In the Buddhist circuit tours, Gaya and Bodh Gaya form one of the most important places to be visited. Situated in the Central Bihar, on the foothills of the Chotanagpur plateau, Gaya is today counted among one of the most famous places in Bihar. This is the place where Gautam Buddha attained Enlightenment or the knowledge of life. Gaya is also known as one of the pilgrimage for the Hindus. Gaya is located on the Banks of river Falgu and people come here to perform rituals which provides peace to the departed soul of their ancestors.

The Bodhi tree under which Buddha performed his meditation is located here. The Maha Bodhi temple of Bodh Gaya is one of the important places of worship for the Buddhists. Recently this temple was in midst of a controversy between the Bihar Government and the Board which manages this temple. But the controversy has not affected the inflow of tourists to this place. Gaya and the sister town of Bodh Gaya are both small towns which can be seen in one day. Bodh Gaya is a peaceful town which has attracted not only domestic tourists and Buddhist but also visitors from the West who want to know about Buddhism and learn meditation. During the winters Tibetans come here and stay. Many times the Dalai Lama spends December in Bodh Gaya. The charm of this place is due to the visitors and tourists and when they leave, it seems that they have taken the glamour of this place.