Info re Buddhist monastery guest houses in Bodhgaya?

SilverMaple

We’re visiting Bodhgaya in mid-October and would prefer to stay in a monastery guest house, rather than a hotel. We’re a couple and we’re hoping for a double room with self-contained bathroom which, from guidebooks, I gather is available at certain of the monastery guest houses in Bodhgaya.
1) Does anyone know whether you can book in advance at any of these monastery guest houses? I’ve found a list of phone numbers + a couple of e-mail addresses.
2) Can anyone give feedback from experience about any particular monastery guest houses?
3) Is the Roots Institute of Wisdom Culture guest house a long way from centre of Bodhgaya? I’m finding apparently contradictory info
Any information much appreciated.

pantelis

It is just in the center of Bodhgaya{i think it's a branch of Shechen Monastery 80% sure}.The rooms are very clean but if you want the atmosphere of the monastery , simply there's no atmosphere.The guest house is located just a few steps from the monastery.Try it{ as far as i remember the price was quite high for that period but as i told you lack of atmosphere}.It is located some 6 meters away from the main bank and the central road of Bodhgaya.You can not book it in advance but the period you are going Bodhgaya has not many visitors.

__________________

pantelis

from the Mahabodhi Temple and the center.If you don't mind walking morning and evening {but if you intend to do daily circumambulations around the stupa better stay in the center }, unless you use the rickshaws

CANADON

The Root Institute is 1.5 kilometres from the main temple.I stayed at Root for a week last March and really enjoyed it.You can walk to town,take a bike rickshaw or Root has bikes you can use.Nice location and the food is good.I stayed as a hotel guest but everyone else was there for a meditation retreat.It just meant I had to keep silent in certain areas.After meals everyone else would go into the meditation hall to sit while I lay in the garden and read British crime novels. Not swatting mosquitos took a bit of getting use to though.

Edor

I checked with OP and SilverMaple is fine with my adding additional request to this thread, thank you. If you provide information to OP on their accommodation need if you can also include anything relevant to the following accommodation need that would be appreciated. It would also keep from making extra threads.

My 23 year old son, 1st time in Asia, will be in Bodh Gaya for 3 or 4 nights toward end of January, and I would imagine that things might be quite crowded with Tibetan pilgrims as well as western meditation courses that I know are taking place at that time. My son is just starting to meditate and would like to stay in or near a monastery, observe precepts, silence, etc., but be free to explore the town and not necessarily take all meals at monastery (or a guest house close by in, at least a quiet setting). At that time of year making a reservation at least for the first night is a good idea? Any suggestions?

For moderator, or other old-timer: I'm new & want to understand where things should be posted. It seems that this thread is appropriate in this forum but perhaps even more so in the hotel/housing forum??

capt_mahajan

Mod reply:
No big deal. If you are starting a thread and find two forums/fora appropriate for it, start it in any one of them you prefer.

Usually when a poster prefers a particular forum, his/her thread is left there.
But, if inappropriate, it may be moved; however, there is always a redirect left in the posted forum, to make it easy.

Edor

SilverMaple ... surprised that given how many people have been to Bodh Gaya and love it that there has not been more response. From my research here are two things that might be of help, but nothing like the recommendation of someone who has been there.

1) Here is link to map of the town and which lists various "attractions", hotels, and guest houses but no contact information. At least it gives us an idea of where things are. http://www.mahabodhi.com/Kalachakra-02/map-bodhgaya.htm

and later I found this link to an aerial map of Bodhgaya with a number of the hotels indicated by squares so you can really get an idea of location.
http://wikimapia.org/545865/
NOTE: just to keep things interesting the first map has North in a different orientation than the aerial map.

2) From one of my google searches here is a link to site that lists 23 hotels and guest houses in Bodh Gaya. I am unclear how to use this (Indian?) based website to make inquiries, but it does provide some information on each place listed (amenities, and minimum cost in Rs).
http://www.indiahotelreview.com/dest...ilte red=true

Let's continue to pool our resources here to help each other out. Hopefully others who have been there will pitch in so that this thread can become more valuable.

Edward

Edor

1) Link about Tibetan Phowa course in Jan. 2008 which gives basic info about hotels with phone and fax numbers.
http://www.amitabhafoundation.org/NextPhowaCourses.html

2) Link to photo of outside of Mahayana Guest House - no contact info.
http://www.beva.org:16080/pilgrimage...t/mahayana.htm
Do not confuse the guest house with Hotel Mahayana.

