Mahabodhi Temple-Bodhi Tree-Tibetan Monastery-Wheel of Law-Museum Bodhgaya has a very pleasant pilgrim circuit, best begun early in the morning when there are no crowds, no heat or noise. Arrive at the large,   enclosed Mahabodhi Temple around 8 am, when ...

This is where Buddhism, one of the great religions of the world, was born. To this small secluded spot on the banks of the Niranjana came Siddhartha, the royal prince of Kapilavastu ( after nine long years of searchin8 for ...

At the new Ajatsatru Hotel (tel 22514) in Station Rd, just across from the rail station, basic but clean rooms are from Rs100. Just right out of the station is Pal Rest House, run by friendly Sikhs, with cheap but ...

Vishnupad Temple-Surya Temple-Brahmajuni Hill-Akshyabat This walk is best tackled in the morning when it is not so hot, dusty and crowded. Starting at the rail station, turn right for the centre of the old town. Ten minutes’ walk brings you ...

Originally part of the ancient kingdom of Magadha, Gaya has long been a major pilgrimage centre—as sacred to the Hindus as Bodhgaya is to the Buddhists. According to legend, Gaya was a celestial being whom Vishnu endowed with the power ...

Up till quite recently, superior accommodation in Bhubaneshwar was very limited. Now that Orissa is waking up to tourism, however, three five-star hotel groups have booked plots at Nayapalli, to the north-west of town. These are the Oberoi, opened November ...

Puri is one of the four holiest Hindu cities in India, also an upcoming beach resort. It’s a remarkable place, packed with atmosphere and pilgrims, which comes as close to ‘real’ India as you can expect. The religious and cultural ...

Khandagiri and Udayagiri Caves-Nandankanan Park-Dhauli-State Museum The OTDC conducted tour covers the above spots plus the old town temples in any order,  depending on the mood of the driver. If you’ve already seen the temples, suggest that they’re made the ...

Bhubaneshwar new town, with its hotels, shops, restaurants and bus-station, lies to the north of the central railway line; the old temple town lies to the south. To tour the temples, hire a cycle-rickshaw from outside Panthaniwas  Tourist Bungalow. Either ...

Capital of Orissa, Bhubaneshwar is popularly known as the ‘Temple City of India’. At one time, some 7000 sandstone temples are supposed to have stood on the site of the sacred Bindusagar Lake alone. Today almost 500 remain. Most of ...