Los Angeles to Gaya Flights

  About Los Angeles

Los Angeles is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the United States of America. Even though it is majorly popular for Hollywood and a tour of the Paramount Pictures Studios and Warner Bros. Studios, there is more to LA than that. It is one of the fanciest cities to live in and worth every penny spent. LA also has the Malibu, Venice and Santa Monica Beaches that offer a couple of water activities. You can also go hiking at Griffith Park and Angeles National Forest. A lot of tourists prefer a guided tour of the city, but it can take a while since it's a big city. It would, however, help if you plan in advance and make a list of things you want to do and places you want to visit in LA. You also need to make sure that you book your hotel in Los Angeles way in advance. For all you know, you might even run into your favourite celebrity here in LA.

Best Time to Visit Los Angeles

LA is one city that you can visit whenever you want and is at its affordable best if you have planned the trip well in advance. June to August is summer in LA, and it is also a high season. The temperature ranges from 15 to 29 degree Celsius. Booking a hotel in LA during the high season is quite expensive, and you won't even get cheap flight tickets to LA if you are flying during this season. However, if you are not wound up by a budget or have no trouble bearing the heat, summer is ideal for visiting LA for you. You can also be a part of LA Pride that happens in June and the Nisei Week Japanese Festival in August. Since the city is buzzing with tourists, it will also be difficult for you to enjoy some quiet time for yourself. You will constantly find a lot of tourists, almost every place you go to.

March to May is the spring season in LA, and though the prices don't really drop during this season, it is an ideal time to visit the city. The weather remains pleasant, and there are fewer tourists as compared to summer, which makes it all the more better. Though you might not be able to book a hotel in LA at an affordable price, you will come across quite a few discounts and flight deals to LA online. You can attend events like the Los Angeles Marathon, Los Angeles Times Festival of Books, Jazz Reggae Festival and so on. With fewer tourists, you will also enjoy the Hollywood tour more than you would with tourists overcrowding the city. The temperature ranges from 10 to 23 degree Celsius and makes for quite a pleasant day. The evenings are perfect for you just to take a stroll around the city or the beaches if you are planning to visit any.

September to November is another best time to visit LA since this is when the tourists leave. The weather turns quite pleasant, hotel prices drop and so do prices of flight tickets to LA. The temperature ranges from 11 to 28 degree Celsius. You won't have to worry about splurging more than your budget or stepping out in the sun a lot if you are visiting in autumn. If you are lucky enough, you might even get a chance to attend the Emmy Awards or at least the red carpet as a fan. Make sure that you have your passes arranged in advance. December to February is winter and temperature range from 8 to 20 degree Celsius. It rains quite a lot during winter and LA is not as cold as the other cities in the US like New York or Boston. However, you will bump into celebrities here since the Academy Awards, Golden Globe Awards and Grammys are also hosted during this season. Don't forget to catch the Hollywood Christmas Parade if you are going to be around during the festival.

Places to Visit in Los Angeles

A Hollywood Tour is a must when you visit Los Angeles. Paramount Pictures Studios, Hollywood Walk of Fame and the Warner Bros. Studios are popular tourist attractions in the city. You can go on a guided tour of the studios and might even run into your favourite celebrity. If you want to spend a day near the ocean, you can head to Santa Monica Beach, Venice Beach, Zuma Beach or Malibu Beach. You can also head to the Universal Studios. Not only will you get to visit popular movie sets here but you can also try the movie-themed rides that the place has to offer. Be it The Simpsons, Harry Potter, Walking Dead or Transformers, you can try whichever one is your favourite or all of them. The Museum of Jurassic Technology is another tourist attraction in LA that you would not want to miss. It's a blend of fact and fiction and has very little to do with dinosaurs. If you are heading to the Los Angeles Zoo, you can also visit The Griffith Observatory later. It is a planetarium that lets you observe the moon and stars through a Zeiss telescope.

Take a stroll along the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Now you don't have to hire a guide here necessarily if but you might come across interesting stories if you do. You can head to the Chinese Theatre later on that has hand and footprints of popular actors. Disneyland is another famous attraction that you can visit with your friends or family. It has two waterparks and four theme parks. You can also visit the Los Angeles County Museum of Art if you are an art lover. LACMA, as it is called, opened in 1965 and showcases artefacts from Islamic to European artists. If you want to do a little window shopping or go on a shopping spree, head over to Rodeo Drive, you will come across a lot of high-end designer stores, and you will also spot a lot of expensive, fancy vehicles.

