Varanasi to Bodhgaya by road
· 5 min read
Bodhgaya is 260 km from Varanasi, five to six hours by road, crossing into Bihar. It is the longest single leg on most itineraries out of the city and the one where the difference between vehicles is felt rather than discussed.
The route and the permit
Via Sasaram and the Grand Trunk Road, mostly good surface with patched stretches. The crossing into Bihar requires a state permit, which is arranged in advance and charged at actuals — it should appear in your quote rather than on your invoice as a surprise.
What the round trip costs
520 km round trip, which exceeds the 500 km floor for two days, so you are billed for the distance rather than the minimum.
| Vehicle | Seats | Rate | Round trip + driver |
|---|---|---|---|
| Swift Dzire | 4 | ₹11/km | ₹6,220 |
| Innova Crysta | 6 | ₹16/km | ₹8,920 |
| Tempo Traveller 17 | 17 | ₹23/km | ₹12,660 |
| Force Urbania 17 | 17 | ₹30/km | ₹16,400 |
| Luxury Bus 45 | 45 | ₹51/km | ₹27,720 |
Excludes GST, toll, parking and the Bihar permit.
Why two nights, not one
Bodhgaya is the one site on the circuit that materially rewards staying. Morning chanting at the Mahabodhi Temple from around 06:00, before the tour buses arrive, is a different place from the same courtyard at midday. A one-night stop gives you the midday version only.
If you are cutting a night somewhere on a Buddhist circuit, cut it at Patna or Kushinagar. Bodhgaya is where the second night earns its keep.
Vehicle choice on this route specifically
Five to six hours over mixed surface is where a ladder-frame tempo traveller and a monocoque Urbania stop feeling similar. The Urbania costs about ₹3,740 more for the round trip — roughly ₹220 a head across seventeen people. Whether that is worth it depends entirely on who is in the vehicle and how they travel.
What else is nearby
Gaya is 13 km away and is the principal pind daan site, which is why the two often appear on the same itinerary despite being entirely different pilgrimages. Rajgir and Nalanda are 80 km and 90 km on, and make a natural continuation rather than a separate trip.
Common questions
- How far is Bodhgaya from Varanasi by road?
- About 260 km via Sasaram and the Grand Trunk Road, five to six hours each way. It crosses into Bihar, which requires a state permit arranged in advance.
- What does a taxi from Varanasi to Bodhgaya cost?
- About ₹6,220 for a Swift Dzire and ₹12,660 for a 17-seater tempo traveller, round trip over two days including driver allowance. That is 520 billed kilometres. GST, toll, parking and the Bihar permit are extra.
- How many nights should I spend in Bodhgaya?
- Two. Morning chanting at the Mahabodhi Temple from around 06:00, before the tour groups arrive, is the reason to be there, and a single night gives you only the midday version.
Know what you need?
Every rate is on the page — call or send the dates and we quote off the same card.