Gaya to Brussels undefined Flights

  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 Brussels

As the de facto capital to the European Union, Brussels is a city that celebrates Flemish culture with exquisite architecture. The city is blessed with rich Gothic and Baroque-styled architecture that adds to the beauty of Brussels. The city is the capital of Belgium and has influences of the Dutch and French as it was once a colony. Brussels is one of the populated cities in Belgian and enjoys the status of being the wealthiest city in the country. Brussels has also turned into an important political and financial centre on international levels. The city is bilingual with citizens speaking both Dutch and French. However, the population leans more towards the French language.

Brussels is blessed with some exquisite UNESCO World Heritage sites, including the Grand Palace. While the city has some of the finest architectural bliss to witness, it's the food and beer culture that caters to a wide population of tourists. The Belgian witbier is a famous crafted beer that has been recognised worldwide. Even the waffles made by the Belgians have received honour and stature in the culinary industry to be the best. Booking a flight ticket to Brussels is quite convenient, as is living in the city. There are many options for a backpacker or even a luxury traveller to be entertained as Brussels does accommodate all kinds of travellers.

The hotel rooms are also cheap, provided you make some prior bookings and ensure to get your travel expenses sorted beforehand. It's all about planning perfectly.

Best time to visit Brussels

Spring and fall are the best seasons in which you can visit Brussels. The months March to May and September to October, see Brussels in new lights. With the onset of summer, the city rings in various music festivals as the climate is drier in comparison to other times. With the temperatures falling between 10 degree Celsius to 15 degree Celsius, the chill breeze roaming the city paints quite a romantic picture. This is also a favourable time to visit for many tourists, making flight tickets to Brussels slightly expenses. Even accommodations take a hike with tourists from the UK, Netherlands, Germany and other parts of the neighbouring cities visiting the city. Mainly, people flock over to Brussels to revel in the carnival hosted in the city. In the month of May, the city hosts Iris Day Festival and Brussels Jazz Weekend. These festivities often pique the interests of tourists who wish to engage in the carnivalesque celebrations. During this time, flight tickets to Brussels see a spike, as does the accommodation. The best thing that would make sense for you is to book your flight tickets and hotels in Brussels, months ahead. You might also receive some cheap flight deals online.

September to October sees the temperatures fall to the mid-60s. The atmosphere is quite breezy and beautiful, which makes travelling within the city a good trip. In September, Brussels hosts the Brussels Comic Strip Festival as well as Belgian Beer Weekend. These festivals are attractive, they don't bring in as much crowd as one would hope. Travelling to Brussels from India during September and October would be quite fun as the temperatures are lovely. Plus, with less crowd, the accommodation also sees a drop, giving you ample options to choose instead of settling for some hotel in Brussels.

Place to visit in Brussels

Brussels is blessed with some very European tourist attractions. From the Belgian Comic Strip Museum to the Les Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert, many places in the city would give you the tourist vibe and at the same time will pique your interest. To start with, the first on your list should be the Grand Palace, a royal Gothic and Baroque-style structure that has even been tagged by the UNESCO World Heritage Site. While you're around this area, you can also visit the attractions close to the palace such as St. Michael and St. Gudula Cathedral. The famous Manneken-Pis, literally a bronze statue of a small boy relieving himself, is a landmark that should definitely be witnessed. The city also has a museum dedicated to musical instruments called Musical Instruments Museum. It's quite a fancy place to visit as it houses 1,200 instruments extracted from around the world. You should also check out archaic Renaissance-inspired arcade Les Galeries Royales Saint-Hubter, which is also popularly called 'umbrella of Brussels' in the city.

Things to do in Brussels

At Brussels, there are two things that you simply cannot miss, waffles and beer. The country is famed for its Belgian waffles and Belgian witbier. You can either go separately on an excursion to check out waffles and beers, or you can mix it up in one tour. Brewery hopping is certainly something you would enjoy as you will get to taste some of their finest crafted beers. A day at the theme park, Mini Europe, will do you good. You can take a day trip to the theme park and get to see miniature versions of all the famous European tourist attractions. Plus, their chocolates are another trip to the factory that deserve to be explored.

Food and Restaurants in Brussels

Brussels sees an interesting amalgam of flavours from the French and Dutch style of cooking. Needless to say, mussels also play an important role in their cuisine. Their dish for summer, mosselen-friet, is a lovely melange of mussels and fries, something that would definitely go down well with you. One of the main reasons why summer is ideal to try this dish out is because it is the harvest season of mussels, which means you will be blessed with some lip-smacking fresh mussels on a plate. Much of their cuisine gives seafood a lot of emphasis. Garnalen krokkettenm, one of their dishes, is basically varied types of teeny grey shrimp put together with rich béchamel sauce and served with bread. While seafood does take centre stage in their cuisine, the Belgians do know how to cook good meat as well. You will find some impeccable thick beef stew which is often cooked with beer. Speaking of which, beer plays a staple to their meals just like Belgian frites (fries), and stoemp is to their evening meals. They simply cannot do without the presence of potato and beer.

