Gaya (India)
Gaya | ||
---|---|---|
Deputy Mayor Mohan Shrivastava | | |
Area | ||
• Total | 308 km2 (119 sq mi) | |
• Rank | 21(india), 3rd (Bihar) | |
Elevation | 111 m (364 ft) | |
Population (2011) | ||
• Total | 470,839[1] | |
• Rank | 102 (India) 2nd (Bihar) | |
• Density | 9,490/km2 (24,600/sq mi) | |
Gaya International Airport | ||
Website | gaya |
Gaya (
It is a city of historical significance and is one of the major tourist attractions in
Gaya was chosen as one of twelve heritage cities to benefit from the Government of India's four-year Heritage City Development and Augmentation Yojana (HRIDAY) scheme for urban planning, economic growth and heritage conservation projects.[5]
The Mahabodhi Temple complex at Bodh Gaya is a World Heritage Site declared by UNESCO
The
,Neemchak-BathaniEtymology
Gaya is named after the demon Gayasura (meaning "the demon Gaya") who dwelt the area during the Treta Yuga.[6][7] According to Vayu Purana, Gaya was the name of a demon (Asura) whose body became pious after he performed strict penance and secured blessings from Lord Vishnu.[8] It was said that the body of Gayasura was transformed into the series of rocky hills that make up the landscape of Gaya.[9]
History
![A view of Gaya during British rule, photograph taken by Waldemar Haffkine](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fb/Gaya_Haffkine01.jpg/220px-Gaya_Haffkine01.jpg)
Ancient history
According to modern scholars, the Kikata kingdom from Rigvedic period was located at Gaya, Bihar.
Gaya is an ancient city, with a Buddhist documented history dating back to the 6th century BCE when the sage Gautama Buddha attained enlightenment at Bodh Gaya, 16 km (9.9 mi) from the modern city.[10]
Even before this time, Gaya was a place of pilgrimage for people from around the world. The fame of ancient Gaya derived from the account in the
Gaya flourished during the Maurya Empire (321–187 BCE), which ruled from the city of Pataliputra (adjacent to modern Patna) over an area that extended beyond the Indian subcontinent. During this period, Gaya witnessed the rise and fall of many dynasties in the Magadha region, where it occupied an important place in cultural history over some 2,400 years between the 6th century BCE and the 18th century CE.
The city's cultural significance began with the dynasty founded by Sisunaga, who exercised power over Patna and Gaya around 600 BCE.
The period of Hindu revivalism began with the Gupta Empire during the 4th and 5th centuries CE. Samudragupta of Magadha brought Gaya into the limelight, making it the capital of Bihar district during the Gupta empire.
In 750 CE, Gaya became a part of the
In the 12th century CE, Gaya was invaded by
Modern history
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d9/View_of_Gaya_from_Hills_of_Mangla_Gauri.jpg/220px-View_of_Gaya_from_Hills_of_Mangla_Gauri.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a6/Bharat_Sevashram_Sangha_temple%2C_Gaya.jpg/220px-Bharat_Sevashram_Sangha_temple%2C_Gaya.jpg)
As attested by Francis Buchanan-Hamilton in the early nineteenth century, the city was divided into two areas: a sacred area in the southern part of the city, called Gaya; and the larger secular area, which may have been known by the Muslim community as Allahabad. During the British rule, the commercial and administrative area of the secular zone was formally named Saheb Ganj by British policy reformer Thomas Law, who was a district officer in Gaya in the late nineteenth century. Now 2023 Upgrade Gaya Junction to International Junction official news launched By @PIB_Patna on Twitter [14]
Gaya played a significant role in the
Gaya is the birthplace of eminent nationalist
Administration
Until 1864, Gaya was a part of the district of Behar and Ramgarh (now in the state of Jharkhand). It became a district of Bihar in its own right on 3 October 1865.[17] In May 1981, the Bihar state government created the Magadh division, comprising the district of Gaya, along with Nawada, Aurangabad and Jehanabad, all of which had originally been sub-divisions when Gaya district was created.[8] Aurangabad and Nawada were partitioned from the territory of Gaya in 1973; and Jehanabad in 1988.[18] Gaya district occupies an area of 4,976 km2 (1,921-mile2).[8]
Gaya Municipal Corporation (GMC) is the civic body that governs Gaya.[19] GMC consists of democratically elected members, is headed by a mayor, who administer the city's infrastructure, public services, and supplies. As of 2022, the corporation is headed by Birendra Kumar and Deputy mayor Chinta Devi.[20]
Culture
Pilgrimage
The city of Gaya is a holy place of
Gaya is considered to be one of the most ideal places to perform the Śrāddha. (A Śrāddha is the Hindu ritual that one performs to pay homage to one's ancestors, especially to one's dead parents). As per Hindu belief system, it is believed that a person goes to hell if he dies in the following circumstances - if he meets an accidental death, if he dies without his consecrations being performed, or if he is killed by a wild animal. But, if Śrāddha of that person are performed at Gaya then the soul of such a man will get rid of the tortures of the hell and will go to heaven. Performing Śrāddha here is of great importance as it helps one to get rid of pitra rinna i.e. debts towards one's ancestors (male forefathers).
