Gaya to Venice 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 Venice 

Nestled close to the Adriatic Sea, the alluring city of Venice is a famous tourist spot. Situated at the northern regions of Italy's Veneto region, the city is renowned for being one of the top attractions with architecture inspired by the Renaissance and Gothic era. You will find some of the palaces in lines with the architecture. The beautiful city is gifted with the gorgeous Grand Canal which passes through the city. The flourishing tourism and food culture of Venice brings together many tourists together. Venice is also recognised for its international film and fashion festivals.

Best time to visit Venice

Vienna's alluring weather interspersed with the breeze from the Adriatic Sea is just too good for words. But, when it comes to visiting Venice, September through November is undoubtedly the best time to travel to the city. The temperature during this time is between 23 degree Celsius to 11 degree Celsius, which is perfect for the coastal city. It is easier to book hotels in Venice during this season as the prices see a tremendous drop. Most of the tourists visit the city in summer and are on their way back by the time September arrives. This only makes the city less crowded and noisy. You can easily walk the streets of Venice without bumping into another stranger or stand in long queues while visiting the city's top attractions. You should note that the city faces acqua alta from September to April, especially during November and December. This phenomenon basically means there will be rain in the city. Hence, if your plans coincide with these days, then you should ensure to carry some rain boots and an umbrella. The good thing is the city is lit with a plethora of festivities such as Venice International Film Festival, La Biennale di Venezia and Regata Storica, to name a few. These fests do bring some crowd to the city but only art and literature enthusiasts.

The fact that the city's temperatures are calm and appealing during this time makes it ideal for travelling. The winters do get a little cold here as the temperatures range between 6 degree Celsius to 12 degree Celsius. However, the city does witness some crowd who wish to celebrate the winters in the city. One of the big events that draw many tourists to the city is the Venice Carnival. The city streets are packed with mask-wearing attendants. Interestingly, the hotel prices in Venice are low even during the carnival. In fact, it actually would be a good time to experience the city's spirits. Despite the carnival festival, the hotels are low priced, as are the flight tickets to Venice.

Places to visit in Venice

Venetian tourism is a treat to the eyes and the soul. There are many beautiful locales in the city that continue to attract many tourists. You can start your tour from St Mark's Basilica, built to honour St Mark, the evangelist. Another big highlight of Venice is the lovely Grand Canal. Taking a gondolier to row through the canal is the most romantic thing you can take up in Venice. You should also visit Campanile di San Marco, a structure famous for being the setting to Galileo Galilei's demonstration of the telescope. At the heart of Venice is the famous St Mark's Square which is also called Piazza San Marco. From this space, you can further explore the famous cathedrals and historical structures, including Doge's Palace. Bridge of Sighs is another interesting place to visit which was once used to transfer prisoners to prisons from the courtroom. The legend is definitely worth the excursion. Basilica di Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari is a gorgeous goth-styled church which was constructed in the 14th century. You can also check out the Peggy Guggenheim Collection, a lovely museum with many artistic contributions.

Things to do in Venice

The most fun thing to do would be to explore the city via its canals. You can opt for some free Tours La Bussola as part of your day's itinerary. To indulge in some shopping and sightseeing, you can visit T Fondaco Dei Tedeschi, a space dedicated to Venetian shopping artefacts. You should definitely catch a show at the Musica A Palazzo. The Italians love music and are ardent performers too. From the coast of Venice, you can take up a tour of Murano and Burano Islands by booking a private boat. You should also visit the Jewish Ghetto, a section in the north-western section of Venice where the Jews were once forced to move. A gondola ride along the beautiful canals of Venice is something you should definitely opt for as part of your Venetian rendezvous. It is also recommended to indulge in their food culture. Plus, a wine expedition is a must as are known to come up with the best wines of the world.

Food and restaurants in Venice

As it is on the coast of the Adriatic Sea, the staple food automatically becomes fish for Venice. The Venetian diet mainly consists of cuttlefish, sea bass and clams, which can be found in a majority of food establishments in the city. In fact, much of the menu and even dishes have these fish as the base. There is a specific seafood salad known as frutti di mare, which is well-known for the fact that it has these as ingredients. Interestingly, the Venetian street food called Tramezzini is also popular for being a type of sandwich which comprises of a series of meats and cheese. The popular dish can be found in most of the cafes within the city. The best way to down the sandwich is by drinking a lovely sparkling white wine called prosecco, a big hit in the Veneto region. One of the biggest recommendations is to stick to the street food as they have a range as well as flavours that the big establishments might charge ten times. One such that is a favourite among tourists is the Ristorante La Caravella, known to serve some of the best Venetian food in the city.

Along with Ristorante La Caravella, you should also head to Paradiso Perduto, specifically known for its ambience. The establishment is located close to the Jewish Ghetto and is recognised for its long wooden tables. The area's vibe is also quite lively and full of vigour. It certainly brings more colour to the trip as does the famous Ostaria Boccardoro, a farm-to-table restaurant that offers only the freshest picks from their gardens. For the sake of experience, you can dine at the bacaro, which is basically a smaller bar that is easy on the pockets and favours authentic Venetian cuisine. The food and even the establishments have a character which only helps uplift the enthusiasm to check the places out. You can visit Cantina Do Mori, Alla Ciurma and Cantina Do Spade, to get the best meals and experience.

How to reach Venice

Venice lacks a direct flight availability from India. However, the flight connectivity to Venice via other international routes from India, make it excellent. There are dedicated airlines that have regular flights flying to Venice from India. Airlines such as Lufthansa, Turkish Airlines, Vistara, LOT Polish Airlines, Emirates, Etihad Airways, KLM Royal Dutch, Air France, Alitalia, to name a few, have excellent flight connectivity to Venice from India. The layovers usually take place in cities such as Munich, Istanbul, Warsaw, Frankfurt, Dubai, Rome, Abu Dhabi, Amsterdam, Paris, to name a few. If you are taking Air France or Lufthansa, you will have to apply for a Schengen transit visa. It is essential that you apply for one as these cities expect travellers from India to hold the transit visa. These visas are only applicable to be within the airport premise to catch a connecting flight. You cannot step out into the city with the transit visa. The availability of flights to Venice from Mumbai is aplenty as it is a recognised vacation destination.

The concept of cheap flight tickets to Venice does exist, and if you get lucky, then you will be able to snag a really good travel deal. As one of the prominent travel destinations in Italy, the booking flights to Venice would be quite steep. However, thanks to the plethora of Mediterranean cities that also have the same demand, the prices are balanced. You will be able to snag cheap flight tickets to Venice and at the same time, might even get some really sweet accommodation deals. As long as you keep all your options open, you wouldn't have to worry much about the travel and accommodation in Venice. Prior bookings of flights and hotels in Venice is recommended as it would help you save up all the money to spend within the city on vineyard excursions and sailing expeditions. In fact, you can further upscale your Italian rendezvous in Venice by making reservations at high-priced dining establishments. You will be able to make it a trip with excess luxe, provided you've already got your travel and accommodation in Venice sorted.