3) Link to where you can make reservation at Mahayana Guest House (also other hotels, particularly in Rajasthan)
http://www.rajasthanhotelsandresorts...use-hotel.html

4) Later found Lonely Planet online guide to hotels
http://books.google.com/books?id=Fk8...VhXs#PPA508,M1

I used their contact form so I will let you know if I get a repsonse. Seems like they also make bookings at 5 other BodhGaya hotels/guest houses. Seems like the cover the range from cheap no star places to the more expensive 3 star places.

So this is a start between my last post with a map, and this one which perhaps can make bookings one can try to zero in on something. But still need recommendations of those that have been there.
Edward

SilverMaple

Thanks very much everyone for your assistance. We've now been able to make an advance booking with Roots Institute by e-mail from UK. They've proved very easy to communicate with and seem ideal for what we are seeking. As well as accommodation, we are seeking an entry point to participate in the Buddhist life of Bodhgaya & it sounds like Roots Institute is just the right place for this.

Edor

SilverMaple ... glad that you will be at Root Institute. I have some wonderful email information from them even though I can not stay there as meditation courses from mid-Dec to Mid-Feb use all of their accommodations. It turns out that the spiritual source for Root Institute is Lama Yeshe with whom I had the good fortune to study in Kopan Nepal in the 1970's. While I no longer active in Tibetan Buddhism, the Lam Rim teachings were wonderful.

Below is part of my correspondence with Melissa at Root Institute and I would expect that this same welcome would be available to anyone:

"During your stay in Bodhgaya, whether at Root Institute or in town, you are most welcome to use our excellent library of Dharma books and videos, our two beautiful meditation halls and to join one of our regular pujas (Tara, Guru, Medicine Buddha, etc.). There is also the possibility to join our mobile medical clinic on its daily village runs (to see a bit of "real life" India)."

The medical clinic goes into the outlying areas from 9 to 4 and seems like a wonderful way to participate in some real life.
========

I have done lot's of web research but still am looking for a source of emails for some of the many monasteries in Bodhgaya that have accommodations for people who are not at a course but wish to observe precepts and stay with them for a short while.

Edward

SilverMaple

Edward, re your last comment, have you seen this site?
http://www.buddhanet.net/wbd/provinc...=8&off set=25

For some it gives e-mails, for some phone numbers & for some just postal addresses.

Bodhgaya_mike

well. i am from bodhagya.. better information on www.mahabodhi.com

thanks enjoy bodhgaya

SilverMaple

Thanks for that weblink, which gives much other helpful info too. I hadn't heard of the new Meditation Park.

Edor

SilverMaple, yes I had found the www.buddhanet.net website and yes it has some good information. I wish it were easier to get information about staying in some of the monasteries as I'd prefer that and then be able to donate the difference in cost between its modest cost and a typical hotel room to the monastery or to their work in the rural communities outside of Bodhgaya. I do not know for sure, but it seems likely to me that many of them simply accept people if there is room and don't have any system for taking any kind of reservation.

I think I had mentioned in SilverMaple's other thread that Root Institute has a daily mobil medical clinic and if there is room that they welcome visitors to join them for their rounds between 9 and 16:00 as they drive to the communities outside of BodhGaya. Seems like a fascinating way to see some of the real India.

Edward

atala

I understand your request and it is indeed difficult if not impossible to get a reservation at a monastery, esp for such short period of stay. But just for your information monasteries in Bodhgaya rent guesthouse rooms to people who are then free to do as they wish, except following some basic rules. The Burma vihara which has many rooms for rent has more specific requirements which it lists in the office area. Unfortunately it is on a busy road, not quiet and meditative at all. But it might be possible to get a room there end of January, since that is toward the end of the main visitors period.

Is it possible for your son to shift the visiting dates just a little? The reason is: Beginning February there is a major event, the 10-day-Tipitaka-chanting ceremony, under the Bodhi tree. Theravada monks from all Buddhist countries participate and chant the Suttas in their country's style and tradition. It is a colourful, lively event. In the evening there is a discourse in English under the Bodhi tree.

If your son can postpone the visit just a few days, it would be definitely worth it, and at that time he would find a room easy, by himself without reservation.

As a quiet place i would recommend the Bhutan vihara, next to the Japanese Zen vihara. The latter is by the way the only monastery where actively meditation is happening which one can join as a visitor.