From Kolkata

Direct trains connect Kolkata to Gaya from both Howrah and Sealdah stations, with the journey typically taking around 7 to 9 hours depending on the train. Families who prefer to fly can take a flight to Gaya or Patna and continue the rest of the way by road.

From Patna

Patna is the closest of the three, roughly 100 km from Gaya by road — about 2 to 2.5 hours by car. A direct train connection is also available for those who'd rather not drive.

From Delhi

Delhi to Gaya is comfortably covered by direct trains, with journey times generally around 14 to 16 hours. For a quicker option, flights from Delhi to Patna or Gaya are available, with the remaining distance covered by road.

Families travelling from other major cities not listed here — Mumbai, Bengaluru or Chennai, for instance — usually find the most convenient route is a flight into Patna or Gaya followed by the same short road transfer described above.

  • Kolkata — direct train (7–9 hrs) or flight to Gaya/Patna plus road transfer
  • Patna — road (2–2.5 hrs) or direct train
  • Delhi — direct train (14–16 hrs) or flight to Patna/Gaya plus road transfer

Planning your journey to Gaya?

Call Pt. Pritam

Coordinating your arrival

Whichever route your family takes, it helps to get in touch with Pt. Pritam Ji ahead of travel. He can help coordinate local logistics once you arrive — from onward transport to the timing of your rituals — so the practical side of the trip is settled well before you land or step off the train.

Booking trains a few weeks ahead is generally advisable, particularly around Pitru Paksha and other periods when demand for travel to Gaya rises. Families travelling with elderly members sometimes prefer the train specifically because it allows for a more comfortable, unhurried journey compared to the multiple transfers a flight-plus-road-transfer route can involve. Whichever mode you choose, keeping some flexibility in your schedule for the last leg of the journey — particularly the road transfer from Patna, if that's part of your route — is generally a good idea.