Showing 44 Thai Airways Flights from Gaya - Starting at Just ₹32,216

  About Gaya

Located in the state of Bihar is Gaya, popularly known as Bodh Gaya, for its spiritual significance. The city of Gaya is a popular pilgrimage in the state and attracts Hindus and Buddhists from around the world.

One of the key reasons behind Hindus visiting the Gaya is to make funeral offerings to give the deceased's soul solace. Known as Pind Daan, the puja is only performed here in Gaya and is said to have strong religious values. The Pind Daan puja is conducted by the family of the deceased to bring their ancestor's souls to peace. The rituals are said to help the ancestors and their wandering souls find some peace and harmony in the nether worlds, after death. To perform this puja, people come from around the world as the beliefs are strong.

Hills surround the city of Gaya as the Himalayan range continues to sprawl across the expanses of Bihar as well. The Vishnupad temple, located at the heart of the Gaya city, holds tremendous religious significance. It is believed that the temple was originally built by Maratha princess Ahliyabai, back in the 18th century. Much like the city, even the hills that surround Gaya are known to be sacred and places of sanctity. The temple city has important shrines located in different directions from the centre of the city.

Gaya is also of spiritual significance to Buddhists as it is believed that Gautama Buddha attained Enlightenment in this small town of Bihar. Bodhgaya has a vast expanse of Buddhist temple constructed with various spiritual significance. The city of Gaya holds importance for the Hindus and Buddhists for two impactful incidences are related to the place.

With the demand the city of Gaya has, the flight connectivity for domestic routes as well as international routes is quite high. There are numerous flights available from within the country and international destinations. The spiritual haven attracts Buddhists and Hindus every year to perform prayers and seek blessings. Ensure to book hotels well in advance during peak season as you might have trouble finding accommodation.

Best time to visit Gaya

Pitrapaksh month, also known as the period of ancestors in Hinduism, is considered to be the ideal time to visit Gaya. During this time, pilgrim activities are performed by families to help the souls of their ancestors to attain salvation. The Pitripaksh month falls in the monsoon season. The months September and October are observed as Pithru months, and during this season, various pilgrims arrive to seek blessings and help their ancestors. Another favoured month is during Buddha Purnima, which falls in the summer months of April-May. Buddhist monks and followers arrive at the Gaya to observe the teachings of Gautama Buddha and to seek his blessings. In terms of weather, Bodhgaya sees a spike in temperatures during summer, especially May. However, since the month is observed as Buddha Purnima, tourists don't mind the excess heat.

Places to see in Gaya

Mahabodhi Temple complex

South from the Brahmayoni hill is the temple of Bodh Gaya. The site is said to be a pilgrimage to the Buddhists and has the Mahabodhi Temple Complex. The site is often visited by His Holiness the Dalai Lama as it is the land where their guru, Gautama Buddha, attained Enlightenment. Not just Buddhists but even Hindus flock over to the temple complex as it has a calm and serene vibe that helps people find peace. Buddhists, as well as Hindus, venerate Bodh Gaya.

Vishnupad Temple

The ancient Hindu temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu and is located beautifully along the banks of the Falgu river. Legend states that Lord Vishnu observed Gaya as the place of attainment of salvation for wandering souls. Whoever wishes to seek moksham on behalf of them and their ancestors, should make Pind Daan and perform some rituals for the same.

Kushinagar

Kushinagar is believed to be a civilisation built by Lord Rama's son King Kush with Kushvati as the capital. Although many Hindus believe that the pilgrimage town is the capital of the Kosala Kingdom, which was led by King Kush, the Buddhists think otherwise. According to their traditional beliefs, Kushvati was a name given to the land even before the Ramayana happened. In this village, you will find some important structures that are pivotal to Buddhism.

Some of the incredibly beautiful structures in Kushinagar involve the Parinirvana Stupa, Nirvana Chaitya, Ramabhar Stupa and Matha Kuar Shrine. The entire complex is actually believed to be the shrine of Gautama Buddha after he attained Enlightenment. The Parinirvana Stupa is a fancy structure that represents the 'dying Buddha' as the statue is in a reclining position. The statue is placed on top of a large brick with pedestals. The temple is sacred and pious and what drives Buddhists to the city of Gaya.

