| Bodh-Gaya to Delhi |
As Bodh-Gaya is not on a railway line we had to get to Gaya to take the train to Delhi. We
decided to go to Gaya a day before our train departure to spend a day in that town.
decided to go to Gaya a day before our train departure to spend a day in that town.
We took a motorickshaw-taxi the six miles (10km) to Gaya about noon and walked to the
Buddha Hotel located on a side-street very near the railway station. At the hotel we
arranged to immediately get our room with bath for 350 rupees (US$8), occupying the room
until 9:00pm the following day. The hotel was quite bad, but considering the good location,
the low price, and for only one night, we checked in. Our room was three flights up,
beetle-juice stains were on the stairway walls, missing light bulbs, and other signs of poor
maintenance. We would not recommend this hotel.
Buddha Hotel located on a side-street very near the railway station. At the hotel we
arranged to immediately get our room with bath for 350 rupees (US$8), occupying the room
until 9:00pm the following day. The hotel was quite bad, but considering the good location,
the low price, and for only one night, we checked in. Our room was three flights up,
beetle-juice stains were on the stairway walls, missing light bulbs, and other signs of poor
maintenance. We would not recommend this hotel.
View from the terrace in front of our room
at the Buddha hotel, Gaya, India.
at the Buddha hotel, Gaya, India.
A streetside fast food stand in Gaya, Note that to
drain the sink there is a hose leading to a hole in the
sidewalk. India is not known for its superior plumbing.
drain the sink there is a hose leading to a hole in the
sidewalk. India is not known for its superior plumbing.
We had a snack in a modern fast-food restaurant where a
young girl and her friends were having a birthday party
featuring the magician in the green jacket.
young girl and her friends were having a birthday party
featuring the magician in the green jacket.
Some of the birthday-girl's friends and their Sikh
fathers. Sikh men do not shave their beards or cut
their hair. On their head they wear a sort of skullcap
with a pocket for their bunched-up hair; over that they
usually wear a turban like the white-turbaned man
standing in the background. Sikhs are monotheistic,
generally well-educated, very well represented in
India's military and police forces (especially as
officers), but are less than 5% of country's population,
fathers. Sikh men do not shave their beards or cut
their hair. On their head they wear a sort of skullcap
with a pocket for their bunched-up hair; over that they
usually wear a turban like the white-turbaned man
standing in the background. Sikhs are monotheistic,
generally well-educated, very well represented in
India's military and police forces (especially as
officers), but are less than 5% of country's population,
The scene to the left is fairly typical of the
restaurants where we had our meals in Gaya and
elsewhere in India. The food is cooked in the large
pots at the window facing the street. We have found
that meals generally are better in crowded low-to-
medium priced restaurants than in semi-empty
luxurious-looking restaurants.
restaurants where we had our meals in Gaya and
elsewhere in India. The food is cooked in the large
pots at the window facing the street. We have found
that meals generally are better in crowded low-to-
medium priced restaurants than in semi-empty
luxurious-looking restaurants.
Gaya is primarily a transit and distribution town, not a popular destination for tourists or
pilgrims. We had interesting walks around town, some good meals, but nothing much to write
home about (or to write in this journal).
pilgrims. We had interesting walks around town, some good meals, but nothing much to write
home about (or to write in this journal).
At 9:53pm on 5Feb2005 we took the No. 2301 Cal Rajdani Express, arriving in New Delhi
the following morning at 9:50am. Our total cost (after our 30% senior discount) was 1120
rupees (US$25) for our two Class 3A lower berths. It was a pleasant journey sleeping our
way from Gaya to Delhi.
the following morning at 9:50am. Our total cost (after our 30% senior discount) was 1120
rupees (US$25) for our two Class 3A lower berths. It was a pleasant journey sleeping our
way from Gaya to Delhi.