Talk about Belgian food, and you simply cannot miss waffles and chocolates. They definitely know how to make people go weak in the knees with their savouries. The country is literally recognised for the waffles made by them. While you will see various toppings put on the dessert, the best is the classic Belgian waffle with whipped cream and probably Nutella. Some patisseries don't even add these toppings and let the customer experience the true nature of a lovely plain and crispy waffle. For the classic Belgian food interspersed with French cuisine, head straight to Maison Antoine. As for some more interesting take on Belgian recipes visit Pistolet Original, Au Vieux Marché, Le Clan des Belges, Noordzee Mer du Nord, La Quincaillerie and Delirium Cafe, to name a few. You will return with a big smile on your face after visiting these restaurants and their exquisite culinary.

How to reach Brussels (Transportation)

By Air

As the capital of Belgian, Brussels airport witnesses a good number of tourists at the Brussels International Airport. Flight connectivity of Brussels to many important European cities is excellent. Although the city's airport is located in Flanders, which is away from the Brussels main city, thanks to airport shuttle services, buses and rentals, travelling within the city are possible and convenient. You can book direct flights to Brussels from India. Cities such as Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai. Kolkata, Kochi and Bangalore have provisions of direct flights to Brussels. While there are some airlines that would have layovers or might need connecting flights, usually that's not a problem.

The major Indian cities provide non-stop flights to Brussels, making travelling favourable and seamless. Airlines such as Emirates, Etihad Airways, Air India, Lufthansa, KLM Royal Dutch, Air France, Gulf Air, have frequent flights connecting Brussels and India. Booking your flight tickets to Brussels from India should be done well in advance though, if you wish to get good flight deals. It would be even better if you peruse through online for flight as well as accommodation deals. Options from luxury stay to hostels are available. As long as you book your hotel in Brussels before leaving India, it would be favourable.

By Rail

Many travellers visiting Brussels are often travelling across Europe. The connectivity of the European countries is immaculate, making travel easier. Even for Brussels, you can take flights to Germany, Netherlands or France, have some good time exploring those countries and then take a train to Brussels. A majority of the big European cities are connected by rails. Not only would the trip be amusing as the scenic views are worth all the duration, but this way, you can save up as well. Multiple rail options are available from Munich, Luxembourg, Amsterdam, Paris, Berlin and more.

 About Air India

Air India was the first Indian airline that went by the name Tata Airways when it was launched. Jehangir Ratanji Dadabhoy Tata launched it in 1932 in Karachi. The first flight was from Karachi to Mumbai and then to Chennai. The airline became a public limited company after World War II, under the name Air India. In 1948, a Lockheed Constellation L-749A called the Malabar Princess landed in London Heathrow from Bombay, which was the airline's first international flight. Air India got its first Boeing 707-420 and became the first Asian airline to enter the Jet Age. It launched services to New York in 1960. It took delivery of its first Boeing 747-200B in 1971 and named it Emperor Ashoka. It acquired its first Airbus A310-300 in 1986 and Boeing 747-400 in 1993 which was named Konark later. The airline also operated its first non-stop flight between New York and Delhi during this year. In 2007, Air India merged with Indian Airlines under Air India Limited. They acquired their first Boeing 777 that year. Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi is Air India's main hub. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in Mumbai is the secondary hub. Chennai International Airport, Cochin International Airport, Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport in Kolkata, Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in Hyderabad, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad and Trivandrum International Airport are its focus cities domestically.

Air India made Frankfurt Airport its international hub in 2009 for onward connections to the United States of America from India. Still, they had to shut it down because of high operating costs. In 2010, Air India decided to open a new hub for its international flights in Dubai. The airline's financial growth has been a topic of conversation for decades. For years, there were debates around the privatisation of Air India, but the Government of India refused to go ahead with it. When it did decide to hand over responsibility to private companies, no one came forward. Air India launched its low-cost airline, Air India Express, a couple of years back that majorly flew to countries in the Middle East and Southeast Asia. Despite suffering losses in the market and going through a lot of ups and downs, the airline is functioning since it is the national carrier.

Air India has also gone through a lot of modifications with its brand logo and mascot. The Maharajah is the main mascot of the airline and was created by Bobby Kooka, the commercial director of Air India then and Umesh Rao, who was an artist with J Walter Thompson Limited in 1946. The mascot was given a makeover in 2015, and the airline decided to go with a younger version of Maharajah. Since India's colour scheme is red and white, the airline's logo also incorporates the same in its logo. The name of the airline is written in Hindi and English in red. The first logo of the airline was a centaur shooting an arrow in a circle which represented the wheel of Konark. However, the airline decided to give its logo a makeover in 2007, which was a flying swan with the wheel of Konark in it.

