Gaya to Kuala Lumpur 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 Kuala Lumpur

When you think of Malaysia, only two names crop up, Kuala Lumpur and Singapore. Touted to be a fancy holiday destination, Kuala Lumpur is the capital of the lovely country of Malaysia. With dominating skylines and alluring sights, the city manages to attract tourists all-round the year. Christmas and New Year celebrations especially, in Kuala Lumpur, are legendary and certainly something you should indulge in. The streets are decked up, and purveyors and locales are full of life.

Best time to visit Kuala Lumpur

Kuala Lumpur is located quite close to the equator, which results in the city being perpetually hot and wet. The city only witnesses summers and monsoons with very mild to non-existent winters. Out of the unfavourable weather though, the month's May to July are pleasant. It is relatively dry during these months, which helps enjoy the brisk sun and dry weather. The city looks very lively during these months as the sky is clearer and the sun rays can touch the streets. The hotel prices during this time are comparatively high as it is the peak season. You might have to deal with some exorbitant hotel rates in Kuala Lumpur. While there might be some options for cheap hotels in Kuala Lumpur, for that you might want to make prior bookings. It will enable you to save up on a lot of money and ensure that you get some great deals as well.

May through August also enables easier access to tourist attractions within the city. You can enjoy places like Sunway Lagoon Park and more without having to deal with excess sun's rays and wet weather. Of course, it is going to be hot most of the time with temperatures standing between 30 to 35 degree Celsius. However, the nights are pleasant, and the dry weather helps feel at ease. December through February is also considered to be a good time to visit Kuala Lumpur. The holiday spirit is strong with the city during these months. Not just the universally recognised holidays but you can also indulge in some of the Malaysian holidays and festivals like Chinese New Year and Thaipusam Festival.

Places to visit in Kuala Lumpur

A trip to Kuala Lumpur should always start with checking out the city's major highlight, the Petronas Twin Towers. The twin skyscrapers in the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur were once the tallest buildings in the world before they were surpassed by Taipei 101. Batu Caves is another important landmark in Kuala Lumpur which is a series of caves made up of limestones with temples within them. The shrine is dedicated to the Hindu god, Lord Murugan and is one of the biggest and most popular Hindu temples. The celebrations of Thaipusam take place here annually. Another intriguing building in Kuala Lumpur is the Menara Kuala Lumpur, which is a communication centre that stands at the height of 421 meters. It is the seventh-tallest freestanding tower recognised worldwide. The Dataran Merdeka is also an exciting attraction in Kuala Lumpur. It is located bang opposite the Sultan Abdul Samad Building.

Kuala Lumpur Bird Park is quite an interesting place that would definitely marvel you. It is acknowledged as the largest covered bird park in the world. In fact, within the bird park, you can actually choose from the slew of bird watching sections that range from flamingos to parrots to hornbill. The park also houses the famous Indian blue peacocks, cockatoos, parakeets and eagles, to name a few. One of the city's cultural heritage is the Sultan Abdul Samad Building. Even though the Moorish-style building holds no political or historical significance, it still manages to garner a lot of attention. The evenings here are exceptional as the building is decked up with lights and pizzazz. The National Mosque Of Malaysia is also a fine structure that would impress you. The architecture of the mosque is beautiful and depicts the Islam culture in its full glory. You should definitely go around the structure and soak in the brilliance of the religious infrastructure. It certainly is a beauty.

Things to do in Kuala Lumpur

For folks travelling from India, it would be silly to visit another locality that is inspired by the country. However, Kuala Lumpur's version of Little India will impress you. From bright decorations to Indian brands nestled in the area, the place would definitely get your attention. Similarly, you should also visit Chinatown in Kuala Lumpur to soak in all the dozens of restaurants and food joints that are heavily influenced by the Chinese. From Reggae Nar to indulging in some traditional laksa and curry noodles, this part of the city will amaze you and your stomach. Speaking of the stomach, Jalan Alor is a haven for foodies who wish to explore the street food culture of Kuala Lumpur. The place is practically lit with too many street food dishes set up by hawkers. They are cheap and too delicious. It is quite an experience worth exploring. Of course, there is room for shopping in Kuala Lumpur too as Berjaya Times Square is the spot with all kinds of entertainment.

