Gaya to Hong Kong 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 Hong Kong

Hong Kong is officially a part of the People's Republic of China. The metropolitan city is located on the South China Sea with the eastern Pearl River Delta flowing within the city. Hong Kong is one of the biggest and influential cities in the world for its stupendous stand in the global finance list. In fact, the city stands at the sixth position in the list of Global Financial Centres Index. Adorned with exquisite skyscrapers and lush lifestyle, the prosperous city is also a hub for tourism.

Various tourists flock over from different parts of the world to indulge in the fancy lifestyle of the city. Hong Kong was once part of the British Empire as a colony. However, after breaking away from its colonial rule, the city managed to flourish and has now become one of the top international cities. Many important flights are connected with Hong Kong. Travelling to Hong Kong via air is quite convenient as the city is well-connected with some of the major international cities.

Tourism in Hong Kong is exuberant, and you need to carry enough notes to ensure that you can afford the luxe lifestyle. Also, it would be beneficial to book flight tickets and accommodations to Hong Kong in advance. With the city's expensive taste, the prices of tickets and hotels continue to fluctuate.

Best time to visit Hong Kong

Hong Kong enjoys agreeable weather, especially during the months of October and December. As a city located on the coasts of the South China Sea, every weather is met with some humidity in the air, making tourism a little tedious. During these months, the temperatures would range between 20 to 27 degree Celsius, which is quite favourable, especially if you're coming from a hotter country. It would be ideal for you to stay away from Chinese national holidays or even large conventions as the hotel prices would see a tremendous surge. The long and hot summers of Hong Kong will be quite tough to deal with and hence, should be avoided at all cost. Meanwhile, the onset of winter with summer waning would be a nice and pleasant time to visit the smart city. The daytime temperatures would also be pleasant to step out and explore the city. Avoid the first week of October though as many Chinese travellers would flock over to Hong Kong for National Day. If you manage to get your plans fixed around the dates for Hong Kong WinterFest, that would be some experience. The city would be bustling with festivities, and the temperatures would also be bearable.

The peak season for Hong Kong is winter, which can be experienced from January to March. This period is also the time when the city, much like the rest of China, celebrates New Year's, Chinese New Year and such festivals. As it is the holiday season for the Chinese, travellers often take this time to head to the coastal city of Hong Kong and make the most of their time there. The two New Year celebrations also pave the way to a spike in the hotel charges. Booking a hotel room in Hong Kong during the months of December and January would be quite expensive. Even flight tickets to Hong Kong would come at an exorbitant cost. Hence, to opt for a cheap travel deal to Hong Kong, the season and month you choose is important.

Places to visit in Hong Kong

Hong Kong's plethora of places will amaze the tourist in you. The city truly matches the expectations of a traveller when it comes to entertaining them thoroughly with fascinating attractions. From the Symphony of the Stars light show that you can witness at the Tsim Sha Tsui promenade to Disneyland, Hong Kong has places that cater to the entertainment and happiness of everyone. The city is vibrant with hues of shimmering skyscrapers, sparkling waters of the South China Sea and the fervour of tourists from around the world. No matter what you expect from Hong Kong, they will have what you need and do you even better. One of the first things to do when you visit Hong Kong should be to take the Star Ferry to Hong Kong Island from the Kowloon Peninsula. The stretch is scenic and certainly the kind to attract your attention. Victoria Peak is the second famous attraction that you should check out in Hong Kong. Located at the highest point on Hong Kong Island, the peak towers over the prodigious city with views of blue waters passing through the city, with its hues reflecting on the skyscrapers.

If the peak is too much for you to traverse then don't worry, Hong Kong's got you covered. You can visit the Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade located at the Victoria Harbour. The promenade gives a wholesome view of the entire Hong Kong Island without any obstruction. The Nan Lian Garden is a lovely place to unwind and relax after a long day of indulging in touristy activities. For some historical relevance on your trip, you should visit Lantau Island. The popular island has preserved historical sites, sunny beaches and amusement parks for tourists. It would certainly keep you busy the whole day. Of course, missing Hong Kong Disneyland would be a shame. A trip to the magical kingdom would surely uplift your spirits.

Things to do in Hong Kong

Giving Disneyland a fierce competition is Hong Kong's Ocean Park. From roller coasters and carnival rides to accommodating an entire zoo, the Ocean Park certainly manages to have it all. If you feel like opting for a legal gambling session, you can go to Happy Valley Racecourse and bet on one of the horses. What would make the day even better would be to dress up in classy ensembles too. The street markets need no introduction as they are basically the one hub where tourists cannot resist from visiting. The marketplace is a bustling space in the city as frenzied tourists flock over to indulge in some street shopping. From Hong Kong, you can actually take a boat ride and skip over to Macau, to continue your wanderlusting.

