Pitru Paksha 2026: Delhi to Gaya Travel Guide for Pind Daan
Pitru Paksha 2026 will begin on Saturday, September 26, and conclude on Saturday, October 10. During this period, devotees across India observe shradh and pind daan rituals to honour and remember their ancestors.
Gaya in Bihar is among the important pilgrimage destinations for these rituals and receives devotees from Delhi and several other parts of the country.
Gaya is an important railway junction on the Grand Chord section of the East Central Railway and has rail connectivity with Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Chennai, Patna and other major cities.
Delhi to Gaya by TrainTrain services are among the most commonly used options for travelling from Delhi to Gaya. Several trains connect the two destinations, including the Mahabodhi Express (12398), which operates between Delhi and Gaya, and the Purushottam Express (12802), which also passes through Gaya Junction.
According to information available on the Gaya pilgrimage portal, four Rajdhani Express services connect Delhi with Gaya Junction. These include the Sealdah Rajdhani, Kolkata Rajdhani, Bhubaneswar Rajdhani and Ranchi Rajdhani.
A Rajdhani service can take around 12 hours, while other mail and express trains may require approximately 15 to 17 hours.
Other trains passing through Gaya Junction include the Mumbai-Howrah Mail (12322), Jodhpur-Howrah Express (12308) and Ajmer-Sealdah Express (12988).
Travellers can also choose to travel to Gaya by road. The city has road connections with several parts of North and East India. The Grand Trunk Road passes through Dobhi, which is around 30 km from Gaya, providing access to the region.
The road network connects Gaya with several major cities, including Delhi, Kolkata, Varanasi, Prayagraj, Kanpur, Amritsar, Ranchi, Jamshedpur, Rourkela and Hazaribagh.
Another option is to travel from Delhi to Patna and then continue to Gaya.
Flying is another option for travellers looking to reduce their overall journey time. Gaya has its own international airport and is connected by air with different cities.
Information listed by the Gaya pilgrimage portal includes Delhi-Gaya-Varanasi connectivity operated by Air India.
If a suitable direct flight to Gaya is not available, travellers can also fly to Patna Airport. Patna has air connectivity with major domestic airports across India. From Patna, visitors can continue to Gaya by train, bus or taxi.
With Gaya located around 120 km from Patna, the onward journey can be completed by road or rail.
Pitru Paksha 2026 Travel PlanningWith Pitru Paksha scheduled to start on September 26, devotees planning to perform pind daan or shradh in Gaya should make their travel arrangements in advance.
Planning the journey ahead of time can help travellers manage their transportation and onward travel arrangements during the Pitru Paksha period.
DisclaimerTravel schedules, availability, routes and transportation services may change due to operational or other circumstances. Travellers should verify the latest train and flight information with the respective railway, airline or transport provider before beginning their journey.