Food and Restaurants in Kuala Lumpur

Kuala Lumpur's Oversea Restaurant is undoubtedly the most famous and a favourite among food critics too. From its flavourful char siu to the perfectly-cooked ham yue fah lam poh, the restaurant brings a lovely melange of flavours in a quaint environment. You can find a paradisiacal Indian restaurant in Kuala Lumpur too as Bala's Banana Leaf is a delight. With a spacious establishment, the food is a little trip down the South of India in Malaysia. Much like how the traditional South Indian food is served on a banana leaf, the same idea is followed at Bala's where you are blessed with lip-smacking dishes such as curries from lentils, fish, crab and vegetables made from spinach, cucumber and yogurt. The seafood here is a major seller. Get yourself a lovely Malaysian breakfast spread at Kedai Makanan Nam Chun. It is the best and ultimate comfort food, as stated by many food critics. Kuala Lumpur also welcomes French cuisine's succulent dishes at Entier at Alila Bangsar.

The ride continues as more restaurants are introduced to satiate your food cravings in Kuala Lumpur. Excelling in the noodle business is Albert Lai's Yung Kee Beef Noodles. The establishment serves the best rice noodles in beef broth with brisket, tendon and other cuts of beef. It is comfortable and soothing to the soul. The city also has room for Japanese cuisine as Sushi Azabu has been installed here. You can find the delicious ramen, tempura, sushi, yakitori and more statement dishes from the Japanese kitchen. Not just Japanese but Kuala Lumpur also has Pizzeria Dihyang, an Italian retreat where you will find some exquisite traditional Italian food, including pizza made from a wood-burning oven. It is quite a perfect setting and something you will certainly enjoy.

How to reach Kuala Lumpur (Transportation)

Flight connectivity to Kuala Lumpur is quite convenient and regular. Malaysia is recognised worldwide as one of the best tourist destinations, owing to its wide beaches and lovely weather. With cities like Singapore and Kuala Lumpur nestled perfectly on the shores of the country, it is not surprising that Malaysia receives a lot of tourists from India. The fact that the demand is high enables many airlines to provide flights from India to Kuala Lumpur. Airlines such as Malindo Air, Malaysia Airlines, GoAir, IndiGo, Srilankan Airlines, SpiceJet, AirAsia, Singapore Airlines, Silkair, Thai Airways, Vistara, to name a few, have regular flights from India. You can also find direct and nonstop flights to Kuala Lumpur from Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Bangalore, among a few cities. Malindo Air and Malaysia Airlines are two prominent airlines that have special direct flights reserved for Kuala Lumpur from India. The most popular route chosen for Kuala Lumpur is from Thailand or Singapore. In fact, Singapore and Colombo are some of the international routes that have amazing connectivity with Kuala Lumpur. Often a majority of tourists root for these city connections to reach Kuala Lumpur if they fail to snag the direct flight tickets.

The flight tickets to Kuala Lumpur are very cheap. In fact, you can round off your trip to and from Kuala Lumpur for less than INR 30,000. You wouldn't even need to make any special adjustments with respect to the connectivity of the flight or duration. These prices can be availed on direct nonstop flights to Kuala Lumpur. It only takes about five hours and thirty minutes to reach Kuala Lumpur from India. Plus, you will find some convenient time to catch the flight, so it doesn't mess with your travel schedule too. Make your flight bookings to Kuala Lumpur online to avail some of the benefits. While you are making flight bookings, you can also reserve your hotels in Kuala Lumpur to get some discounts or online deals. There are many provisions of combo deals available online. Depending on which season you pick for your trip to the city, you will be able to snag some amazing online flight deals and cheap hotel prices too, in Kuala Lumpur. It is best to make prior flight and hotel bookings in Kuala Lumpur as the city is quite expensive and you will need all the money to spend on the holiday.

