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Tourist Places to Visit in Bodhgaya, Gaya, Bihar, India

Tourist Places to Visit in Bodhgaya, Gaya, Bihar, India

Bodhgaya is located in Gaya district in the Indian state of Bihar which is famous for Buddhist monasteries and pilgrimage center. Bodhgaya is known for the place where Gautam Buddha attained enlightment. Bodhgaya is one of the four important pilgrimage spots for Buddhists after Kushinagar, Lumbini and Sarnath. The Mahabodhi temple located at Bodhgaya is a World Heritage Site which is preserved and maintained by UNESCO. The literacy rate of Bodhgaya is 51% and Magahi, Hindi are the main languages spoken by the locals living in Bodhgaya. Bodhgaya coordinates with 24.69’51” degree North Latitude and 84.99’12” degree East Longitude.

History of Bodhgaya:

In the year 500 B.C. Prince Gautam was wandering as an ascetic and reached the banks of river Phalgu, in the vicinity of Gaya. The Prince sat for meditation for 3 days under Bodhi tree where he attained divine enlightment. Later on after 7 weeks, he travelled to Sarnath where he began to preach Buddhism. As Gautham Buddha attained enlightment in month of April-May, even today the day is celebrated as Buddha Purnima around the world.

Tourist places in and near Bodhgaya:

Mahabodhi Temple:

This temple is about 110 kms from city of Patna which has the Mahabodhi temple accompanied by a diamond throne and the holy Bodhi tree. It is said that after attaining enlightment, Emperor Ashoka visited the place. The pilgrims have to take double steps that lead to the platform of the sanatorium. It is a major tourist place in Bodhgaya.

Bodhi Tree:

Bodhi tree is the tree where lord Buddha said to have attained divine enlightment after weeks of severe meditation. Even today many Buddhist teachings are taught to the students sitting under Bodhi tree.

Buddha Statue:

The statue of Buddha measuring 80 feet in height is one of the major tourist attractions in Bodhgaya and also known to be one of the tallest statues of Buddha in India. The idol shows Buddha resting on a giant lotus and is built using sandstone and red granite.

Chinese Temple:

Chinese temples are situated in the vicinity of Bodhi temple complex which displays Chinese artwork and workmanship.
The temple has a statue of Lord Buddha which is said to be 200 years old and attracts many travelers from all over the world.

Royal Bhutan Monastery:

This is one of the largest Buddhist monasteries located in Bodhgaya built by king of Bhutan as a tribute to Lord Buddha. The monastery displays many depictions and carvings of lord Buddha which attracts millions of Buddhists across the world.

Indosan Nippon Japanese Temple:

The temple is about 15 kms from Bodhgaya, which shows preachings, carvings and sculptures of Japanese architecture. The temple is carved out of wood and draws huge tourists all round the year.

Thai Monastery:

The monastery is made up off curved and sloping roof with tiles made out of gold. The temple interiors and exteriors are relatively appealing and eye catching. The temple has a beautifully carved statue of Buddha made of bronze which draws many tourists from far and wide.

Cankamana:

This is one of the holy shrines located in Bodhgaya featuring different articles which were purified by Lord Buddha during the third week of enlightment. Many pilgrims and tourists visit the spot throughout the year.

Burmese Vihara:

Burmese Vihara located on Gaya road is renowned for study center which are visited by many students and scholars to acquire knowledge, wisdom and skill. The Burmese Vihara has a well laid garden and library that has good collection of spiritual and religious books.

Muchalinda Lake:

The lake is one of the major tourist attraction site in Bodhgaya which has a statue of lord Buddha at the center of the lake. Here one can find Buddha meditating on a snakes coil which attracts many Buddhist devotees and pilgrims throughout the year.

Dungeswari Hills:

Dungeswari Hills is located at 15 kms from Bodhgaya that is famous for scenic beauty, holy shrines and stupas surrounding the cave. It is this place where Buddha sacrificed his luxurious way of living and adopted the life of suffering and misery.

Archeological Survey of India Museum:

The museum displays many inscriptions, artifacts, antiques, manuscripts, paintings and teachings of lord Buddha which is a popular tourist place in Bodhgaya.

Connectivity to Bodhgaya in Bihar:

Bodhgaya is adequately well connected by road, rail and air means of transport. Regular bus services are available from Patna and Gaya to Bodhgaya. National Highway 83 connects Bodhgaya with Gaya. Regular train services are also available from Patna and Kolkata to Bodhgaya at regular point of time. Bodhgaya is also connected by airways as many domestic flights operate from Bodhgaya to different destinations which are approx 7 kms from Bodhgaya.

