A Travel Price Comparison for India Haridwar vs. Bodh Gaya for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Haridwar or Bodh Gaya?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Haridwar and Bodh Gaya. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.

Where Should I go: Haridwar or Bodh Gaya?

Haridwar

A spiritual journey is not complete without a trip to Haridwar as it is the lands of legends and tales cleansed by the Holy Ganga and regarded as the Holiest places for washing of sins. Haridwar is located on the foothills of the Himalayas making the place a truly memorable experience. After making a Haridwar Darshan, you will find most of your answers regarding the unknown and uncertainties. Rishikesh is very close to Haridwar, for waking the adrenaline rush in you. One can plan out so many activities to do in Haridwar for a fun filling vacation.

Bodh Gaya

Located in the state of Bihar in the northeast of India, Bodh Gaya is the most respected place and pilgrimage destination for Buddhists. Bodh Gaya is believed to be the site where Buddha Shakyamuni achieved enlightenment while meditating under the famous Bodhi tree.

Prince Gautama Siddartha was born in the sixth century, B.C. in what is modern-day Nepal. Siddartha lived a comfortable life of extravagance as he was born the son of King Suddhodana of the Sakya clan, but after witnessing human suffering, Siddartha decided to give up all of his possessions and embarked upon a quest to seek knowledge and the solution to such suffering. It is underneath a Pipal tree near the city of Gaya, that it is believed he began to meditate until he became enlightened. Today, a descendent of the original Bodhi Tree is located in the Mahabodhi Temple Complex in the city of Bodh Gaya.

Weather in Bodhgaya is generally warm throughout the year, with daytime highs in the 90s during summer and nighttime lows in the high 40s during winter. Because Bodhgaya is centered around religious sites, pack light layers and plan to dress modestly. Remember that you'll be expected to take shoes off at all temples, so sandals may be easier to wear and a good time-saver.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Photography Tours in India, The Best Religious Tours in India, The Best Yoga Tours and Retreats in India, and The Best Luxury Tours to India.


Which place is cheaper, Bodh Gaya or Haridwar?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Haridwar is $31, while the average daily cost in Bodh Gaya is $52. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Haridwar and Bodh Gaya in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Haridwar $15
    Bodh Gaya $22
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Haridwar $30
    Bodh Gaya $44
Compare Hotels in Haridwar and Bodh Gaya

Looking for a hotel in Haridwar or Bodh Gaya? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.

Hotels in Haridwar


Hotels in Bodh Gaya


Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.


Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Haridwar Hotel Prices and Bodh Gaya Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Haridwar $5.30
    Bodh Gaya $23

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Haridwar

Also for Haridwar, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Private Transfer from Rishikesh to Delhi: $47
  • Private Transfer from Mussoorie to Delhi: $53
  • Private Transfer from Haridwar to Delhi: $44
  • Delhi To Haridwar Transfer: $75
  • Affordable transfer from Rishikesh to Delhi: $39
  • Affordable transfer from Rishikesh to Dehradun Airport: $20
  • Affordable transfer from Haridwar to Delhi: $39
  • Affordable Dehradun airport transfer to Rishikesh: $20
  • Affordable Dehradun Airport Transfer.: $15
  • Dehradun- Transfers+Hotel+Sightseeing: $271

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bodh Gaya

Also for Bodh Gaya, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Affordable Bodh Gaya Airport Transfer: $15
  • Private Transfer from Bodhgaya Hotel to Gaya Airport: $13
  • Private Transfer from Bodhgaya Airport: $13

Is it cheaper to fly into Haridwar or Bodh Gaya?

Prices for flights to both Bodh Gaya and Haridwar change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.





Food
  • Food Meals for one day
    Haridwar $10
    Bodh Gaya $16

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Haridwar

For Haridwar, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Sattvic Traditional Cooking Classes, Rishikesh India: $35
  • Rishikesh Half Day Street Food Tour: $45

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Haridwar $9.16
    Bodh Gaya $9.83

Tours and Activities in Haridwar

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Haridwar.

  • 2 N / 3 D Mahavatar Babaji Cave Tour: $225
  • Adventure camping at Mussoorie - 1n2d: $39
  • Adventure camping at Mussoorie - 2n3d: $71
  • Adventure trip in Chakrata : $37
  • Caving Tour in Rishikesh - 6 Hrs.: $45
  • Day tour Haridwar Rishikesh Ganges: $72
  • Discovering Dehradun: A Full Day Guided Tour: $61
  • Divine Excursion: Gurudwara & Temple Tour from Dehradun: $61
  • Experience Spiritual Culture in Rishikesh with a local - A Unique Walking Tour: $14
  • From Delhi: 2-Day Tour of Rishikesh and Haridwar: $336
  • From Delhi: Same Day Haridwar Guided Tour: $93
  • Guided Food Crawl Tour of Mussoorie with a local: $25

Tours and Activities in Bodh Gaya

For Bodh Gaya, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Bodhgaya Day Tour (Hotel Pickup): $34
  • Bodhgaya and Gaya Pilgrimage Tour: $53
  • Exclusive Guided Tour of Bodh Gaya: $227
  • Excursion tour of Rajgir & Nalanda from Bodhgaya: $63
  • Full Day Tour in Bodhgaya Hotel pick up: $32
  • Full-Day Private Guided Bodhgaya Tour with Pick Up: $39
  • Guided Virtual Tour of Bodhgaya: $27
  • Private guided tour of Bodh Gaya over 2 days : $175

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Haridwar $6.82
    Bodh Gaya $5.64


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Haridwar and Bodh Gaya, we can see that Bodh Gaya is more expensive. And not only is Haridwar much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Haridwar would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Haridwar and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Bodh Gaya would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Bodh Gaya than you might in Haridwar.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Haridwar Expensive? and Is Bodh Gaya Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Haridwar or Bodh Gaya?

Haridwar has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Bodh Gaya. When comparing the sizes of Haridwar and Bodh Gaya, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.

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