Niranjana Hotel Bodh Gaya

We stopped in Bodhigaya for two reason: the first was to break up the long haul to Darjeeling and second was to see the spot where Buddha attained enlightenment. It was here, 26 centuries ago, that Prince Sidartha attained enlightenment under the Bodhi tree. It also just so happens that Bodhigaya is located in the state of Bihar - one of India’s poorest and most troubled regions. This area is wracked by widespread government corruption, sporadic intercaste ...

... old and sits on the site of the Bodi tree. About 500 feet before reaching the main gate you are greeted by an army of hawkers and beggars. Sir, sir, sir, would you like to buy some leaves from the Bodi tree? Would you like some postcards? How about a statue of Buddha? , etc. Also the beggars are trying to catch your attention by looking at your eyes while waving at you. I discovered that if you move fast you can avoid most of the unwanted attention ...

... 50 pounds plus for our sleeping bags and a few other bits so decided we would wait till Bangkok for that. Also ran into a couple of crazy old ladies asking for money, there are loads of beggars in India as you would expect. The first one chased us down the road with her stick after I ignored her, the second was even more persistent as she followed us at power walking pace for about 200m chanting scriptures at me. It seems harsh but it is recommended that all beggars ...

... the afternoon. when it's hottest. We went to drop off our backpacks in the cloak room, which actually wasn't too sketchy, and there was a Canadian guy who had his stuff there so it seemed ok. The Canadian guy was really funny, and said some pretty funny things. He was just finishing his two months in India and was catching his train to Delhi to fly home. One thing that he said that was just so perfect to describe India and that really made me crack up because it was just so true is ...

... the while, nothing or everything may shift slowly or quickly inside me, most likely something inbetween - but that cannot be the point, or it will hault the whole process.



so, back to the experience! the evening after the retreat ended, i was standing awkwardly outside the internet cafe waiting for gordon to get back from our guest house, when a fellow asked me if i wanted a seat. i accepted, a little cautiously - i'm never overly keen on small talk ...

... Aartia Its a ritual blessing of the river at 6pm that's been happening the same way along the Ganges for the last several thousand years. Amazing to see the detail of the ritual - turn this way, light this, turn this way, throw the water, etc. To say the least, the boat ride and the event were an excellent way to say farewell to beautiful Varanasi. The following morning, I looked up my train to Bodhgaya (and also had my hotel call to be sure) and there was a two hour ...

Bodhgaya is the town in which the Buddha gained enlightenment. There is a big temple at the tree where he sat when it happened. There are lots of Buddhist temples and pilgrims here. I saw the great tree and the temple. The temple grounds are quite nice. There are lots of interesting Buddhist monks and pilgrims here. I met a couple boys (about age 7) and they took me to their "school" where I met their "teacher" who wanted 500 donations for poor boys who couldn't ...

... killed by King Ashoka's wife but, prior to this, one of Ashoka's daughters brought a cutting from the tree to Sri Lanka. A cutting from that tree was, in turn, brought to Bodh Gaya and planted at the original location. This has always been the most significant pilgrimage site for Buddhists around the world and under the tree the diversity was prevalent: Sri Lankan pilgrims in white robes, Thai monks in orange, Tibetan monks in maroon, a ...

... you take a bus or three wheeler straight to Bodh Gaya and come back to visit Gaya as a day trip from there. If you take the early bus from Bodh Gaya you can climb Gayasisa while it is still cool, see the other places and return to Bodh Gaya in the afternoon. If your train arrives late in Gaya and you have to stay over night there are several hotels just across from the railway station TOP BODHGAYA BODHGAYA As the place of the Buddha's Enlightenment, Bodhgaya ...

... anyone, not to eat anything as it could be drugged and to separate our cash. Advice like this is abound especially in the guidebooks and it is difficult to know if you are being overly cautious or rude, missing an opportunity to experience some cultural exchange. Fortunately, no unsavoury incidents transpired, apart from a few uncomfortable stares. After a night of intermittent sleep, calls of 'Chai Chai' got us up in the morning as the train pulled ...