Hotels in Bodhgaya:

Bodhgaya being one of the popular tourist destinations in Bihar has good hotels and guest houses to accommodate tourists coming to this place all round the year. The hotel rates vary from Rs. 600 onwards for ordinary ones and goes up to Rs. 5000 for ultra luxury ones. Besides the hotels also offer various services like breakfast, lunch, doctors on call, help desk centers, booking counters, laundry facilities, airport pickup and drop etc. List of hotels located in Bodhgaya are:

Heritage Hotel
Gopal Tourist Service
Hotel Siddhartha International
Hotel Uruvela International
Hotel Embassy
Sambodhi Retreat
The Royal Residency Hotel
Taj Darbar Hotel
Hotel Sujata
Hotel Lumbini International
Hotel Delta International
Thai International Hotel
Lotus Nikko Hotel
Hotel Vishal International

Best Tourist Places to Visit in Bishnupur, Bankura, West Bengal, India

Best Tourist Places to Visit in Bishnupur, Bankura, West Bengal, India

Bishnupur is located in Bankura district in the Indian state of West Bengal which is famous for terracotta temples and Balucheri Sarees. Bishnupur is the Lok Sabha as well as the Vidhana Sabha Constituency. The literacy rate in Bishnupur is 69% and Bengali and Hindi being the most widely spoken languages of the people living in Bishnupur. Bishnupur lies at an elevation of 194 feet above sea level and coordinates with 23.08’ degree North Latitude and 87.32’ degree East Longitude.

History of Bishnupur:

Bishnupur was ruled by Gupta rulers who were ruling this place for quite some time. The place was also known as Mallabhum as it was ruled by Malla kings who built many renowned terracotta temples during 18^th century. The temples located in Bishnupur show a fine example of Bengal architecture and style.

Places to look around in and near Bishnupur:

Bishnupur is well renowned for some of the finest terracotta temples that is famous for its workmanship and craftsmanship. The temples are built using laterite and brick and are covered with terracotta tiles illustrating scenes from Ramayana and Mahabharata. Some of the major temples that attract tourists are:

Dalmadal Kaman Temple
Lalgarh
Lalbandh
Acharya Jogeshchandra Museum
Gumgarh
Pathar Darwaja
Garh Darwaja
Stone Chariot
Nutan Mahal
Birthplace of Shrinibas Acharya
Jor Mandir
Radhamadhab Temple
Kalachand Temple
Madan Mohan Temple
Shyam Ray Temple

Kolkata:

Kolkata is about 132 kms from Bishnupur famous for palaces, lakes, historical monuments, shopping and Durga Puja.

What Bishnupur is famous for?

Bishnupur is famous for terracotta products and many products like pottery, jewels and artifacts are made out of terracotta. One can find terracotta jars, bowels, jugs, elephants, horses and idols of lord Ganesha and Nataraja made out of terracotta. Bishnupur is also famous for Baluchari sarees, embroidery works, zari works and conch shells made out of terracotta.

Bishnupur is known for festivals and fairs where many residents come together to celebrate important occasions like Durga Puja, Kali Puja and Diwali which are celebrated in grand scale. Bishnupur also organizes a snake festival in August and Ultorath fair in December.

Best Season to visit Bishnupur:

Bishnupur can be visited all round the year as many festivals and occasions take place in this region. One can visit Bishnupur during January where the place is famous for Makarashankranti. One can visit Bishnupur in April which sees Bengali New Year celebrated with much pomp and show. During time of Navratris, Bishnupur is flooded with devotees who largely participate in Durga Puja, Kali Puja.

How to reach Bishnupur in West Bengal?

Bishnupur is well connected by road and rail modes of transport. Many local town and interstate buses operate from Bishnupur to Kolkata at regular intervals. Kolkata is about 132 kms from Bishnupur and long distance buses are available from Bishnupur to Kolkata, Asansol and Durgapur at regular intervals. Bishnupur is also linked by rail network as many passenger and express trains ply between Kolkata and Bishnupur on regular basis. Presently the nearest airport is Kolkata Airport which is about 140 kms away from Bishnupur. A new airport is being planned at Andal about 90 kms from Bishnupur and is expected to be completed in two years time.