The Matha Kuar Shrine is yet again a huge statue of Lord Buddha which has been carved out of one block, to represent the Buddha being seated under the Bodhi tree in a 'bhumi sparsh mudra'. Every attribute about these structures hold a deeper meaning and should be explored.

Bakraur

Bakraur or Bakrour is another village located closely towards the east of Bodh Gaya. It is believed that Sujata, residing in this village, offered Guatam Buddha milk and rice before he reached Enlightenment. A statue has been erected to honour Sujata for catering to the Buddha.

Deo Surya Mandir

The Hindu temple of Deo Surya Mandir is a shrine of the Sun God. Located in the small town of Deo, the temple is often decorated for Chhath Puja, and devotees who visit the temple during the same are blessed.

Things to do in Gaya

You can take this as an opportunity to trek up the Bragmayoni. The highest hill, called Brahmayoni, is at the height of 450 ft above the Gaya plains. It is said that on this very hill, Buddha preached the Adittapariyaya Sutta (fire sermon) to a thousand ascetics. Enlightened by Buddha's teachings, the former fire-worshipping monks accepted the new discourse set by him. The hill has spiritual relevance in Buddhism and is often visited by Buddhist monks and believers.

Food and Restaurants in Gaya

Even though the place is a spiritual haven for pilgrims, there are some quaint cafes and fusion food joints that cater to all kinds of travellers. While you are in Bodh Gaya, you can spend a day relishing the simple but sublime food provided by the temples. There are various restaurants close to the temples which have basic but soul-satisfying food. Other restaurants and cafes that you can explore in Bodhgaya are Be Happy cafe, Zera Coffee Company, Fusion Food Factory, Taj Darbar Restaurant, Gautam Lassi Corner, Rose Apple Cafe, Tirupathi South Cafe, Mohammed's restaurant and more. These places offer appetising food that isn't necessarily void of flavour. Plus, the ambience of the joints is also quite good and definitely memorable. You can also spend some time investing in street food as there are a plethora of options in that department.

How to reach Gaya (Transportation)

By Air

Gaya is a spiritual centre and hence is well-connected to domestic as well as international cities. The Gaya Airport has regular flight connectivity from Yangon, Delhi, Kolkata and Varanasi. While you can opt for these domestic routes to reach Gaya, for travellers from Mumbai, Chennai and other metropolitan cities in the West and South, Delhi and Kolkata are the best choices. As for tourists from abroad, there are international routes from Thailand, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Japan, Myanmar, Vietnam and many more countries, that are directly connected to the Bodhgaya airport. Travellers often go to Gaya for Pind Daan and hence, book flights in advance. Not to mention, the international crowd often heads to the city to seek Enlightenment at the Buddhist monastery.

The city does not have luxury stays as such. However, there are some decent hotels in Gaya that you can book ahead of your visit. Another alternative for travellers opting flight is to book flight tickets to Patna and transit from there. Often this domestic route is considered as it is easier to reach Patna from different parts of the country.

By Rail

Many trains from metropolitan cities such as Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Patna have regular trains passing through Bihar. You can book your tickets to Gaya and opt for the railway as an option. The connectivity within Gaya is also quite good as there are rickshaw and buses available. Taxi cabs and tuk-tuk rides are also prevalent, making the intercity travelling a tad bit easier. If you book your hotels in Gaya before travelling to the city, you will receive shuttle services from the accommodation.

By Road

The bus services to Gaya are aplenty from significant cities in Jharkhand Uttar Pradesh and more states. In fact, there are daily transport facilities from cities such as Patna, Hazaribag, Ranchi, Jamshedpur, Dhanbad, etc. You can book AC or non-AC buses that will take you to the city. The travel service providers ensure to offer services to Gaya for its spiritual significance and demand.

