Gaya is a very old city. Its known history stretches back to the 6th Century BC. This was the time Buddha attained enlightenment at Bodh Gaya, located only 16km away from Gaya. The weather in Gaya is typically subtropical. It is hot in summer, wet in the monsoon season and fairly cold during the winter. The best time to visit Gaya is winter but let us see this in greater detail.

The temperature during these months can become unbearable with mercury climbing to 45°C on most days. It is most trying to walk around various tourism sites during this period. It is therefore inadvisable for visitors to plan their travel to Gaya during summer.

Gaya has a fairly wet monsoon. The maximum rainfall is received in the months of July and August. The average max rainfall received was 338 mm in July and 231 mm in August. The annual rainfall was around 1090mm on an average between 1901 and 1970. This season is best avoided by visitors to Gaya.

A visit to Gaya is of course all about Bodh Gaya where the pilgrimage season falls during September till January. The best time to visit Gaya is therefore during Gaya’s winter although Buddhist devotees visit Gaya in their thousands during Buddha Purnima that falls during April-May. Gaya’s winter is most pleasant but you may need to carry your woollens since night temperature could drop to the single digit.