Nearby Bodh Gaya ("Buddha Gaya"), so named to distinguish it from the Hindu town centre of Gaya, is one of the four holiest sites of Buddhism and the site where the Buddha attained enlightenment.[13][14]
Bitho Sharif is famous for the tomb of Sufi Saint Makhdoom Durvesh Ashraf RA on the bank of River
World Heritage Site at Bodh Gaya
The Mahabodhi Temple Complex at Bodh Gaya was listed as a World Heritage Site by the World Heritage Committee of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) at its 26th session, on 26 June 2002.[13]
The 50-metre-high (160 ft) Mahabodhi Temple central to the complex was first built by the emperor
The various structures on the site have undergone a number of restorations over the centuries. Ongoing maintenance and management is required to protect the complex which, as a major pilgrimage site, is under pressure due to large numbers of visitors.[21] The site is under the responsibility of the state government of Bihar, and is managed by the Bodhgaya Temple Management Committee (BTMC) and advisory board under the Bodh Gaya Temple Act, 1949.[22]
Climate
As Gaya is surrounded by hills on three sides and river on the fourth side, the climate of Gaya is seasonable. Climate is characterised by relatively high temperatures and evenly distributed rainfall throughout the year. The
Climate data for Gaya, India (1981–2010, extremes 1901–2009) | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Record high °C (°F) | 31.7 (89.1) |
36.1 (97.0) |
42.1 (107.8) |
45.0 (113.0) |
47.1 (116.8) |
47.9 (118.2) |
43.7 (110.7) |
42.3 (108.1) |
42.3 (108.1) |
37.2 (99.0) |
35.0 (95.0) |
31.1 (88.0) |
47.9 (118.2) |
Mean maximum °C (°F) | 28.2 (82.8) |
31.3 (88.3) |
38.0 (100.4) |
42.5 (108.5) |
44.7 (112.5) |
43.7 (110.7) |
37.4 (99.3) |
35.9 (96.6) |
35.2 (95.4) |
34.3 (93.7) |
31.8 (89.2) |
28.7 (83.7) |
45.2 (113.4) |
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 23.0 (73.4) |
26.7 (80.1) |
32.8 (91.0) |
38.7 (101.7) |
39.8 (103.6) |
37.8 (100.0) |
33.4 (92.1) |
32.9 (91.2) |
32.6 (90.7) |
31.6 (88.9) |
28.8 (83.8) |
24.9 (76.8) |
31.9 (89.4) |
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 8.7 (47.7) |
11.6 (52.9) |
16.1 (61.0) |
21.8 (71.2) |
25.4 (77.7) |
26.7 (80.1) |
25.6 (78.1) |
25.4 (77.7) |
24.6 (76.3) |
20.5 (68.9) |
14.2 (57.6) |
9.7 (49.5) |
19.2 (66.6) |
Mean minimum °C (°F) | 4.2 (39.6) |
7.1 (44.8) |
11.0 (51.8) |
17.1 (62.8) |
20.9 (69.6) |
23.1 (73.6) |
23.2 (73.8) |
23.3 (73.9) |
21.9 (71.4) |
15.4 (59.7) |
9.7 (49.5) |
6.0 (42.8) |
4.0 (39.2) |
Record low °C (°F) | 1.5 (34.7) |
2.7 (36.9) |
7.8 (46.0) |
12.9 (55.2) |
14.1 (57.4) |
18.3 (64.9) |
16.7 (62.1) |
18.5 (65.3) |
17.5 (63.5) |
12.2 (54.0) |
6.1 (43.0) |
1.4 (34.5) |
1.4 (34.5) |
Average rainfall mm (inches) | 13.9 (0.55) |
16.0 (0.63) |
10.7 (0.42) |
11.3 (0.44) |
32.5 (1.28) |
157.6 (6.20) |
306.0 (12.05) |
266.0 (10.47) |
177.3 (6.98) |
56.0 (2.20) |
9.5 (0.37) |
4.9 (0.19) |
1,061.6 (41.80) |
Average rainy days | 1.2 | 1.4 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 2.5 | 7.1 | 14.2 | 13.6 | 8.8 | 2.5 | 0.6 | 0.5 | 54.4 |
Average relative humidity (%) (at 17:30 IST )
|
55 | 47 | 31 | 25 | 35 | 54 | 76 | 77 | 76 | 66 | 56 | 58 | 54 |
Source: India Meteorological Department[24][25] |
Economy