  About Kuala Lumpur Airport

Kuala Lumpur International Airport serves as the main international airport in Malaysia and is also recognised as one of the biggest airports of Southeast Asia. The airport is situated in the Sepang district of Selangor. It is approximately 45 km away from the main city of Kuala Lumpur. It majorly serves the Greater Klang Valley metropolis. Kuala Lumpur International Airport is recognised as the largest and busiest airport in the country. Back in 1018, it estimated passenger capacity of 59,988,409. The same year, the airport witnessed 714,669 tonnes of cargo as well as 399,827 aircraft movements. Three parallel runways have been constructed to meet with the air traffic. The airport is recognised to be the 23rd busiest airport in the world with respect to passenger traffic. Kuala Lumpur International Airport was officially opened for business in 1998. It opened just in time for the 1998 Commonwealth Games that was held in the city.

About Airport Terminals

There are two main terminals at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport. The original terminal called KLIA Main and terminal 2, called klia2. Terminal 1 was designed by architect Kisho Kurokawa. The airport complex is sprawled across 38.4 metres and has enabled space for future expansions. The symbolic architecture is a testament to the late architect's vision of aesthetic details. It encapsulates Islamic geometry along with cutting edge technology that also puts hints of tropical rainforest. KLIA Main is situated between two runways and covers a floor space of 4,300,000 sq ft. The terminal has a total of 216 check-in counters that are spread across six different islands that are identified alphabetically named A-M. The airport also has self-check-in kiosks available.

Satellite terminal A is a building located at Kuala Lumpur International Airport that operates international flights departures and arrivals. An aerotrain has been constructed to connect the first terminal with the satellite building. The building has 27 boarding gates in total. Kuala Lumpur City, Air Terminal, also referred to as Kuala Lumpur City Air Terminal or KL CAT is situated at KL Sentral and carries three airlines, Cathay Pacific, Malindo Air and Malaysia Airlines. KLIA2, also known as Terminal 2, has been built exclusively to optimise low-cost carriers. The operations at klia2 commenced in 2014 and have about 68 departure gates, 80 aerobridges and about 220 retail outlets.

About Airport Authority

Kuala Lumpur International Airport is owned by Khazanah Nasional Berhad, which is a sovereign wealth fund that is funded by the Government of Malaysia. The commercial objective of Khazanah is to multiply the financial assets and to diversify the revenue sources for Malaysia. They have strategic objectives to achieve the same and ensure to bring in long-term benefits economically. However, the airport is currently operated by Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad. It is a Malaysian airport company that works to handle a majority of airports in the country.

The headquarters of Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad is located in the Persiaran Korporat KLIA, which is within the premise of Kuala Lumpur International Airport. The company currently owns 39 airports under its wing, including Bintulu Airport, Langkawi International Airport, Sandakan Airport, Lahad Dat Airport, Penang International Airport and Limbang Airport, to name a few. Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad is also listed on the Board of Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange. They are the first airport operations company that has a space on the listing of Asia.

Out of the airports that fall under the Malaysia Airports umbrella, Kuala Lumpur International Airport is primarily the result of visionary strategy which has been working on accommodating traffic and big aircraft.

Top airlines flying from Kuala Lumpur International Airport

Kuala Lumpur is one of the best tourist destinations in Malaysia, after Singapore. Hence, the city does witness a slew of travellers coming over to relish the tropical weather and the beaches. There are far too many airlines that operate from the airport. As the airport sees excellent connectivity with many international destinations, many airlines operate from Kuala Lumpur International Airport include Air Arabia, Air Astana, Air China, AirAsia, AirAsia X, All Nippon Airways, Bangkok Airways, British Airways, Biman Bangladesh Airlines, Cathay Dragon, China Airlines, Emirates, Ethiopian Airlines, Etihad Airways, IndiGo, Himalaya Airlines, Indonesia AirAsia, Japan Airlines, Japan Airlines, KLM, Korean Air, Malaysia Airlines, Malindo Air, Nepal Airlines, Oman Air, Qatar Airways, Saudia, Scoot, Shenzhen Airlines, SilkAir, Singapore Airlines, Srilankan Airlines, Thai Airways, Royal Jordanian, Thai Smile, Turkish Airlines, US-Bangla Airlines, Uzbekistan Airways, VietJet Air and Vietnam Airlines. The airport serves as a major hub to a slew of domestic airlines such as Malaysia Airlines, Malindo Air, AirAsia, MASkargo, AirAsia X, UPS Airlines and AsiaCargo Express. These airlines also cater to the economy of Malaysia.

