Trip to Gaya, Bodh gaya Buddha Gaya Temple:

Trip to Gaya, Bodh gaya Buddha Gaya Temple:


You can write to me on templeashok@yahoo.co.in for any clarifications /doubts..i shall try my best to be of use to u so that u have a good dharshan..you can also write to me on the mail id above for adding anything more to make it more useful and informative every small info will help as it has probably helped you so please write in..…

About General Place: Gaya, Bodh Gaya


Gaya and bodh gaya are just 12 km away. Gaya is the main places from where you can take a share auto or car to bodhgaya. Car and stay are quite costly at both these places.

http://www.vegetarian-restaurants.net/India-Guide/IndianStates/Bihar/Gaya.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaya


http://www.vegetarian-restaurants.net/India-Guide/IndianStates/Bihar/Bodhgaya.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bodh_Gaya

http://wikitravel.org/en/Bodh_Gaya

Hotels:

Caution: At both these places I am told you need to be very careful if u are traveling after 8 pm. It is best to ask for a pick up through the hotel. Though I would have preferred coming into this place Gaya in day light I could manage a reservation from Varanasi late night and eache the place at 2 am. Due to enough advice I had booked a room straight at Hotel Lumbini 0631 2200351 whose manager sashi kant also has a cell 9931424462…fax 0631-2200361.. check for of season discount…I had asked for a pick up from hotel late night which was a tad costly at Rs.400. Safety is an issue and again even in day time it would cost Rs250 at least. Since I arrived late I wanted to straight be in bodh gaya(12 km from gaya) and finish sight seeing there and then land in gaya and do my temple visits. You can also do the other way around ie stay in gaya and then see bodh gaya.

For stay in gaya Hotel surya 0631(std code) 222-0770 seems good as I saw the hotel from outside.



Details about the temple through links:

http://templenet.com/Ganga/gaya01.html


Photos of temple


Temple Phone Number:

Std Code-0631 Phone Number :


How I went:

I traveled from varanasi to gaya. You can also go from Kolkata to gaya. I had chked into hoel at bodh gaya and arranged a car for entire trip in bodh gaya and gaya of all important places for Rs 900 again any other place it would cost 600 but this place is costly and the service was real good( ph no of travels I booked car from 0631 2229401…sagar 9334789774, sanjay 9934058711, pappu 9304022177 are the owners of MAA mangala travels..u can bargain…we set off at 6 am to see bodh gaya which is the place of enlightenment of Buddha. The place is very serene. Did sit under the tree where Buddha was enlightened. Picked up a leaf from the pipul tree too…hope to be enlightened someday…there are seven places listed in the veg restraint link above of importance within the temple..took a guide for Rs 50 from near the entrance..he was good…we could visit the cave where Buddha sat in and meditated which is in a hill far away..it had rained and the road that leads is a slushy trail…so as per advice I dropped it as we cld get stuck in the middle…we went to brahamayoni hills..i climbed the 400 odd steps which are quite steep..the height is twice that of a regular step…there are two small rock caves through which you can just pass your body and come out through the other side if u do so all ur sins are gone…then you can visit the temple on top and have a wonderful view of the entire gaya town…then we went to mangala gouri temple which is a sakthi peet offered our prayers..went to vishnupada temple this is the main temple where we offer poojas to all our ancestors( I did not offer as it is the right of my father and as a son who has his father alive I am not to ofeer this pooja)….had a bath at falgu river…placed tulsi ont he pada(foot) of Vishnu and then offered bilva leaves to Shiva nearby..saw lot of people offering pandas to their ancestors..there are many priests who can do this for you… and the ramshila (near by) and pretshila hill (quite far away)..didnt climb this hill…

In all I could cover nearly all places in gaya and bodh gaya from 7 am to 1 pm and then dropped myself off at station to proceed to patna by an ac chair car train and after a brief visit of patna(previously pataliputra) set off by train to kolkatta… for flight back to Chennai…


How to reach

Nearest Airport – Kolkata

Nearest Rail Head/ Railway Station – Howrah Junction.,Gaya.



Road Access:

Preferred travel base: Kolkata

STD Code of Gaya and Bodh Gaya -0631


Railway Station code for Howrah – HWH, Gaya –GAYA, Varanasi -BSB



For Internet/ Mobile Railway ticket Booking in India use

www.irctc.co.in

For Travel by Private bus to and fro to any major town in Tamilnadu and some interstate destinations use the links below for bus booking through internet.

http://parveentravels.com/E-ticketing/index.php


http://kpntravels.in/ou/frmuserhome.aspx

For Travel by Private bus to and fro to any major town in India and some interstate destinations use the links below for bus booking through internet.

http://www.redbus.in/

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Gaya,Bodh Gaya,temple,vishnupada

Trip to Varanasi Kasi Kashi Viswanath Visvanath BenarasTemple:

Click on above image to magnify it and use full bright screen wile viewing to see all details clearly..


