Trip from Bodhgaya to Goa

Hi and happy new year to all the IM friends!
I am studying the best (and possibly cheapest way) to reach Goa from Bodhgaya within my trip of next March. I will arrive to Bodhgaya from Delhi after 16 days through Jaipur, Agra, Orchha, Khajuraho, Varanasi, all by train, and I would like to conclude my trip spending few days in Goa and leaving India from Mumbai.
Up to now, I have found the following possibilities:

1) from Bodhgaya to Patna by bus early in the morning, then Air Sahara flight to Mumbai 11:40 arriving 15:10 (1 stop), then train from Mumbai 23:00 to Thivim 9:00 ca.; from Thivim to Ajhura by taxi. The cost of the flight Patna-Mumbai is 225 USD (Internet booking).
2) from Bodhgaya to Gaya by bus, then from Gaya fast train to Delhi arriving at 10:40 (12 hours), from Delhi Indian Airlines flight to Goa directly but the day after only, leaving 10:00; from Goa airport I should also reach Ajhura by bus or taxi. The cost of the flight is 250 USD.

The first planning seems really the best one, but does someone have something else to suggest?
Thank you for your help!
Gianni, Rome, Italy

chuck gaya...i've been in patna for more than 1 year and seen all bihar tourist places... .no big deal.. rather dont miss sarnath in varanasi..... then take night train from varanasi to calcutta.... should get train or plane to goa... bon voyage

How about Puri & konark?

Train 2802 departs Gaya station daily at 13:50 and gets to Puri at 05:45 the next morning.

2-tier air con = Rs 1393.
3-tier air con = Rs 902.
Sleeper class (not air-con) = Rs 340.


There are loads of trains from Puri to Bhubaneswar (47 kms.)

There are at least 2 daily flights from Bhubaneswar to Mumbai, the cost is US$ 260.

However, there have been many changes in the airline industry since I got my timetable, most of them for the good, and lots of them reducing prices, so if you decide on this route, check around and book early.