Key hubs
Gaya airport and railway station
- Airport
- Gaya International Airport (GAY), about 12 km south-west of the city; some international flights are seasonal, so check the current schedule
- Railway station
- Gaya Junction (GAYA) on the Grand Chord route; trains include the Mahabodhi Express from New Delhi and a Howrah-Gaya Vande Bharat service
- Getting around
- Autos, taxis and e-rickshaws in town; hire a car and driver for the hills and Barabar Caves
How to reach Gaya by air
Gaya International Airport (GAY) is about 12 km from the city and a short drive from Bodh Gaya. It has domestic flights and some seasonal international routes. Patna (PAT) is the larger alternative, about 125 km away by road.
How to reach Gaya by train
Gaya Junction (GAYA) is a major station on the Grand Chord route, with services from New Delhi, Kolkata and Patna, including the Mahabodhi Express and a Vande Bharat service from Howrah.
How to reach Gaya by road
Gaya sits on the Patna-Gaya road (NH83) and is linked by road to Bodh Gaya, Rajgir, Nalanda and Patna. Private and state buses and hire cars run from Patna, Ranchi and nearby cities.
Getting around Gaya
Autos, e-rickshaws and taxis work in town. Hire a car and driver for the hills and the Barabar Caves; Bodh Gaya is about 15 km away.
For parents and senior travellers
Easy transfers to and in Gaya
- The lanes around Vishnupad are crowded and uneven. Keep a companion nearby, wear shoes with good grip and ask your driver to wait close to the temple.
- Brahmayoni and Pretshila involve long flights of steps; Mangla Gauri and Ramshila are gentler. Skip the summits if you have knee or heart trouble.
- Carry bottled or filtered water, and wear a hat; the riverbed and hills have little shade.
- Ask the airline or railway for wheelchair or porter assistance when you book, not on the day.
- Pre-book the pickup from the airport or station, so nobody has to negotiate with drivers after a long journey.
- Choose arrivals in daylight where you can, and keep the first afternoon free to rest.