Gaya is the second-largest contributor to the economy of Bihar, after Patna. Agriculture is the leading economic activity of the district. The main crops grown are rice, wheat, potatoes, and lentils. Livestock raised include cattle, buffaloes, goats and pigs. Gaya has a large number of household industries, producing incense sticks (atagarbatti), local sweets tilkut (made with sesame seed) and lai (made with poppy seed), stone-work, hand weaving, power-loom weaving, textiles and garments, small-scale manufactured goods, and plastic products. Small-scale industries also include agricultural services, metalworking, machinery and equipment production and repair services.[8] The main vegetable market in the city is the Kedarnath Market. Commercial activities are located along its main roads; the city also has a large number of informal shops.[26] As Gaya is an important centre of religious tourism, accommodation is widely available.[27] Bodh Gaya's largest hotel is the Maha Bodhi Hotel, Resort & Convention Centre; the Sambodhi Retreat, a resort of Bihar, is also in the town.
Demographics
The city had its first census in 1872, which placed the figure at 66,843.
Subdivisions
- Aatri
- Amas
- Atri
- Banke Bazar
- Barachatti
- Belaganj
- Bodhgaya
- Dobhi
- Dumariya
- Fatehpur
- Gaya Town CD Block
- Guraru
- Gurua
- Imamganj
- Khizirsarai
- Konch
- Manpur
- Mohanpur
- Muhra
- Neem Chak Bathani
- Parariya
- Sherghati
- Tan Kupa
- Tikari
- Wazirganj
Transportation
Local transport
There are many city buses and taxis providing services across the city and Bodh Gaya.
Roadways
Gaya has a road network providing good connectivity with the state of Bihar and other parts of the country.
The
Railways
Gaya is connected to the rest of India by roads, rail and airways. The Grand Chord section of the Indian Railways passes through Gaya. Gaya Junction railway station railway station is a major junction station serving the city. Gaya Junction has been redeveloped as Model railway station recently and houses all the major facilities like waiting rooms, computerized reservation facility, food plaza, dormitory, retiring rooms, cafeteria, bookshop, etc. Gaya falls under the jurisdiction of the Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyaya railway division of the East Central Railway zone. The Grand Chord rail line that connects Howrah and New Delhi passes through Gaya. It lies between Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Junction on the Delhi side and Dhanbad Junction on the Howrah side. It is located at 24°48′13″N 84°59′57″E / 24.80361°N 84.99917°E.[37] It has an elevation of 117 metres (384 ft).[38][39]
Airways
Situated between Gaya (7 km) and
Education
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/78/Entrance_Gate_Of_GCE_Campus.png/220px-Entrance_Gate_Of_GCE_Campus.png)
Notable
- Indian Institute of Management Bodh Gaya (IIM BodhGaya)
- Central University of South Bihar (CUSB)
- Anugrah Narayan Magadh Medical College and Hospital (ANMMCH)
- Magadh University
- Gaya College of Engineering
- Gaya College
- Mirza Ghalib College
Notable schools:
- PM Shri Kendriya Vidyalaya No.1, Gaya
- Kendriya vidyalaya No. 2, OTA, Paharpur Cantt., Gaya
- D. A. V. Public School, Cantt. Area, Gaya
- D. A. V. Public School,CR RC, Medical Road, Gaya
- D. A. V. Public School, Manpur, Kaiya
- D. A. V. Public School, Rotary Club Campus, Ashok Nagar, Gaya
- Creane Memorial High School, Katari Hill Road, Gaya
- Nazareth Academy, Gaya
- Delhi Public School, Dubhal, Gaya
- Gyan Bharti Residencial Complex, Bodh Gaya
- G.D. Goenka Public School, Rasalpur, NH-22, Gaya
- Shatabadi Public School, Katari Hill Road, Gaya
- Hansraj Public School, Cantt. Area, Kharanti, Gaya
- Mahabodhi college,Gaya
Notable people
- Gautam Buddha
- Rajesh Kumar
- Anugrah Narayan Sinha
- Jitan Ram Manjhi,serving as the Minister of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises since 2024.