Food and Restaurants in Hong Kong

Raking up the highest number of Michelin-starred restaurants in the world, Hong Kong easily becomes a paradisiacal excursion for a food lover. The city is touted to entertain some of the best fine dining establishments as well as boast a flourishing street food culture. The Hong Kong food culture stands next to big cities of the world, such as New York, Paris, and Tokyo, when it comes to thriving food culture. While the city's cuisine is heavily clouted by popular Chinese cuisine, the city also has influences of western food cuisines. Various fusion kitchens and teahouses have cropped up and serve the traditional Chinese barbeque, congee, stir-fries mixed with soy-sauce Western. Barbecued meat is a big seller in Hong Kong which caters to both kinds of audience, the ones who relish ritzy ambience and the ones who find street food comforting. For the traditional Hong Kong dishes such as steamed fish, head to dai pai dong-style stalls (street stalls) where they serve fish with stir-fries. Some of the other dishes that should be on your list of must-haves are put chai ko (rice pudding), egg tarts, pineapple buns, to name a few.

You can also get a similar or maybe even more elevated experience at Temple Street, again an open-air street food stalls and carts. Maxim's MX, Fairwood and Café de Coral are recognised food court chains in Hong Kong. For a luxury setting, head to Mandarin Grill + Bar, Tosca di Angelo, The Oyster House, to name a few places. The meat prepared by the kitchens across Hong Kong are succulent and marinated to perfection. All the dishes will leave a lasting impact on you.

How to reach Hong Kong (Transportation)

Hong Kong airport sees tremendous action as it is one of the busiest airports in the world. Even from India, there is a high demand for flights to Hong Kong. Many opt for the city as an ideal vacation destination. Flight connectivity to Hong Kong from India is excellent. There are many flights that fly to Hong Kong from India. Airlines such as Cathay Pacific, Dragonair, Air India have direct flights to Hong Kong from India. Metro cities such as Mumbai, Bangalore, Delhi, have direct flights flying to Hong Kong. Various flights with layovers in Indian cities take international routes to fly to Hong Kong, resulting in excellent connectivity. The Hong Kong airport also has great domestic route connectivity as it runs bullet trains from the airport to other parts of the city.

Flight tickets to Hong Kong from India are not very expensive, especially if you book it beforehand. Also, if you get lucky, you might even be able to get some sweet online flight deals to Hong Kong along with hotel accommodations. Hong Kong is not very far from India and takes approximately five hours to reach from the capital. From other parts of the country, depending on the flight connectivity, the ticket prices and duration would vary.

  About Hong Kong Airport

Hong Kong International Airport is situated on the island of Chek Lap Kok. It serves as the main airport to the city of Hong Kong. Hong Kong International Airport is also called Chek Lap Kok International Airport. It is one of the biggest hubs in China with respect to flight connectivity, cargo carriers and more. The airport is the busiest cargo getaway in the world. Not to mention, it is also known to have one of the largest passenger terminal buildings. The airport plays an important role in Hong Kong's economy as it employs over 65,000 staff. It is also the world's busiest airport in terms of passenger traffic.

About Airport Terminals

Hong Kong International Airport plays an important role in contributing to Hong Kong city's economy. The airport is capable of accommodating over 100 airlines with flights connecting to more than 180 international cities. Not to mention how it also is the world's busiest airport with respect to cargo traffic. There is a total of 90 boarding gates that the airport has along with 77 jet bridge gates and 12 virtual gates. The gates are used as assembly points for domestic as well as international travellers. Apron buses are available that ferry the passengers to the aircraft.

Terminal 1 of Hong Kong International Airport is sprawled across 6,100,000 sq ft and is recognized worldwide as one of the largest passenger airport terminal. The airport joins Dubai International Airport's Terminal 3 and Beijing Capital International Airport's Terminal 3. Initially, the airport's Terminal 1 faced competition with Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport with respect to the largest passenger terminal. However, with the expansion of East Hall, Hong Kong International Airport managed to take back its spot on the list. Terminal 1 is blessed with world-class decor and facilities such as check-in counters, airline lounges, departures, arrivals and more. Terminal 1 is capable of accommodating Airbus A380 of airlines Singapore Airlines, Qantas, Asiana Airlines, Emirates, Lufthansa, China Southern Airlines, Thai Airways, British Airways, Air France and Emirates.

Terminal 2 is sprawled across 1,500,000 sq ft, including the SkyPlaza, is just as exquisite as Terminal 1 with respect to the interiors. Although the terminal has dedicated gates, check-in and other processing facilities for passengers departing do not have gates. Terminal 2 also lacks arrival facilities. Hence, designated underground transportation facilities have been put in place for passengers to reach Terminal 1 too. Much of terminal 2 sees low-cost carriers with check-in options operation also available. SkyPlaza is also situated in Terminal 2. The terminal has been shut for expansion and maintenance purposes. With the excess flight traffic that the third runway witnesses, the authorities body has opted to add departures and arrivals along with immigrations sections too. Terminal 2 is scheduled to reopen in 2024.