  About Thai Airways

Thai Airways International Public Co. Ltd., or popularly known as Thai Airways, is a national enterprise that caters as the national flag carrier airline of Thailand. The airlines came into existence in 1988 with its headquarters located in Vibhavadi Rangsit Road in Chatuchak District of Bangkok. The airline primarily operates from Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport. Thai Airways is also known to be a founding member of the Star Alliance. Along with Suvarnabhumi Airport in Thailand, Phuket International Airport is the second hub to the airline. Thai Airways operates flights to 84 destinations sprawled across 37 countries in the world. It has a fleet of 90 aircraft or more. A majority of Thai Airways' international routes are dominated by flights flying to South and Southwest Asia, East Asia and Europe. Thai Airways is recognised to be the first Asia-Pacific airline that serves flights to London Heathrow Airport. With respect to its Asia-Pacific origin, the carrier is also known to have the largest passenger operations in Europe.

Thai Airways is subordinated by the Ministry of Transport and is a public enterprise registered in The Securities Exchange of Thailand. The airline is also funded by the Ministry of Finance which holds a whopping share of more than 50 per cent. Thai Airways' major revenue comes from passenger and goods transportation. In fact, 95 per cent comes from the flight operations to connect passengers and cargo, while only 5 per cent is earned through other supporting means. Other supporting ventures include passenger services, in-flight services, flight administrator services, travelling support services, in-flight meals and other services, etc.

It is believed that Thai Airways' major financial woes started due to the actions of buying every type of aircraft that was being created and manufactured. Investing in an array of diverse aircraft came with its expenses such as that of training professionals to work around the different models and engines. Not to mention how the aircraft also demanded some high maintenance. All this resulted in some financial concerns. While the expansion plans continued, the airlines also commenced its very first direct and non-stop flight to New York from Bangkok in 2005. This became the non-stop service to North America. Adding to the trend, the airline also introduced a flight to connect to Los Angeles with one stop service in Tokyo.

However, the services to New York were stopped in 2008, with the airline citing high fuel costs. They also stopped services to Los Angeles but reverted it again to the same on-stop phase connecting Seoul instead of Tokyo, as the route to LA. Further in its expansion plans, Thai Airways introduced non-stop flights from Phuket to Seoul-Incheon, Tokyo-Narita and Hong Kong. The airline has even launched a regional carrier called Thai Smile which has a fleet of Airbus A320 aircraft to operate for domestic routes in Thailand.

Fleet size of Thai Airways

As of 2020, Thai Airways boasts a fleet of 74 aircraft which also comprises of six Airbus A380-800 and fourteen Boeing 777-300ER. A breakdown of the fleet includes around three to four Boeing 747-400, twelve Airbus A350-900, six Boeing 777-300, six Boeing 777-200, six Boeing 777-200ER, about three to five Airbus A330-300, two Boeing 787-9 and six Boeing 787-8. The airline maintains three maintenance centres namely, Don Mueang International Airport, U-Tapao International Airport and Suvarnabhumi Airport.

Baggage Allowance

Baggage allowance in Thai Airways differs for different classes. First-class or Royal First should weigh not more than 32 kg which can be divided into two bags. The dimensions of the bags are also important. For business class or Royal Silk, the weight cannot exceed 32 kgs and must or can be divided into two bags. The economy class also has the provision of two bags, but the weight cannot surpass 23 kg. These bags are allowed in the in-flight cabin. Dimensions for all the bags are 62 inches.

In-flight services

Royal First Class - Some of the fabulous in-flight services available in Thai Airways include an exquisite personal array of flavours that cater to all kinds of delicacies. All the delicious spread comes with a flute of fancy vintage champagne or one of your favourite cocktail or glasses of wine or drinks. From a platter of amuse-bouche to a choice of main course dishes, there are many good upscale dishes to look forward to. The seats of the first class have been refurbished in 2012 and are extremely comfortable. These are available on Airbus A380-800 aircraft as well as a select few Boeing 747-400 aircraft. They come with an enclosed suite-like structure to cater to the passenger's privacy. Not to mention how it also comes with some entertainment decks, contents of which you can check on the airline's website. There are magazines, WiFi connections as well as plug points for laptops and other devices.