- L. N. Sinha , Former Attorney General of India
- Jalaluddin Ansari , Former MP
- Syed Shah Makhdoom Durwesh Ashraf, 13th century Sufi Saint
- Eqbal Ahmad
- Seyed E. Hasnain
- Ashutosh Aman
- Tabish Khair
- Prem Kumar (politician)
- A. K. Narain
- Lalit Mohan Sharma
- Janki Ballabh Shastri
- O. P. Singh
- Abhay Kushwaha
- Lilliput (actor)
- Rajendra Prasad Yadav (Bihar)
- Surendra Prasad Yadav
- Syed Shahabuddin , Former IFS Officer, Diplomat and Three term Lok Sabha Member
References
- ^ "UA/Cities 1 lakh and above" (PDF). Government of India. Archived (PDF) from the original on 13 November 2011.
- ^ "Gaya Municipal Corporation". The Times of India. 31 August 2019. Archived from the original on 15 September 2020. Retrieved 22 November 2020.
- ^ "City Development Plan for Gaya: EXECUTIVE SUMMARY" (PDF). Urban Development and Housing Department, Government of Bihar. p. 4. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 September 2014. Retrieved 8 October 2012.
- ^ "Two Bihar boys in top 10 of civil services". Archived from the original on 16 August 2016. Retrieved 12 July 2016.
- ^ HRIDAY National Project Management Unit, National Institute of Urban Affairs, Ministry of Urban Development Government of India (21 January 2015). "Heritage City Development and Augmentation Yojana" (PDF). www.hridayindia.in. Archived (PDF) from the original on 29 May 2016. Retrieved 26 September 2018.
{{cite news}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ISBN 978-81-7022-203-3. Archivedfrom the original on 5 April 2023. Retrieved 21 June 2022.
- ^ Bihar (India); Choudhury, Pranab Chandra Roy (1957). Bihar District Gazetteers: Singhbhum. Superintendent, Secretariat Press, Bihar. Archived from the original on 5 April 2023. Retrieved 21 June 2022.
- ^ a b c d MSME-Development Institute, Ministry of MSME, Government of India (2011). "Brief Industrial Profile of Gaya District – Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 27 September 2018.
{{cite news}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ "The Hare Krsnas - Battles of Vishnu Avatars - Gayasur". Harekrsna.com. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 7 January 2016.
- ^ World Heritage Committee (29 June 2002). "World Heritage Scanned Nomination - Site Name: Mahabodhi Temple Complex at Bodh Gaya" (PDF). www.whc.unesco.org. Archived (PDF) from the original on 4 April 2018. Retrieved 27 September 2018.
- ^ a b Griffith, Ralph T. H. (1870–1874). The Rámayán of Válmíki Translated into English Verse (PDF). London: Trübner & Co.; Benares: E. J. Lazarus and Co. p. 761. Archived (PDF) from the original on 29 July 2018. Retrieved 28 September 2018.
- ^ ISBN 978-8-122-30902-7.
- ^ a b c d "Mahabodhi Temple Complex at Bodh Gaya, Description". www.whc.unesco.org. UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Archived from the original on 5 November 2020. Retrieved 27 September 2018.
- ^ a b c Vidyarthi, Lalita Prasad (1978). "Chapter 1: The Sacred Centres of Gaya". The Sacred Complex in Hindu Gaya (2nd ed.). Concept Publishing Company. pp. 1–29. Retrieved 28 September 2018.
- ^ Indian National Congress (1923). "Report of the Thirty-Seventh Indian National Congress held at Gaya on the 26th, 27th, 29th, 30th and 31st December 1922" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 21 May 2023. Retrieved 26 September 2018.
