is travelling to Bihar (Bogh Gaya) dangerous?

patrickday · Feb 2nd, 2008, 19:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by photosnapper

Dear all
I know that there had been threads like this on the forum - I've read them all. But the last posts on this are MONTHS (some years!) old and I was wondering if anybody could give some up-to-date first-hand info, as it's about a situation which might b changing rather quickly (?)

As part of our India trip we were planning to see Bodh Gaya. However, I've recently hard a lot of horror stories of tourists attacked/robbed ther etc (that includes: train travellers, hotel guests and so on). So says my Lonely Planet and the website of the ministry of foreign affairs of Holland where I live...

Since to Bodh Gaya we were supposed to go with my female friend only, do you think its reasonable to go there for 2 European girls alone? [if yes: what precautions are advisable to take?]

Or should we rather visit Varanasi, Sarnath and then skip Bodh Gaya & head straight to Kolkata?

I'd b really grateful for your insider-advice!

thx!
Marta

been here since middle of dec its safe enough ... if you really want to feel safe try staying at the tergar monestry its a km out from the main sqaure.. but for me its bihar so of course be carefull ,,but its safe enough laxmi hotel is good value,,,

SPACEBUM · Mar 21st, 2008, 21:05

As to road bandits, after the dawn our car was stopped on way to Dharamsala (from Amritsar) and the driver told we need to pay smth like 300 rupees. We didn't pay. There was some argument, but we went forward. The road is not considered dangerous.

Naga · Apr 19th, 2008, 08:29

I'll be visiting Bodhgaya in August.

The next destination is Varanasi.

There is a train from Gaya Stn. to Varanasi (Mughalsarai Stn.) leaving Gaya at 6:15AM. So I'd have to leave Bodhgaya in a taxi around 5:30AM. I think the sun should be up by this hour in August. Does it sound OK, or is it too early to be driving in Bihar?

atala · Apr 19th, 2008, 19:48

It is okay. Even robbers have to sleep some time.

pantelis · Apr 21st, 2008, 18:46

this last January 2008, from Mughal Sarai to Gaya by train and it was pretty safe.Of course i chose to travel in daylight.Don't eat in Om Restaurant in Bodhgaya since their food is quite dirty and i had diarrhea for more than 12 days!!!!!!!!

This was the first time in Bodhgaya where i didn't know where to eat!!!!Also get a mask for the dust, too much dust

kunzag · Jul 8th, 2008, 18:58

We did a Buddhist pilgrimage tour in February, which of course included Bodhgaya. We traveled by bus from Varanasi by night. There was no problem, but a the bus drivers warned us against the journey first. Then during our stay we did some daytrips to special caves (Nagarjuna, Mahakala) by bus. Some places they stopped the bus and asked for money. The driver was really afraid, wanted to pay, but we stepped out, and asked some questions, like WTF do you think? Have you considered your karma? :-) They started to laugh nervously, and backed off. One guy started to write down the license number, but he stopped, because of a "wrathful" look.
Next time the driver insisted to pay (not our money), and actually he got a receipt for it!

About the OM restaurant: there are two of them. The indian OM is horror, like pantellis said. But the Tibetan OM is great. Also Mohamed was a great place and Fujiwara Green.

pantelis · Jul 12th, 2008, 17:35

The Indian OM is filthy dirty with abnormal recipes!!!!the Tibetan OM is just the opposite

Munivar · Jul 12th, 2008, 18:01

Bihar is India's "wild west".

I lived in Jamshedpur for a year (lovely place) and I traveled across Bihar a few times....but I always felt like I was going on an adventure.

I did have my run-in's with local rowdies/bullies..and thankfully by that time I learned the fine art of yelling confidently and out-shout the other guy...typically the ones who demand "donations" etc...

Apr 21st, 2008, 18:46	#20
pantelis Hello Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Greece Posts: 268	i did this for the 4th time this last January 2008, from Mughal Sarai to Gaya by train and it was pretty safe.Of course i chose to travel in daylight.Don't eat in Om Restaurant in Bodhgaya since their food is quite dirty and i had diarrhea for more than 12 days!!!!!!!! This was the first time in Bodhgaya where i didn't know where to eat!!!!Also get a mask for the dust, too much dust __________________

Jul 12th, 2008, 17:35	#22
pantelis Hello Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Greece Posts: 268	yes indeed The Indian OM is filthy dirty with abnormal recipes!!!!the Tibetan OM is just the opposite

Jul 12th, 2008, 18:01	#23
Munivar Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Seattle Posts: 175	Bihar is India's "wild west". I lived in Jamshedpur for a year (lovely place) and I traveled across Bihar a few times....but I always felt like I was going on an adventure. I did have my run-in's with local rowdies/bullies..and thankfully by that time I learned the fine art of yelling confidently and out-shout the other guy...typically the ones who demand "donations" etc... __________________ Yaadhum Oore Yaavarum Kaelir !!!

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Mar 21st, 2008, 21:05	#17
SPACEBUM Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Russia Posts: 16	As to road bandits, after the dawn our car was stopped on way to Dharamsala (from Amritsar) and the driver told we need to pay smth like 300 rupees. We didn't pay. There was some argument, but we went forward. The road is not considered dangerous.

Apr 19th, 2008, 08:29	#18
Naga Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Yokohama Posts: 23	I'll be visiting Bodhgaya in August. The next destination is Varanasi. There is a train from Gaya Stn. to Varanasi (Mughalsarai Stn.) leaving Gaya at 6:15AM. So I'd have to leave Bodhgaya in a taxi around 5:30AM. I think the sun should be up by this hour in August. Does it sound OK, or is it too early to be driving in Bihar?

Apr 19th, 2008, 19:48	#19
atala Senior Member, 8 yrs in India Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Switzerland, just back from India 2008 Posts: 691	It is okay. Even robbers have to sleep some time.

Jul 8th, 2008, 18:58	#21
kunzag Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Budapest Posts: 5	We did a Buddhist pilgrimage tour in February, which of course included Bodhgaya. We traveled by bus from Varanasi by night. There was no problem, but a the bus drivers warned us against the journey first. Then during our stay we did some daytrips to special caves (Nagarjuna, Mahakala) by bus. Some places they stopped the bus and asked for money. The driver was really afraid, wanted to pay, but we stepped out, and asked some questions, like WTF do you think? Have you considered your karma? :-) They started to laugh nervously, and backed off. One guy started to write down the license number, but he stopped, because of a "wrathful" look. Next time the driver insisted to pay (not our money), and actually he got a receipt for it! About the OM restaurant: there are two of them. The indian OM is horror, like pantellis said. But the Tibetan OM is great. Also Mohamed was a great place and Fujiwara Green.

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