Hotels in Bishnupur:

There are several good hotels available in Bishnupur ranging from budgeted class to ultra luxury ones in the vicinity of Bishnupur. The hotels provide good staying facilities and tariffs range from Rs. 500 onwards and go up to Rs. 4000 for ultra deluxe hotels. List of hotels located in and near Bishnupur are:

Hotel VIP International
Host International Hotel
Kingston Boutique Hotel
North Star Hotel
Hotel Red Rose
Hotel Priya
Hotel Tourists Center
Biswas Group of Hotels
Hotel Kamal
Hotel Shanti
Ghosh Hotel
Sanjoy Holiday Home
Hotel New White Palace
The Sonnet

Beautiful Tourist Places to Visit in Bir, Kangra, Himachal Pradesh, India

Beautiful Tourist Places to Visit in Bir, Kangra, Himachal Pradesh, India

Bir is a village located in Kangra district in Himachal Pradesh known for Buddhist monasteries, paragliding and stupas. Bir lies at an elevation of 5003 feet above sea level and Hindi and Haryanvi being the principal spoken languages of the people in Bir. Bir is also called as “ Paragliding Capital of India”. Bir coordinates with 32.03’ degree North Latitude and 76.42’ degree East Longitude with Pin Code being 176077.

Prominent attractions in and near Bir:

The Deer Park Institute:

The Institute was opened in the year 2006 under able guidance of Dalai Lama that hosts and conducts many lectures and workshops for scholars and teachers. It is one of the popular tourist place in Bir.

Dharmalaya Institute:

The Institute offers service learning, offers courses in Karma Yoga, meditation and pranic healing where many tourists come voluntarily and join for these camps and courses.

Bir Tea Factory:

The tourists are taken around the tea estates where they can have the actual look around of the tea cultivation and the various stages of processing of tea. A local guide assists the tourists in taking them around the tea plantations.

Sherab Ling Monastery:

The monastery is about 60 minute walk from Chowgan which has many Buddhist carvings, paintings and teaches Buddhism. Many tourists visit the monastery to gain general knowledge.

Paragliding:

Bir is well known for paragliding, trekking, camping and hand gliding. The place provides training for young pilots who come here from all parts of the world to receive training with regard to paragliding and hand gliding.

Chokling Gompa:

This monastery is located in Bir and is dedicated to Neten Chokling Rinpoche a reincarnation of Lama and is a major tourist destination in this part of the world.

Dharamsala:

Dharamsala is about 50 kms from Bir famous for temples, mountains, trekking, monasteries, gardens and lakes

When to visit Bir?

Bir can be visited all round the year as the weather remains cool and pleasant. But the most ideal time to visit Bir would be during months of October to March where the place is known for conducting training sessions on para gliding and hand gliding.

Connectivity to Bir in Himachal Pradesh:

Bir is well connected by road and rail modes of transport. It is approx 50 kms from Dharamsala and 14 kms from Billing. National Highway 20 lies at near proximity from Bir and nearest railway station is Ahju Railway Station on narrow gauge running between Pathankot and Jogindernagar.

Hotels in Bir:

The Department of Tourism of Himachal Pradesh have built many tourist houses, resorts, hotels and lodges to accommodate the tourists and visitors who keep visiting the place from time to time. One can find accommodation as per their needs, requirements and budget as hotels range from single star to five star in Bir. Hotels having single room accommodation charge around Rs. 500 to 700 per day where as hotels having double room accommodation with latest LCD monitors, room coolers, heaters, Jacuzzis charge anywhere between Rs. 4000 to Rs. 6000 per day. Besides the hotels also provide breakfast, serve lunch and dinner and have bar and pub attached. Apart from providing various cuisines and dishes for the tourists, the hotels also show hospitality towards the tourists like they undertake travel booking, ticket bookings, setup help desks, 24 hrs enquiry desks, airport and railway station pickup and drop, laundry services, doctors on call and host of many other services. List of hotels located in Bir are:

Hotel Pong View
Hotel Una Comfort Nandini
Snow Crest Inn Hotel
Hotel Sahiwa
Wonder World Resort
Manu Vinod Hotel
Blossoms Village Resort
Hotel Victoria Palace
Hotel Aveda
Asia Health Resorts
Anand Palace Hotel
Center Point Hotel
Asian Plaza
Hotel Welcome Heritage Grace
DEV Cottage Hotel

Bilaspur Tourist Places in Bilaspur, Chattisgarh, India

Bilaspur Tourist Places in Bilaspur, Chattisgarh, India

Bilaspur is located in Chattisgarh district and is the 2^nd largest city after Raipur covering a total area of 345.76 sq kms and lying at an elevation of 860 feet above sea level. Bilaspur is approx 111 kms from state capital Raipur and is famous for doobraj rice, samosa, mango, silk saris, handlooms etc. Bilaspur coordinates with 22.09’ degree North Latitude and 82.15’ degree East Longitude with Pin Code being 495001.

