity frienly
and brotherly mode.
OTHER SITES__Besides many
other things to look
at Bodhgaya and
Caves of Barabar
hills are worth
not leaving to
see , within
budgetry of money,
time and
distance
PRECAUTION_Not only
from religious point
of view but
the area being
encirciled by hills
and jungles in
continuation with Chotanagpur
jungles
has always
been captive and
operative region of
Naxal activity.So careful
attention and utmost
precaution is required
GUIDE_District information
office has old
special arrangement Besids it
many mela samitis
exist to guide
nd take care
of the pilgrims
and the tourists
PACKAGE TOURISM_Incuded in
tourism packages of national
and state level.
SHOPPING_Because of
Pitrpaksh sradhkarm Mokshdaini
mela pilgrims and
tourists from allover
India and
neighbouringcountrieslikeNepal,Bhutan,Srilanka,Shyam Burma now Myamar .used
to come here
from very olden
days.So artcles of
interest of jwelary, home
décor ,wearings, art and
artifacts were being transferred
from
those places to
Gaya and from
Gaya and Bihar
to those
Countries.So a
big shopping market
exist round about
SH-hahibganj chowk.Important among
them are Khubh
ki laei Anarsa,Tilkut,,Silk cloth, wooden
and stone toys
etc.
REMARKS FOR
FURTHER DEVELOPMENT__Very bright..