Fleet Size of Air India

Air India had started its operations with a de Havilland Puss Moth aircraft back in 1932. It inducted its first Boeing 707-420 later on and named it Gauri Shankar. It became the first Asian airline to add a jet aircraft in its fleet. Since it is the oldest airline in the country, it has both Boeing and Airbus aircraft in its fleet. It inducted its first Boeing 747-400 in 1993 and named it Konark. The airline inducted its first Airbus A320-200 aircraft in 1989 which now covers both domestic and international short hauls. The airline has a total of 70 Airbus aircraft including one A320 Classic, 4 A320ceo, 19 A319 aircraft, 20 A321, 5 A320ceo (Single Configuration), 27 A320neo and 3 A319 (Single Configuration). It has a total of 172 narrow-body aircraft and 49 wide-body aircraft. Air India uses one of the five Boeing 747-400s as VIP flights. Air India grounded its last Airbus A320 classic fleet in 2019, and the last flight flew from Delhi to Mumbai.

Air India had also sold five of its Boeing 777-200LR aircraft to Etihad Airways in 2013 to make up for its financial losses. The airline also had plans to introduce long flights to Seattle, Los Angeles and San Francisco but had to cancel, owing to weak demand and high fuel prices.

Baggage Allowance

Air India has certain baggage allowance rules and regulations that every passenger must follow. As per Air India's baggage allowance rules, you cannot carry cabin luggage that exceeds 8 kg, and your check-in luggage cannot exceed 20 kg. If you are flying internationally and if you are a premium club member, you will be allowed up to 40 kg of baggage. Even if you are ready to pay extra, your hand baggage cannot exceed 10 kg. First Class passengers are allowed a maximum of 40 kg baggage while Business Class passengers can only carry 35 kg. If you are travelling by the Economy Class, your baggage cannot exceed 25 kg. However, if you have an infant travelling with you, an extra 10 kg baggage allowance is offered by the airline. Make sure you inform the airline staff well in advance if your luggage is going to exceed the allowed weight. The airline has also made web check-in quite convenient for its passengers. You can either log in to the website and get it done, or you can get in touch with the call centre. The executives will help you get your web check-in done. It is best to get your web check-in done in advance, so you get to pick the right seat instead of settling for something chosen by the staff at the airport.

In-flight Services

Air India's First Class is royalty and luxury personified. The seats recline up to 180-degree, and the interiors are a sight for sore eyes. In addition to the ultra-comfortable seating, Air India's in-flight services are extremely efficient, and the best part is that the first-class cabin only seats 12 passengers. You can order your favourite cocktails and cuisines that are a treat to your taste buds. You can also do all of your duty-free shopping onboard. The first-class and business class cabins are also equipped with the Thales i3000 in-flight entertainment system. You can access five channels in Hindi and English. You can also browse through Air India's in-flight magazine called Shubh Yatra. First Class and Business Class passengers can also access the Maharaja Lounge. Business-class passengers are treated to plush seats and lip-smacking entrees that are accompanied with wine. You also get an exclusive check-in and lounge facility. Don't fret if you are not travelling by the premium class. Economy class passengers have complimentary refreshments and meals on all of their flights. You will also get complimentary liquor or wine on the international flights. The airline staff makes sure that passengers have a great time during their journey.

Popular Routes and Top Cities for Air India

Air India connects to various domestic and international routes daily. Since it is one of the oldest and the first airlines, it connects to more cities domestically and internationally. It connects to approximately 102 destinations like Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad and so on. It also flies to international destinations that cover the Middle East and Southeast Asia. Air India has frequent flights running to other destinations and makes sure you have had a great journey as well. Do make sure that you get your web check-in done well in advance.

Why Travel by Air India?

Air India is the national airline and has been in the airline industry since 1932. The airline makes sure that you have had a comfortable journey and seldom leaves any room for complaints. It has maintained its legacy of making sure that every passenger gets a royal treatment. It is also one of the very few airlines in the country that offers first-class flights to its passengers. You can check Air India's flight schedule and your flight status on their website. Even if you cannot access the website for some reason, you will certainly get updates and messages from the airline regarding the same. It also makes web check-in quite easy for its passengers. The staff is well-equipped to solve any grievances or requests put forth by passengers. You can book an Air India flight from the website. You can also get in touch with your travel agent and get them to book the ticket for you. It would be best if you experienced the royal treatment and luxury of being Air India's first-class passenger at least once in your life. The airline has come a long way and continues to give its passengers the best services and experience. The airline also makes sure that the flights run on time.