Facilities at Kuala Lumpur International Airport

Baby care room - Kuala Lumpur International Airport has facilitated baby care rooms to help mother's and infants find the necessary privacy. Airports can get very crowded and make it difficult for new mothers to cater to their child's needs. However, at the airport's baby care rooms, that won't be an issue. The room is well-lit and has all the required amenities for the mother and the child. This includes essential baby products as well as a diaper changing station.

Buggies - To enable faster and easier transport within the airport premise, they have installed buggies at all stations. You can find them at the entrance of the airport as well as at the check-in and security booths as well. You will need to inform the airlines and ask them to arrange for a buggy service though. The buggies are usually reserved for senior citizens, expecting mother's and mobility disabled passengers. However, travellers with other concerns can also avail the service.

Kidzania (Entertainment deck for kids) - Travelling with kids can be quite tough, especially when they get bored and start acting up. Hence, with a view to entertaining kids, the Kuala Lumpur International Airport has installed an entertainment deck for them in the form of Kidzania. The place has all amenities with rides and games that would keep the kids busy while you wait for boarding.

Medical services - The airport has also installed world-class medical services at the premise. Often airports see medical cases and emergencies which require assistance as soon as possible. Along with medical clinics and paramedic services, the airport also has pharmacies stationed at regular intervals. You can find them at the domestic and international terminals.

Muslim prayer room - Designated prayer rooms are also there at the airport. However, the rooms are separate for men and women. They are available at all levels of the main terminal building as well as the satellite building. The rooms can also be used for meditation.

Smoking lounge - Smoking in public space is prohibited in Malaysia, and hence, the airport has installed a smoking lounge. Passengers can make use of the comfortable rooms to smoke and even purchase some boxes, if necessary.

Entertainment deck - Interesting entertainment decks are also present at the airport in the satellite building. The lounge has multiple TV sets that have been placed in a U-shaped room. They face relaxed sofa sets and chairs to make for a comfortable experience. It is certainly a good space where one can hang out before boarding. TV has movies and sports channels that one can browse.

Calm room - Something known as a calm room is also present at Kuala Lumpur International Airport. The room has soothing portraits and a calm environment to help anxious passengers keep their nerves on check while they wait for the boarding. They have miniature trees and paintings on the wall too that add to the soothing vibe.

Special assistance - There are provisions for special assistance that the airport supports. Trained staff will escort you through the airport and guide you with all the necessary steps and check-in processes required.

How to reach Kuala Lumpur International Airport

Rail

An Express Rail Link is directly connected to the airport. The station is located right at the Main Terminal as well outside klia2. You can catch two of the trail services to reach Kuala Lumpur International Airport namely, KLIA Ekspres and KLIA Transit. The two rail links have been routed in such a way that they make reaching the Kuala Lumpur International Airport from the city centre easy and convenient. The designs have also been aesthetically done to make the rails look good.

Taxicabs and limousine

There are dedicated taxicab services and even limousines available at the airport as well as the city's travel agencies. You can visit any of the agents and book yourself a ride to reach the Kuala Lumpur International Airport. Airport Limo is one place where you can avail the limousine service. There are counters at the airport where you can book your vehicles. You will have to make the payments at the counter itself as there are fixed rates to reach the airport.

Bus

With buses too, there are public as well as private services available within the city to reach the Kuala Lumpur International Airport. The buses are air-conditioned, so you will need to get a ticket to KL Sentral transportation hub which would cost you around RM11. The frequency of buses is quite high at the airport so you wouldn't have to worry about its availability.