My first stay at Maya Residency was in 2022, and I liked it for its proximity; it was just a 10-minute walk to the Bodh Gaya Buddha Temple, major monasteries, and its affordable rates. The manager and staff were incredibly friendly and helpful, which led me to book this property again through Agoda for my trip in November 2023. Upon landing at Gaya airport, I took a taxi to the hotel, which cost me 800 Indian rupees.
Upon arrival, Mr. Kumar, the manager, recognized me and kindly provided me with a spacious room offering a view of the temple from the corner window as a returning guest. The air-conditioned room was spacious, featuring a clean and comfortable bed, along with a large bathroom.
The hotel has two restaurants: one situated on the first floor, serving breakfast and buffet dinner, while the other, Nirvana Veg Cafe on the ground floor, is a vegetarian restaurant offering South Indian dishes like dosa, idly, and oothappam. I had the opportunity to dine at both and enjoyed the delicious food.
The front desk efficiently arranged a car for me to visit Maa Mangla Gauri Temple, Dungeshwari Cave Temple, Vishnupad Temple, and Sujatha Stupa.
Additionally, there were numerous tuk-tuks (auto-rickshaws) stationed in front of the hotel. I hired a tuk-tuk to explore the 80 feet Buddha statues and several Buddha temples/monasteries in the vicinity. On December 2nd, I visited the reclining Buddha statue, which was scheduled for an official opening ceremony on December 3rd.
After negotiating, I hired the same tuk-tuk driver to drop me off at the airport for 400 INR. Looking back, it was the right decision as there were some road closures and traffic congestion, and the driver navigated through less crowded roads, ensuring a safe drop-off at the airport.
Overall, my two-night, three-day stay in Gaya at Maya Heritage contributed significantly to making this trip incredibly enjoyable. I'm looking forward to returning to Maya Heritage again in 2024.