Things to do in Los Angeles

Park near Lake Hollywood or go on a hike at Griffith Park to take a picture with the iconic Hollywood sign in the background. It is one of the most popular landmarks in LA. Griffith Park is one of the most popular places to go hiking in Los Angeles. Venice is an eccentric neighbourhood in Los Angeles, and you might want to catch the sunset at Venice Beach. You will find numerous street vendors, tattoo parlours, international cuisines and a few street performers. You will have a great time here. You can also try bicycle tours in the city, a very eco-friendly way of getting around the city. You can reserve a day for museum tours and other sightseeing tours, another day for studio tours and another one for Disneyland. Heading to the beach and indulging in water activities in another popular thing to do in LA. You will certainly not get tired of living the luxe life here.

Food and Restaurants in Los Angeles

LA has a very diverse range of cuisines, and since it is a famous place for celebs to be at, you will find a lot of restaurants here that are either owned by celebrity chefs like Wolfgang Puck and Gino Angelini. You will also find celebrity chefs recreating their signature dishes at other restaurants. If you want to grab a quick bite instead of waiting around at a restaurant, you can try the food trucks that serve sushi burritos, quinoa bowls and loaded hot dogs. You can also sign yourself up for a guided food tour since LA is known for its eclectic dining scene. The city is also known for its nightlife. You can head to The Varnish and ETA, and they are some of the best cocktail bars in the city. Diddy Riese Cookies is a fast food place that serves you delicious food. If you are in the mood for Italian food, you can try Raffaello Ristorante or Angelini Osteria. Tocaya Organica is the place you go to for Mexican or Latin food. Karl Strauss Brewing Company is an amazing brewpub.

How to reach Los Angeles (Transportation)

The Los Angeles International Airport is about 30 km away from Downtown LA. It is the world's third busiest airport. The flight connectivity to Los Angeles from India is excellent. Turkish Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific Airways, British Airways are some of the popular airlines that fly to LA with layovers at Istanbul, Singapore, Hong Kong and London. The frequency of flights to LA from India is quite good, and you will get to choose from a lot of them. The LA Airport is well-equipped, and you can expect first-class treatment even if you are not a VIP. There are restaurants, cafes, duty-free shopping areas, taxi services, almost everything that you need here. You can also chill at the airport lounge while you wait for your flight.

  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 Los Angeles Airport

Los Angeles International Airport is located in Westchester, about 30 km away from Downtown Los Angeles. It is the primary airport that serves Los Angeles county and all the metropolitan that surrounds it. The airport is recognized to be the third busiest airport in the world with respect to passenger traffic, domestic and international. It is also the second busiest airport in the United States and follows Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. The airport is easily the largest international airport on the West Coast of the US.

In fact, Los Angeles International Airport also serves as a major getaway for international flights and operations to the US. The airport is also renowned for its status as the world's busiest origin as well as the destination airport. This means the airport sees travellers either commence or conclude their journey than use it for connecting flights. Los Angeles International Airport also operates the four legacy carriers of the US, American, United, Alaska and Delta. Hubs have been designated to the airlines.

About Airport Terminals

Los Angeles International Airport has a total of nine passenger terminals which comprises of 132 gates in total. The arrangement of the gates is in the form of the letter U and have been numbered to make it easier for the passenger. Tom Bradley International Terminal is completely out of the equation though. With the expansion of the Midfield Satellite Concourse North, international flights can now be accessed from the Tom Bradley Terminal (TBIT). With TBIT, 12 new gates have been added to the Midfield Satellite Concourse North. The terminal and runway have also undergone tremendous improvement. Terminal 1 is reserved for domestic flights as well as international check-in counters are also available. Terminal 2 has been allotted to Aer Lingus Airlines, Aeromexico, Virgin Atlantic, West Jet and Delta Air Lines. Virgin Atlantic also has a Clubhouse that has been installed in the terminal premise. The structure has a luxurious overview that has been inspired by the West Coast luxe lifestyle. Terminal 3 has recently been given wholly to Delta Air Lines. The airlines plans to make some extensive upgrades to accommodate better passenger experience. The terminal also has check-ins of airlines such as Interjet and Virgin Australia, Avianca and Copa.

Terminal 4 has been taken over by American Airlines. The upgrades to the terminal were recently completed and with ticketing counters, restaurants and a direct connection from the terminal to the newly opened Tom Bradley International Terminal. The link has been created to enhance connectivity for passengers who need to reach the other terminal for connecting flights. Terminal 5 sees airlines such as Hawaiian Air, Air Canada (only arrivals), American, American Airlines, Allegiant Air and Frontier. They have recently upgraded the face of the terminal with additional restaurants and ticketing lobby. New baggage carousels have also been installed. Terminal 6 has the departures for Air Canada and all operations of Alaska Airlines, Boutique Air, Thomas Cook, Viva Aerobus and Mokulele Airlines. Latest check-in kiosks have been installed as well as numerous security screening points. Even the lobby's decor has undergone alterations. Terminal 7 is again reserved for domestic airlines, United Airlines and United Express. A new United Club Terminal 7 lounge has recently been opened. Terminal 8 also has flights of United Airlines and United Express with better ticketing lobby and enhancing seating.

