Gaya

Gaya is one of Bihar’s most ancient sacred towns, growing on the banks of the Phalgu River and long known as a major centre for Hindu rites for ancestors. Its core religious identity is anchored in the Vishnupad Temple, a shrine dedicated to Vishnu and famed for a sacred footprint (Dharmashila) associated in local tradition with Vishnu subduing the demon Gayasura—an origin-story that also explains the name “Gaya.” Over centuries, the town became closely linked with śrāddha and pind-daan rituals, drawing pilgrims from across India, especially during the Pitru Paksha period, and sustaining a long-standing community of traditional priests.

The present Vishnupad Temple structure was rebuilt in 1787 by Queen Ahilyabai Holkar, reflecting Gaya’s continued prominence in the early modern period. Gaya’s wider historical landscape also connects to Buddhism through nearby Bodh Gaya (about 16 km away), where the Mahabodhi Temple Complex marks the Buddha’s enlightenment and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site (inscribed in 2002). Together, Gaya and Bodh Gaya form a rare pilgrimage corridor where living Hindu ritual tradition and one of Buddhism’s holiest sites stand side by side.