Trip to Varanasi Kasi Kashi Viswanath Visvanath BenarasTemple:


You can write to me on templeashok@yahoo.co.in for any clarifications /doubts..i shall try my best to be of use to u so that u have a good dharshan..you can also write to me on the mail id above for adding anything more to make it more useful and informative every small info will help as it has probably helped you so please write in..…

About General Place: Varanasi

http://www.vegetarian-restaurants.net/India-Guide/IndianStates/Uttar-Pradesh/Varanasi.htm

http://www.varanasicity.com/temples/index.html

http://wikitravel.org/en/Varanasi

Hotels:

I stayed at Sahi Guest house in Assi ghat. The ac room was Rs.700 This does not have a balcony overlooking the river ganges. Ones with balcony are Rs.900. They also have an off season discount. The rooms are good.
05422366730,2311244

9415818171(if u r unable to call or reach the above board no call this no as it is the owner Mr.Sahi’s no ..an affable old man )

For those who want real posh stay, Hotel Palace on Ganges is there nearly next door to the above guest house. The cost would be Rs 2000 +


Ph No pf Palace on Ganges: 0542-2315050,2314304,2314305, fax 2314306,22044898 email: palace onganges@indiatimes.com

All the above guest houses send their taxi’s at a cost to pick you up from airport or train station.(rough cost rs.100) I would advice you to use this service as other wise the drivers will say things like the hotel is full and take you elsewhere. I was picked up by Mr.Ravi of ravi tours and travel. 9839143069,9839077242,9236165661, 0542 2277933 email ravi_arora54@yahoo.com. I found their service excellent. They also take you around andshow you around kasi. You can ask them for whatever help you want. Generally early morning boat sailing on ganges viewing the ghats and visiting Benaras Hindu University(must see) with some temple is one package, Aarthi of river ganges at night and the view of it from a boat and trip to sarnath are the major travel tours. All these can cost around 1000 but worth it. Car is comfortable. I would strongly recomment using this travels as they are very responsible and nice.

For budget type stay very near the above Sahi guest house/palace on ganges a Udipi house is there. I also stayed here on one of my trips. The cost would be Rs 200. The rooms have attached bath and are pretty good. The manager’s name is Mr.Jayaprakash. Ph no is 0542 2310260. Mobile is 9838615375.

for guideing u in the viswanath temple and showing around the temple you can take the help of Sudharshan Pandey 9305287242(cell). I paid Rs.200 you can probably talk for rs 100. In many palces inside the temple various people will ask for money it is best to give Rs 10 at each of the places or jus keep moving.



Details about the temple through links:

Official website: www.shrikashivishwanath.org


http://templenet.com/Ganga/varanasi.html


http://members.tripod.com/~ngaur/temple.html


Temple Phone Number:

Std Code-0542 Phone Number :


How I went:

One of the major reasons one visits Kashi or Kasi or Varanasi is to offer poojas to our fore fathers on the shores of Ganges.

I was recommended Mr.Subramaniyam for it. He can organize for any caste as he know north and south Indian style. I found him to be good. His contact phone numbers are 0542-2311268, 2275890. His house is in 4/59 Hanuman Ghat very near Shankar Mutt. Many a times his wife will answer the phone as he may be doing pooja. She is very efficient and you can generally get your doubts clarified from her.

You can refer my name as Ashok from Chennai.


There is one more person who you can contact when you want to do in major scale poojas to forefathers. I think if you are there and perform the charges would be rs 4000 with every need taken care of apart from just ur presence.

V.Ramasesha sastrigal
B5/311 Oudhgarbhi(Hanuman Ghat)

email: rshiv_kumar@rediffmail.com

0542 -2310134,33 fax 2275173, cell:9335333137

I approached them to send with me someone who would guide me in taking bath in ganges and then visiting the temple. I cannot do pooja to forefathers as my father is still alive and only he can do it.

Mr.Subramanyam sent a guide Mahendra who is a priest working for him.

There are 64 major ghats or entances with steps on river ganges one after the other if you go by boat starting with Aassi Ghat ant finally Varuna ghat and hence the name varuna + assi Varanasi. 5 ghats are very important to take bath to remove your sins. Refer general link on varanasi given above.

First I took bath in all 5 (pancha) theerth in boat (cost rs 200 to 400) depends on your bargaining power. I paid Rs 400. You start with Assi Ghat(also called tulsi ghat) then go to kedar ghat and then to dasaswemedh ghat and then panch ganga and finally take bath in manikarnika ghat. You can go to each of this in the boat alight and have a dip and proceed to the next ghat.

You can contact Babulal 9305020634(he also speaks tamil) for the boatride or call the above mentioned ravi travels for the same. You can refer my name ashok from Chennai.



The speciality of river ganges in varanasi is that it flows north a direction in whichshiva is worshiped.

Finally after the bath I changed to new clothes an then visited Dondi Vinayak (always pray to ganesh first and seek his blessings))Viswanath temple, Annapoorni, Lord Saturn, Visalakshi and then came out and headed to see Sakshi Vinayak and then had simple road side food(cery good) at Ashok hotel in sonarpura. From there I went to the room, Changed clothes and left for sarnath about 10 km away. This is a sacred place of Buddha.