Royal Silk Class - Royal Silk Class, also offers a lovely spread of food that would take passengers through a culinary experience. Thai Airways has in-flight meal services which range from intercontinental platters to regional meals. Individuals who have dietary restrictions will need to inform the airlines in advance. The food is accompanied by liquor as well as complimentary dessert and fruit. Royal Silk Class, also known as the business class, has an angled shell design seat. The seats have been refurbished, and the new seats have been installed in Royal Silk class of 777-300ERs. The reclining chair can be converted into the lounge as well as it extends to become a bed. The hospitality in the business class is just as good as the one in first class. The personalised seating arrangement is topped with USB ports for devices, 16 inch flat screens for entertainment and PC power points for charging batteries.

Premium Economy Class - Premium Economy Class comes with a hot meal and snack, primarily depending on the flight's duration as well as the time of the flight. The menu created by chefs of Thai Airways sees inspiration from Thailand's rich flavours. The food includes a salad, bread, fresh fruit or dessert as well as some a juice or hot beverage. Some of the Thai Airways flights also accommodate Premium Economy Class. These are a notch above the economy class, which has the amenities and in-flight services that are similar to economy class. You can surf social media and connect with the in-flight WiFi services also available in the cabin.

Economy Class - One of the best parts about Thai Airways' cuisine is that the in-flight meal services help support local farmers. The fresh ingredients handpicked by them are used to make food, which caters to economy class too, depending on the distance of the journey. Not to mention how the food also comes with the classic flavours of Thailand. You will need to make prior intimations to the airline if there are some food restrictions that you need. The economy class might not be blessed with exquisite details and services of the first-class or business class, but it also has enough facilities to make travel comfortable. There are lavatories located throughout the economy class for passengers. Plus, the in-flight services also include a personal pillow and a blanket. On request, the cabin crew also offers earplugs and eyeshades.

Popular routes and top cities for Thai Airways

The most popular international routes taken by Thai Airways is South Asia and Europe. Aside from these, the airline also has services to the Australian continent. Some of the popular cities that are connected to Thai Airways include. Auckland, Bangkok, Beijing, Bangalore, Brisbane, Brussels, Busan, Chendu, Chennai, Chuang Mai, Chiang Rai, Colombo, Copenhagen, Delhi, Denpasar Bali, Dhaka, Dubai, Frankfurt, Hanoi, Fukuoka, Guangzhou, Hat Yai, Hong Kong, Ho Chi Minh, Jakarta, Hyderabad, Islamabad, Khon Kaen, Kathmandu, Karachi, Koh Samui, Kolkata, Krabi, Lahore, Kunming, Kuala Lumpur, London, Los Angeles, Luang Prabang, Madrid, Melbourne, Manila, Milan, Mumbai, Moscow, Nagoya, Muscat, Munich, Osaka, Oslo, Paris, Phnom Penh, Penang, Perth, Phuket, Rome, Sapporo, Shanghai, Singapore, Seoul, Stockholm, Sydney, Tokyo, Surat Thani, Ubon Ratchathani, Taipei, Vientiane, Udon Thani, Vienna, Zurich, Xiamen and Yangon.

Why travel by Thai Airways?

Thai Airways is recognised for its excellent connection to various international cities in the world. As mentioned, some of the famous ones include London, Los Angeles, Zurich, Paris, Mumbai, Munich, Tokyo and more. With the airline providing services to such big international cities, it doesn't come as a surprise that many opt for them. The hospitality inclusive of in-flight services of Thai Airways is an experience unmatched. The first and business class cabins in Thai Airways flights take passengers through an unforgettable experience with their world-class services. It makes for all the price that the tickets cost. Speaking of which, you can book Thai Airways flights on various travel portals and agencies. This also includes their official website where you can get all the flight schedules to international destinations. Not to mention how you can also avail some great flight offers on Thai Airways' website. The array of aircraft offered by Thai Airways' fleet further adds to perks of choosing the airlines.