About Airport Authority

Los Angeles International Airport is owned and operated by the Los Angeles World Airports (LAWAL). LAWA is actually a branch of the city of Los Angeles and has a team of seven members on the Board of Airport Commissioners. They govern the management and administer the airport's functions. The statutory body owns Los Angeles International Airport as well as Van Nuys Airport, which is located in the San Fernando Valley. Los Angeles World Airport was acquired in 1928 by the Los Angeles Department of Airports to take up operations of Los Angeles Municipal Airport (as it was named earlier). Later in 1997, the Department of Airports took on a new identity and named itself Los Angeles World Airports. The organization was previously owned and operated by Palmdale Regional Airport along with Ontario International Airport. However, it is now an independent body. The authority has managed to bring about tremendous changes in upscaling the passenger experience and infrastructure of the Los Angeles International Airport. They even received the Sustainability Award after the renovation of their Tom Bradley International Terminal.

Los Angeles World Airports has enabled its department of police that go by the name Los Angeles Airport Police. They are often referred to as LAXPD or LAWAPD too. The department is recognized as the fourth largest law enforcement entity in Los Angeles County. There are about 1,100 law enforcement, staff and security personnel employed by the LAWAPD. They sometimes even patrol jointly with the county's police department (LAPD). Additional police personnel have been assigned to LAX security too.

Top airlines flying from Los Angeles International Airport

Los Angeles International Airport caters as the focus city to airlines such as Air New Zealand, Qantas, Volaris, Southwest Airlines, Allegiant Air and Norwegian Air Shuttle. Meanwhile, it is also known to be the only airport in the United States to cater to all four US legacy carriers, namely, American, Alaska, United and Delta. In fact, designated terminals have been allotted to accommodate these airlines at the Los Angeles International Airport. Aside from the legacy carriers, the airlines also see tremendous action on the international front. Airlines such as Aer Lingus, Air Canada, Air China, Air France, Air New Zealand, All Nippon Airways, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, China Airlines, Copa, Emirates, Etihad Airways, Fiji Airways, Finnair, Hawaiian Airlines, Iberia, Japan Airlines, KLM Royal Dutch Airways, Lufthansa, LOT Polish Airlines, Qatar Airways, Qantas, Saudia, Scandinavian Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Southwest Airlines, Swiss, Turkish Airlines, Virgin Atlantic, Volaris and WestJet, have dedicated flights flying to Los Angeles Airport on a regular basis.

Facilities at the Los Angeles International Airport

Nursing stations - Nursing stations or child care rooms are present at the airport for mothers with infants. The room is regularly sanitized and kept clean to ensure that it doesn't cause discomfort to the mother or the baby.

WiFI - WiFi connections can also be availed at the airport for free. You can get details of the same at the information desk. The WiFi services are unlimited so you can use it for as long as you want.

ATMs and currency exchange - Dedicated ATM kiosks and currency exchange counters are also present at the arrivals of the airport.

Medical services - Medical centres and emergency rooms are also available at the Los Angeles International Airport. You can make medical purchases. In case of an emergency that takes place at the airport terminal, there are paramedics available to immediately tend to the case.

Animal relief centre - There are provisions of animal relief areas where travellers flying with pets can visit. The areas are reserved specifically to help out pets and their family.

Art programs - The airport has a one of a kind art experience where they host programs that travellers can indulge in.

Lounges - Los Angeles International Airport has exquisite lounges and VIP rooms. The lounge is available for VIPs as well as first-class and business-class. The hospitality is great while the lounge also offers spas and other such services.

How to reach Los Angeles International Airport

Los Angeles International Airport is well-connected to the city centre and has various modes of transport available to and from the airport. You will be able to reach the Los Angeles International Airport with much easy if you simply opt for FlyAway bus service that is available at the official website of the airport. The service basically helps bridge the gap between Los Angeles International Airport and Union Station. It also caters to other locations in the city so you can easily reach the Los Angeles International Airport without much hassle. The buses also work on regular schedules so you might have to learn a bit about the same before you plan your travel options. Los Angeles International Airport's website has already shared the bus schedules on their website so you can peruse through the same to get answers. 11:40 PM is the last bus while it starts at 5:40 AM. The timings can change depending on the air traffic and other such conditions. There are free shuttle buses that can reach you to different terminals within the LA Airport premise.

Car rentals and taxis are other options you can choose to reach the Los Angeles International Airport. You can either book them on apps such as Uber, or you can also hail a taxi from the street. The chances of getting those might be limited in LA, but you can always try. As for rentals, if you have just landed at Los Angeles International Airport, you can find rental booths at the arrivals area. You can make your car rental bookings here and leave for the city.