Vishnupad Temple, Gaya: Favourite Temple of Lord Vishnu Devotees for Puja 

The temple of Vishnupad is next to the Falgu River. Legend has it that Lord Rama and his wife Sita once went to this temple, which has been around for a long time. On the other hand, the modern tower was built in 1787. People think that Vishnu left his handprint on a piece of basalt, which makes this place very holy. The rock is called Dharmasila by people who follow the Hinduism faith.

The story goes that the devil, Gayasura asked the gods for help. He wanted everyone who saw him to be saved or get Moksha. Lord Vishnu is said to have sent Gayasura to the underworld (Pataal-Lok) by putting his right foot on the devil’s head and pushing him as hard as he could from heaven.

When the demon was taken below the earth’s surface, it is said that Vishnu’s footprint left a permanent mark on this spot. You can enjoy the place’s peace when the weather is cold, especially from September to January.

About Gaya Vishnupad Temple

The Vishnupad Temple is one of the oldest Hindu temples dedicated to lord Vishnu. It is a place of worship for Vishnu. Every day, many people come here to pray and ask for good things.

At Vishnupad Mandir, the footprint of lord Vishnu is cut into a basalt rock. About 100 km separates Gaya and Patna, the state capital. During the Middle Ages, the city was part of the Magadh Empire. 

Three hills, Mangala-Gauri, Shringa-Sthan, Ram-Shila, and Brahmayoni, circle the temple on three sides. It’s a safe and beautiful place to live because of this. Gaya is a very old city with a lot of history and culture. 

Hindus and Buddhists consider Gaya holy because it is where many Buddhist pilgrimage places are. In Gaya, these holy places are connected to nature things that are usually there. The Falgu River and the temple that lines it are both beautiful. Hindus think a peepal tree on the bank of the Falgu River called Akshayavat is holy. People respect the tree because it acts like a god.

Gaya Vishnupad Temple Legend

Once, the demon Gayasura did a lot of penance and asked for a blessing to let anyone who saw him get Moksha. Even though he had done terrible things, God Vishnu knew that the kind gift he gave Gayasura would help save a lot of people who were bad and dishonest. Then, God Vishnu pushed Gayasura down to the ground by putting his right foot on the demon’s head and pushing it down.

Lord Vishnu’s handprint was still on the ground. There are nine different marks on the footprint. Shankar, Chakram, and Gadham are thought to be the Lord’s weapons. Then Gayasura asked the Lord to give him food. The Lord blessed him by making it so that someone would bring him food daily, and whoever did that would go to heaven.

People believe Gayasura will come out on the day he doesn’t eat. People from different parts of India would pray for the well-being of their dead and feed Gayasura every day.

Temple History

The origin date of the temple is unknown, but Rama and Sita are thought to have been there. Devi Ahilya Bai Holkar, the ruler of Indore, rebuilt the house we saw today on the banks of the Falgu River in 1787.

The temple was built by Ahilya Bai Holkar, who sent her officers all over the area to look for the best stone for the temple. Ultimately, they agreed that Munger was the best black stone in Jaynagar. Because there was no good road and the mountains were too far from Gaya, officials picked another peak near Bathani, where they could carve the stone and easily move it to Gaya, a small village in the Gaya district. People who could make things were brought in from Rajasthan.

Work on the temple started in the Bihar town of Patharkatti, also a popular tourist destination. The last temple was built near the temple of Vishnupad in Gaya. Most workers returned home after building the temple, but some stayed in Pattharkatti town. The government of Bihar has made this place one of the most famous tourist destinations in the state.

The 1000 stone steps that lead to the top of the Brahmajuni hill, southwest of the Vishnupad Vishnu mandir, offer a view of Gaya City and the famous Vishnupad temple. A lot of smaller churches are close to this one.

Temple Architecture

People say that Lord Vishnu’s tracks were in the middle of the building. According to a Hindu story, God Vishnu killed Gayasur by putting his foot on his chest. In the Vishnupad Vishnu Mandir, God Vishnu’s foot is cut into solid granite, and a silver-plated basin surrounds it.

This temple is 30 metres tall, and eight rows of carved pillars support the dome. The temple is made of big grey granite blocks that are held together with iron clamps. The shrine has eight sides and looks east. It has a 100-foot-tall conical tower.

The sides of the tower slope, and some parts are flat, and some are cut out. The pieces are cut at different angles to make several peaks that meet at the top. In the temple, the last events for the dead are held at the Akshayavat banyan tree, which will never die. A gold flag that weighs about 51 kg hangs over the shrine. Garv Ghiri (pahal) is the name of the temple’s silver-covered hexagonal fence.

Darshan Timing

From 6:30 AM to 7:30 PM, people can go to the Vishnupad Temple.

Best Time To Visit

The best times to go are events and all year long.

Famous Festival & Ritual

Pitrapaksha Mela is a famous festival and ritual. At the Vishnupad Lord Vishnu Temple, people give Pind Daan to their dead relatives all year, especially during the Pitrapaksha Mela. Hindus can go into the temple to give Pinda to their elders after washing in the Ganges, which is close by.

Local Culture

Bihar has been the heart of attention about its role since the Ramayana and the Mahabharata. The strong Mauryan Empire was based in Pataliputra, now in the Indian state of Bihar. Even now, important parts of the most powerful—Emperor Chandra Gupta Maurya, Emperor Bindusara, and Emperor Ashoka—can be found.

Bihar used to be proud of its universities, like the famous Nalanda University and the well-known Vikramshila University.

The state is proud of its religious culture, especially the long past that grew up around the popular shrines in Bihar. The lively arts of Madhubani and Manjusha are also a part of Bihar’s culture.

How to Reach Vishnupad Mandir, Gaya

Gaya is one of Bihar’s most important places for tourists and pilgrims. All year long, people from all over the world come to Gaya. India’s big towns are easy to get to by car, train, or plane.

You can take a train to almost every part of India from Gaya’s main train stop. Gaya has a local airport, and Patna, 110 km away, has an international airport. You can fly to all of India’s big cities worldwide from there. You can take a cab or public transportation from either airport to Gaya.

Gaya is only 14 kilometres from Bodh Gaya, 115 kilometres from Patna, 125 kilometres from Aarah, 231 from Ranchi, and 255 from Varanasi. From Patna, Varanasi, Ranchi, and other cities, you can take a straight bus to Bodh Gaya.

Location Map

Nearest Hotel, Restaurant, Medical Store, ATM

Address, Website, Official Phone Number, Email, Darshan Live