By 6.30 was back to go to the boat arranged by ravi travels above for seeing the aarthi of river ganges a must see and then headed to station to leave for Gaya



How to reach

Nearest Airport – Varanasi

Nearest Rail Head/ Railway Station – Varanasi Junction.(Station Code BSB), If commuting from Kolkata HWH is the station Code, from Patna it is PNBE and from Gaya it is GAYA

Preferred travel base:

STD Code of Varanasi -0542


For Internet/ Mobile Railway ticket Booking in India use

http://www.irctc.co.in/


For Travel by Private bus to and fro to any major town in India and some interstate destinations use the links below for bus booking through internet.

http://www.redbus.in/

blog, dharshan, India, pilgrimage, plan, sight seeing, south india, temple, temple visit, temples, temples near, tour, travel, visit, visiting temples,trip, kumbakonam, kumbakkonam, Divyadesam,Divya Desam,Nava, hotels,lodges,arupadaiveedu, aru padai veedu, aalayam, alayam, worship, paadal petra sthalam, kovil,koil, heritage, hindu
blog, dharshan, India, pilgrimage, plan, sight seeing, south india, temple, temple visit, temples, temples near, tour, travel, visit, visiting temples,trip, kumbakonam, kumbakkonam, Divyadesam,Divya Desam,Nava, hotels,lodges,arupadaiveedu, aru padai veedu, aalayam, alayam, worship, paadal petra sthalam, heritage, hindu

Varanasi,Kasi,Kashi,Viswanath,Visvanath,Benaras,Temple

Trip to Kalighat and Dakshineswar Kali, Kolkata

Trip to Kalighat and Dakshineswar Kali, Kolkata


You can write to me on templeashok@yahoo.co.in for any clarifications /doubts..i shall try my best to be of use to u so that u have a good dharshan..you can also write to me on the mail id above for adding anything more to make it more useful and informative every small info will help as it has probably helped you so please write in..…

About General Place: Kolkata

http://www.wbtourism.com/



http://heerainn.com/kolkata.html

033- 2291642, 65203889
You can also call asif ali on 9433361574


Hotels:

www.heerainn.com - this is off apc road near mallika bazaar.

the tariff is about 1200 per day they also have a higher range hotel at rs.1800 called heera international…also there are many budget hotels in sudder street.







Details about the temple through links:

KALIGHAT TEMPLE:

http://kalighat.jagaddhatri.com/index.htm



DAKSHINESWAR TEMPLE:


http://www.dakshineswar.com/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dakshineswar_Kali_Temple

http://www.makalipuja.com/dakshineswar.html

Temple Phone Number:

Std Code-033 Phone Number :


How I went:

I reached Kalighat by taxi (runs by meter)…it was about Rs.60 from Park Street. I took the help of a Panda (pundit) to guide me( it need not be done)..I would advise you to go straight with some 108 hibiscus mala costing Rs.6 and ask for the line that goes inside the garba graham(inner sanctorum)..a wait of ½ hour will take you inside..if u want a good dharshan avoid Tuesdays, Saturdays…you may do well to pay the priest inside Rs.10 ..normally they allow you to touch her feet and there is water running down her to keep her cool..they may give a little water from trikle on her….there is a shivva temple and another temple where you may do a pooja at Rs 5 with materials they give.

From here I left for Dakshineswar which is quite far away. It cost me Rs.200 by taxi. You can have a bath in river ganges, collect wate from ganges and pour on 12 shiv lingas that are there and offer prayer then proceed to worship kali..they sell some sweets and flower to offer her right outside the temple..you can buy that and offer her..From here getting a txi back was an ordeal…taxi stand guys are idling away and don’t want to come..so you can take a share auto to a place nearby and then take a taxi….






How to reach

Nearest Airport – Kolkata

Nearest Rail Head/ Railway Station – Howrah Junction. Rockfort Express (Train No 6177) goes straight from Chennai. It is an overnight journey. Otherwise you can go to trichy and take a bus from there which would take about 2 hours to reach Thanjavur.

Road Access:

Preferred travel base: Kolkata

STD Code of Kolkatta -033

Railway Station code for Howrah – HWH and for Chennai MAS

For Internet/ Mobile Railway ticket Booking in India use

http://www.irctc.co.in/


Link for Bus travel:

http://www.redbus.in/

blog, dharshan, India, pilgrimage, plan, sight seeing, south india, temple, temple visit, temples, temples near, tour, travel, visit, visiting temples,trip, kumbakonam, kumbakkonam, Divyadesam,Divya Desam,Nava, hotels,lodges,arupadaiveedu, aru padai veedu, aalayam, alayam, worship, paadal petra sthalam, kovil,koil, heritage, hindu
blog, dharshan, India, pilgrimage, plan, sight seeing, south india, temple, temple visit, temples, temples near, tour, travel, visit, visiting temples,trip, kumbakonam, kumbakkonam, Divyadesam,Divya Desam,Nava, hotels,lodges,arupadaiveedu, aru padai veedu, aalayam, alayam, worship, paadal petra sthalam, heritage, hindu

kalighat, Dakshineswar.