Meaning & History of Bilaspur:

It is believed that Bilaspur got its name from fisher folk women by name “Bilasa” in the 17^th century. Initially Bilaspur was a part of Kalchuri dynasty of Ratanpur, but actually the city got strategic prominence in the year 1741 when Maratha Empire started building a fort in this city. The British took the management of the city in the year 1818 and administered the city until India got independence in the year 1947.

Tourist attractions in and around Bilaspur:

Achanakmar Wildlife Sanctuary:

This wildlife sanctuary is about 55 kms from Bilaspur famous for many endangered species of wild animals, reptiles and many species of migratory birds. The sanctuary is spread across 551 sq kms and was established in the year 1975 and is maintained by Department of Forest of Chattisgarh. The sanctuary is home to Indian Bison, leopard, cheetah, panther, sloth bear, stripped hyena, sambar deer, nilgai and chinkara.

Vivekananda Udyan:

This park is located in the heart of the city which is named after Swamy Vivekananda who was a social and religious leader. The park has been planted with many saplings of trees and has joy rides for the kid.

Kaanan Pindary Zoo:

Kaanan Pindary Zoo is located about 8 kms from Bilaspur which houses many domestic animals, wild animals, reptiles, mammals and birds in cages to the public to have a close view.

Ramkrishna Ashram:

The Ashram is about 5 kms from Bilaspur which is built in loving memory of saint Ramakrishna. The Ashram has a meditation hall and a library which has good collection of books ranging from spiritual to philosophy.

Khutaghat:

Khutaghat is about 55 kms from Bilaspur famous for dam and a reservoir. There is a resort located adjacent to the dam that provides a magnificent view of the blue waters and is a important tourist spot near Bilaspur.

Radhika Water Park:

Radhika Water Park is one of the amusement parks located near Bilaspur that has many fun filled land rides as well as water rides. Many tourists visit the water park all round the year.

Other places of attractions include:

Tala- 20 kms known for temple of Rudra Shiva.
Pali- known for temple of lord Shiva.
Janjigir known for temple of lord Vishnu.
Kharod is known for temple of Lakmaneshwar.
Singhpur is known for pre-historic paintings.
Ratanpur is known for temple of Mahamaya.
Rani Sati Temple

Food & Culture in Bilaspur:

Bilaspur is very rich in food and culture as many festivals are jointly celebrated by the people irrespective of caste, creed, religion, sect and sex. Bilaspur is famous for doobraj rice, samosa, mango and other Indian cuisines and dishes.

When to visit Bilaspur?

Though one can visit the city at any point of time, the best time to visit Bilaspur will be during months of October to March as the place experiences winter due to which the temperatures will be low.

Connectivity to Bilaspur in Chattisgarh:

Bilaspur is well connected by road, rail and air means of transport. National Highway-111, National Highway 200 and State Highway 5 connect Bilaspur with rest of the city which makes this place quite easily accessible by road. Bilaspur is also a major railway junction in Chattisgarh where many long distance trains including Rajdhani and Shatabdi stop at Bilaspur Railway Station. Bilaspur is directly connected to Mumbai, Pune, Kolkata, Bhopal, Rourkela, Puri, Patna and Raipur by rail. The nearest airport is Raipur Airport which is about 115 kms from Bilaspur.

Hotels in Bilaspur:

Being a significant tourist destination, Bilaspur has good hotels providing fantastic accommodation facilities for the tourists visiting the city. Hotels range from 1 star category to 5 star category with luxurious amenities and facilities. The rates of hotel vary from Rs. 600 onwards for single bed accommodation and goes up to Rs. 4000 for most luxury ones. The hotels also undertake other services like setting up travel desks, counter bookings, reservations, airport pickup and drop, broadband services with Wi-Fi attached laundry services etc. List of hotels located in Bilaspur are: