Same day guided visit to Bodhgaya from Varanasi
The crucible of Buddhism, Bodhgaya was where Prince Siddhartha attained enlightenment beneath a bodhi tree 2600 years ago and became Buddha (the 'Awakened One'). In terms of blessedness, this tiny temple town is to Buddhists what Mecca is to Muslims. Unsurprisingly, it attracts thousands of pilgrims from around the world every year, who come for prayer, study and meditation.
Schedule & prices
Runs
Every day
Start times
5:00 AM
Next available
Sun, Oct 11
Adult (ages 18–80)
$110
Prices are per person when two book together; a solo traveller pays $187.
Larger groups pay less per person.
From the operator’s live schedule on Viator, checked Oct 10.
Tour Options
All seasons rates
All season rates : Guided same day tour of Bodhgaya from Varanasi
Pickup included
Itinerary
Mahabodhi Temple
Admission included840 min
At 05:00 AM take your packed breakfast from your Hotel and drive to Bodhgaya.
You will reach Bodhgaya at around 10:00 AM.
On arrival in Bodhgaya visit to Maha Bodhi Temple Complex - is one of the oldest brick temples in India. The magnificent Unesco World Heritage–listed Mahabodhi Temple, marking the hallowed ground where Buddha attained enlightenment and formulated his philosophy of life, forms the spiritual heart of Bodhgaya.
Pilgrims and visitors from all walks of life and religions come to worship or just soak up the atmosphere of this sacred place. An enthralling way to start or finish the day is to stroll around the inside of the perimeter of the temple compound (in an auspicious clockwise pattern) and watch a sea of maroon and yellow dip and rise, while Tibetan monks perform endless prostrations on their prayer boards.
After this see Bodhi Tree - Undoubtedly, the most sacred fig tree ever to grace the Earth was the Bodhi Tree at Bodhgaya, under which Prince Siddhartha, the founder of Buddhism, achieved enlightenment. Buddha was said to have stared unblinkingly at the tree in an awed gesture of gratitude and wonder after his enlightenment.
The 4.8-hectare (11.9-acre) complex also includes ancient shrines and modern structures built by Buddhist devotees. It was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2002.
After this see the Great Budhha Statue - This 25m-high Japanese-style statue towers above a pleasant garden at the end of Temple St. The impressive monument was unveiled by the Dalai Lama in 1989 and is surrounded by 10 smaller sculptures of Buddha’s disciples. The statue is partially hollow and is said to contain some 20,000 bronze Buddhas.
After this visit to Vishupad Temple - As the name suggests, this temple was built as a dedication to Lord Vishnu and features a 40 cm long footprint of Lord Vishnu that is enclosed by a basin made of silver plates.
Later after this visit to some famous monasteries such as Thai Monastery, Vietnamese Monastery, Japani Monastery etc.
If you wish to perform Pind Daan rituals for your ancentors, you can do it here at some additional cost should be paid to Pundit directly.
Later after all these drive back to Varanasi and on arrival in Varanasi transfer to your Hotel.
What's included
Included
Professional and Govt approved tour guide
GST (Goods and Services Tax)
All taxes, fees and handling charges
Guaranteed to skip the long lines
Transport by private Air Conditioned vehicle
Not included
Everything which is not mentioned into inclusions
Pickup Locations & Times
We shall pick you up from your hotel at 05:00 AM. Get ready with your packed breakfast.
Traveller Ratings
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
5.0
7 reviews
5
7
4
0
3
0
2
0
1
0
Important Information
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
Specialized infant seats are available
Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
Not recommended for pregnant travelers
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Child rate applies only when sharing with 2 paying adults
Cancellation
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
1+ days before100% refund
0–1 days before0% refund
Frequently asked questions
How long does Same day Bodhgaya tour from Varanasi take?
Same day Bodhgaya tour from Varanasi lasts about 14 hours. The itinerary has 1 stop.
How much does Same day Bodhgaya tour from Varanasi cost?
Prices start at $110 per person for this Varanasi experience, booked through Viator with the price shown before checkout. That is the per-person price when two book together; a solo traveller pays $187. There is 1 booking option, so the final price depends on the option you choose.
What days does Same day Bodhgaya tour from Varanasi run?
According to the operator’s current schedule, it runs every day, starting at 5:00 AM.
Can I cancel Same day Bodhgaya tour from Varanasi for free?
Yes. Cancel at least 1 day before the start for a full refund. Later cancellations are non-refundable.
Is hotel pickup included?
Yes, pickup is offered. We shall pick you up from your hotel at 05:00 AM. Get ready with your packed breakfast. Pickup points include Comfort Inn Benares, Hotel Zeeras.