About Airport Authority

Hong Kong International Airport is owned and operated by Airport Authority Hong Kong and functions on a 24 hours-basis. The airport is the primary hub for the airlines Cathay Pacific, Hong Kong Airlines, Air Hong Kong, Cathay Dragon and HK Express. The statutory body falls directly under the government and was formed in 1995. It is an independent body which does not receive any financial assistance from the government. The headquarters of Airport Authority Hong Kong is at the Hong Kong International Airport Tower and employs 2,602 staff. They are currently working towards expansion plans of Terminal 2. The body's aim aside from bringing forth excellent airport experience and financial growth is to bolster its position to be the leading international aviation focal point. Further on their agenda is to excel the management system in terms of operations and development of Hong Kong International Airport.

Top airlines flying from Hong Kong International Airport

As one of the busiest airports in the world, Hong Kong International Airport sees tremendous flight traffic. The number of airlines that operate from the airport exceeds 100 and connects with more than 180 cities globally. The airport is also known to be a focus city for Air India. Aside from the operations of Air India, two more Indian airlines such as IndiGo and SpiceJet, operate from Hong Kong International Airport. The airlines connect to the top three cities of India, namely Mumbai, Delhi and Bangalore.

There are many international airlines too that operate from Hong Kong International Airport. Thanks to the demand for Hong Kong as one of the financial and economic hubs of China, the city's airport sees tremendous flight traffic from international cities. Some of the airlines that operate from Hong Kong International Airport include Aeroflot, AirAsia, Air Canada, Air China, Air France, Air Mauritius, Air New Zealand, Air Seoul, All Nippon Airways, American Airlines, Asiana Airlines, Bangkok Airways, British Airways, Cathay Dragon, Cathay Pacific, China Airlines, EgyptAir, Emirates, Ethiopian Airlines, Etihad Airways, Fiji Airways, Finnair, HK Express, Hong Kong Airlines, Japan Airlines, KLM, Lufthansa, Malaysia Airlines, Malindo Air, Nepal Airlines, Qantas, Qatar Airways, Scandinavian Airlines, Scoot, Singapore Airlines, Swiss International Air Lines, Thai Airways, Thai Smile, Turkish Airlines, United Airlines, Vietnam Airlines and Virgin Atlantic.

Facilities at Hong Kong International Airport

Airline lounges - There are about 18 exquisite airline lounges at the Hong Kong International Airport. Cathay Pacific alone has a slew of lounges called The Bridge, The Deck, The Pier and The Wing. They are business class and first-class lounges. Along with this, the airport also has dedicated airline lounges by Emirates, United and Qantas. Alliance airlines carrier SkyTeam also has a lounge that is present at the airport premise.

Postal services - One of the big perks of Hong Kong International Airport is the fact that they also have postal services. You can send documents and letters or even couriers from the airport's premise, especially if they are urgent and need to be delivered within Hong Kong too.

Baggage - You can apply for baggage delivery services at the airport. Prior intimation to the airlines for this kind of service would be beneficial. Along with this, there are baggage measuring gauge devices also available at the airport. Not to mention the luggage packing and wrapping facilities. You can also opt for baggage storage and porter services.

Charging facilities - Hong Kong International Airport has charging facilities as well as tables with battery recharge points as well. You can charge all your devices at these hubs.

Nursing stations - There are dedicated nursing stations and rooms at the airport for parents travelling with infants. The rooms have all the necessary amenities as well as baby products. You can also ask for infant and baby strollers at the airport.

Entertainment decks - Several entertainment decks are available at Hong Kong International Airport. They are perfect for kids, youngsters and adults as well. You can find them at various intervals within the terminals.

Medical services - Hong Kong International Airport has also ensured to keep devoted paramedic services as well as pharmacies. There are medical rooms also available at the airport. Not to mention how they also cater to emergency cases.

Special assistance - In case you require special assistance with respect to traversing within the airport. The airport has trained staff who can help with special assistance for senior citizens, pregnant women and disabled passengers.

WiFi and internet - The airport offers free WiFi which can be availed at all points. You can visit the airport's information desk to get more details on the same. There are internet booths and cafes also present at Hong Kong International Airport.

Smoking lounge - As per the Hong Kong law, you are not allowed to smoke in the public space at the Hong Kong International Airport. Hence, they have reserved smoking lounges as well as areas for the same.

How to reach Hong Kong International Airport

Airport Express

Devoted rail transport is prevalent in the city of Hong Kong that connects perfectly to the airport. In case you need to reach the Hong Kong International Airport, you can take the Airport Express. It'll take you just 24 minutes to reach the airport from the city centre. The frequency of the trains is also quite good and ideal for travelling. You can download the MTR Next Train app to get schedules of the train.

Public transport

The airport also offers bus services that are conveniently located close to the airport. On the official website of the airport, you can find the locations of the bus station. The bus is also considered to be a good way to reach Hong Kong International Airport.

Taxicabs and rentals

There are door-to-door services of taxicabs that you can get from the airport. The taxicabs are coloured in three distinct hues that take specific routes within the city of Hong Kong from the airport. Depending on which area you need to travel, you should accordingly go to the lane and take the coloured taxicab. Within the city, there are many options for hailing a taxicab to reach the Hong Kong International Airport. You can also opt for rentals which are available at the airport's arrivals. There are specific counters where you can book your rental services.