State: Bihar

Main languages: Hindi

 

History:

 

The city of Gaya is the headquarters of Gaya District. It lays about 100 kilometerson the banks of Falgu River. This city is a holy site for both the Hindu and the Buddhist religions. This city had been a part of the ancient state Magadha. The history of the city dates back to the time when Gautam Buddha attained enlightenment. The city is only 15 km from Bodh Gaya, the place where he got enlightenment. The region has been citadel of knowledge for the ancient world. Dynasties like the Mauryans flourished here and even the Magadhas ruled the area for a long time. The city also played a vital role in the freedom movement with great leaders being born here. 

 

Gaya and Hindu Mythology:

 

The city has been named after Gayasur which means the demon. The word 'asur' was deleted from the city and the name Gaya remained after Lord Vishnu killed Gayasur. It is said that the God killed him by using the pressure of his which transformed Gayasur into the series of rocky hills which also make up the landscape of the city. It is said that Gaya was so holy after death that the lord gave it the power to absolve the sins of those who touched or looked at him. Many people come here to absolve their sins. 

 

Geography and demography: 

 

Gaya is located at 24.78° N 85.0° E and has an average elevation of 111 meters. It is surrounded by small rocky hills on 3 sides with a river flowing on the fourth. As per the 2001 India census Gaya district had a population of 3,473,428 with an average literacy rate of 68%.

 

Economy:

 

The city mainly flourishes on tourism as a major industry. The other occupations of the city include agriculture and small cottage industries. 

 

Culture and food:

 

The city has an influence of Buddhist and Hindu cultures. The staple food here is like the rest of Bihar and Jharkhand including sattu, litti, pittha, pua, etc. Sweets are savored without occasions here and the specialties include Tilkut, Kesaria Peda, Lai, etc. The Tilkut is the most popular of them all and is made from til or sesame seeds. The road side snacks here are very popular and provide a mixture of spicy-sour treats. 

 

Education:  

The city of Gaya has been a popular learning centre since the ancient times. Even today there are prominent institutes located here including the Magadh University 

 

Tourism:

 

There are endless places to visit in Gaya. These include the Ghats and temples on the banks of the sacred Falgu River. Sacred trees like the pipaland Akshayavat are worshipped along with the temples like Mangla Gauri, Vishnupad Temple and many more. The Lumbini in Bodh Gaya, Sarnath in Kushinagar, Sravasti in Rajgir and Sankissa in Vaishali are other nearby sites to visit. Gaya is also important for the 

 

Transportation:

 

Gaya is well connected to the rest of India by roadways, railways and airways. The Gaya Airport is the only international airport in Bihar and Jharkhand with regular flights to the main cities of India and Asia. 

 

Comments