- ^ Roy, Evelyn (1923). "Politics in Gaya" (PDF). The Communist International, Organ of the Executive Committee of the Communist International, English Edition. London, England. Archived (PDF) from the original on 27 September 2018. Retrieved 27 September 2018.
- ^ "Gaya celebrates 154th establishment day". The Times of India. 4 October 2018. Archived from the original on 3 November 2018. Retrieved 4 October 2018.
- ^ Law, Gwillim (25 September 2011). "Districts of India". Statoids. Archived from the original on 17 October 2011. Retrieved 11 October 2011.
- ^ "Gaya civic body takes steps to improve cleanliness score". The Times of India. TNN. 10 January 2021. Archived from the original on 28 June 2021. Retrieved 23 June 2021.
- ^ "Violation of safety norms reason for Covid spike in Gaya: Experts". The Times of India. TNN. 24 April 2021. Archived from the original on 6 July 2021. Retrieved 23 June 2021.
- ^ ISBN 978-92-9077-240-8. Archived(PDF) from the original on 28 September 2018. Retrieved 27 September 2018.
- ^ "The Bodh Gaya Temple Act, 1949 (Bihar Act of 17 of 1949), (as modified up to the 8th February, 1955)" (PDF). www.bodhgayatemple.com. Archived (PDF) from the original on 10 August 2017. Retrieved 27 September 2018.
- ^ "Climate Summary for Gaya, India". Weatherbase.com. Archived from the original on 23 March 2016. Retrieved 7 January 2016.
- ^ "Station: Gaya Climatological Table 1981–2010" (PDF). Climatological Normals 1981–2010. India Meteorological Department. January 2015. pp. 285–286. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 February 2020. Retrieved 24 August 2020.
- ^ "Extremes of Temperature & Rainfall for Indian Stations (Up to 2012)" (PDF). India Meteorological Department. December 2016. p. M34. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 February 2020. Retrieved 24 August 2020.
- ^ Udyog Mitra, Department of Industries (2011). "Bihar – Economic Profile Gaya" (PDF). www.udyogmitrabihar.in. Government of Bihar. Archived (PDF) from the original on 28 September 2018. Retrieved 27 September 2018.
- ISBN 978-0-295-74238-0.
- ^ "Gaya City Census 2011 data". Census 2011 India. Archived from the original on 7 May 2017. Retrieved 7 April 2017.
- ISBN 978-81-7017-080-8. Archivedfrom the original on 31 July 2022. Retrieved 21 June 2022.
- ^ "Urban Agglomerations/Cities having population 1 lakh and above" (PDF). Provisional Population Totals, Census of India 2011. Archived (PDF) from the original on 13 November 2011. Retrieved 3 January 2021.
- ^ "Constituents of urban Agglomerations Having Population 1 Lakh & above" (PDF). Provisional Population Totals, Census of India 2011. Archived (PDF) from the original on 17 June 2016. Retrieved 16 April 2012.
- ^ "Gaya, District in Bihar - The population development of Gaya". Archived from the original on 14 September 2016. Retrieved 13 July 2016.
- ^ "Cities having population 1 lakh and above" (PDF). Provisional Population Totals, Census of India 2011. Archived (PDF) from the original on 7 May 2012. Retrieved 16 April 2012.
- ^ Egis India Consulting Engineers Private Limited. "City Development Plan (2010-30) Gaya: Executive Summary" (PDF). www.urban.bih.nic.in. Urban Development and Housing Department Government of Biha. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 September 2014. Retrieved 27 September 2018.
- Department of Road Transport and Highways. Archived from the original(PDF) on 1 February 2016. Retrieved 27 September 2018.
- ^ Qadir, Abdul (25 April 2018). "Dobhi-Patna road project delayed". The Times of India. India. Archived from the original on 30 September 2018. Retrieved 28 September 2018.
- ^ "Gaya Junction". Wikimapia. Archived from the original on 10 February 2013. Retrieved 1 December 2011.
- ^ "Trains at Gaya". India Rail Info. Archived from the original on 8 December 2011. Retrieved 1 April 2012.
- ^ "Ghanbad Junction Railway Station Details". indiantrains.org. Archived from the original on 8 April 2014. Retrieved 1 April 2012.
- ^ Airports Authority of India. "Gaya Airport". www.aai.aero. Archived from the original on 17 May 2021. Retrieved 27 September 2018.
External links
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
Gaya travel guide from Wikivoyage