What languages is Same day Bodhgaya tour from Varanasi offered in?
The experience is available in EN.
Is this a private or a group tour?
It is a private experience: only your party takes part. Up to 10 travellers can book together.
Is the tour suitable for children?
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller Specialized infant seats are available Child rate applies only when sharing with 2 paying adults
Will my booking be confirmed immediately?
Yes, bookings are confirmed instantly.
Is Same day Bodhgaya tour from Varanasi worth it?
Travellers rate it 5.0 out of 5 across 7 reviews on Viator and Tripadvisor; it is run by Tour Varanasi.
Reviews(7)
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
W
Wei_G
January 13, 2025 · via Viator
Learn a lot from this...
Learn a lot from this trip. Driver and tour guide are very good. It is very far. It will rather to stay in Bodhgaya.
Operator response
Thank you for sharing your experience. We’re glad you found the tour informative and appreciated the efforts of both the guide and driver. Your note about the distance is helpful, and we truly value your feedback.
L
Lizhen_X
January 4, 2024 · via Viator
Definitely Worthwhile and Highly Recommended
This is a great tour. It's so heart-touching to actually be inside the Mahabodhi Temple and under the holy Bodhi Tree. Definitely worth the long drive. The tour guide in Bodhgaya, Rakesh Kumar, was really nice. He found ways to beat the unusual crowd that day and showed me around the holy site thoroughly (including Sujata Temple across Niranjana, which was not on the itinerary). Rakesh was very patient and ensured I had sufficient time to explore the holy ground closely. His professionalism and patience made the whole trip fulfilling and worthwhile. I owe a huge thank you to him! The driver, Kamal, was also superb. He navigated through the challenging traffic conditions at night safely and proficiently, ensuring we returned to Varanasi not too late. I traveled alone by myself but felt safe and being well taken care of. Would highly recommend this tour!
1 people found this helpful
A
Anil K
December 15, 2023 · via Tripadvisor
Thank you for this
Thank you for this amazing tour. Guide Sujeet was superb. He accompanied us from Bodhgaya and brought us back safe after showing us all.
Operator response
Thank you so much for taking the time to share your positive experience with us! We're delighted to hear that you enjoyed your tour with us. Our team works hard to provide memorable experiences, and it's always rewarding to receive such positive feedback. We look forward to welcoming you back on another adventure soon!
Best regards,
Vimal Kumar
+91 74579 05011
R
Ravi M
October 21, 2023 · via Tripadvisor
Amazing Bodhgaya excursion
Thank you Vimal for your easy communication and sharing pre tour details. Bodhgaya was amazing and guide Dinu helped me explore almost everything possible to see there.
Lunch in Sujata was superb. Anyone who is staying in Varanasi for more than 2 nights should choose this excursion for sure.
Operator response
Thank you so much for taking the time to share your positive experience with us! We're delighted to hear that you enjoyed your tour with us. Our team works hard to provide memorable experiences, and it's always rewarding to receive such positive feedback. We look forward to welcoming you back on another adventure soon!
Best regards,
Vimal Kumar
+91 74579 05011
O
Olga J
October 3, 2023 · via Tripadvisor
Bodhgaya
This trip was very interesting and good organised. Guide provided good history knowledges about places visited . Highly recommend it
Operator response
Thank you so much for taking the time to share your positive experience with us! We're delighted to hear that you enjoyed your tour with us. Our team works hard to provide memorable experiences, and it's always rewarding to receive such positive feedback. We look forward to welcoming you back on another adventure soon!
Best regards,
Vimal Kumar
+91 74579 05011
F
FrequentFlier290928
September 28, 2022 · via Tripadvisor
Amazing same day excursion from Varanasi
Thank you TourVaranasi team for arranging such a beautiful same day excursion. Visiting Bodhgaya was on my bucket list which i managed to complete.
All thanks for Sujeet guide for taking me safely there showing all around and giving depth insight of Buddhism religion.
Driver Anil was very well and experinced
2 people found this helpful
Operator response
Dear Guest,
Thank you for taking out time in writing this wonderful review. Happy that you liked our services.
Hope to serve you someday soon again.
Till then, keep travelling !
Sonia Sharma.
R
Rytis_S
November 8, 2019 · via Viator
Tour guide (Sujeet Kumar) was very friendly and excellent guide.As well as a driver made our trip safe and on time.
Tour guide (Sujeet Kumar) was very friendly and excellent guide.As well as a driver made our trip safe and on time.
2 people found this helpful
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