Experience Flavours Of Gaya, Bihar With These 6 Local Dishes

Tarishi Shrivastava

Updated:Feb 29, 2024

Gaya's food culture has evolved over time while keeping its roots. It offers authentic flavours with global influences. The staple foods are rice, roti, chutney, lentils, pickles, yoghurt, and milk, but some special dishes are only made during holidays and festivals. This diversity is what makes eating in Gaya so delightful.

Experience Flavours Of Gaya, Bihar With These 6 Local Dishes

Image Credit: Freepik

Gaya is a famous city in the Indian state of Bihar. It is near the Falgu River and has many old temples and historic buildings. People from all over India come to visit the most famous Vishnupad Temple. This ancient temple is built where Lord Vishnu's feet are said to have touched the ground. Many Hindu pilgrims come to Gaya to pray at Vishnupad Temple. They believe bathing in the Falgu River will wash away their sins.

Gaya is also an important place for Buddhists. This is where Buddha attained enlightenment under the Bodhi tree. Buddhist pilgrims from around the world visit Gaya to see the Mahabodhi Temple and the Bodhi tree.

The city has a colourful history of food and culture. It has influences from Hindu and Buddhist traditions. People still use old-fashioned cooking methods and local ingredients. Things like sattu flour, ghee, and mustard oil are very important. The key is the blend of ancient and modern.

Here are some of the most famous dishes in Gaya that you must not miss.

Daal Pittha

Dal pittha is a tasty food from Gaya. It is a fun breakfast or snack to eat with tea. To make dal pittha, you steam dough into dumpling shapes. The dumplings look a little like gujiya, which is a sweet, fried dumpling. You eat dal pittha together with chokha. Chokha is mashed potatoes cooked with onions, green chilies, and spices.

Image credit: Freepik

Restaurant recommendation: Pind Balluchi A Village Restaurant, Durga Bari, Gaya

Type: Vegetarian

Budget: ₹200-350 approx

Tilkut

Gaya is known for its Tilkut treat. This sweet snack is made with simple ingredients like sugar, nuts, butter, brown sugar, and sesame seeds. The nutty crunch and earthy smell make your mouth water. Tilkut comes in different shapes and sizes. Each bite fills you with cozy warmth and yummy flavour. People make Tilkut during Makar Sankranti festival. This festival celebrates the end of winter and start of spring in Gaya.

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Restaurant recommendation: Sri Ram Tilkut Bhandar (Since 1911), Patna - Gaya Highway, Gaya

Type: Vegetarian

Budget: ₹200-300approx

Kadhi Badi

This yoghurt curry with fried dumplings is loved by everyone who tries it. The tangy yoghurt mixed with creamy spices makes your mouth happy. People in Gaya make this dish at home often. They eat it with rice or flatbread. The flavour reminds you of home cooking. This simple food is easy to make. The fried bits add crunch. The creamy curry balances the spices. Tourists always want more of this yummy curry.

Image credit: Freepik

Restaurant recommendation: Khushi Family Restaurant, A. P. Colony, Near Asha Singh More, Gaya

Type: Vegetarian

Budget: ₹200-400 approx

Khaja

Khaja is a layered and crunchy sweet treat from Gaya, but it is also popular in other temple towns like Puri, Odisha. It is made with wheat flour, ghee, sugar, and dried fruits. The outside is golden brown and crispy. The inside is soft and tender. There is a little bit of cardamom to give it a nice smell. Khaja goes great with a hot cup of tea. Khaja brings the flavours and food traditions of Gaya to your plate.

Restaurant recommendation: Shree Ram Tilkut Bhandar, Tekari Rd, Gol Bagicha, Gaya

Type: Vegetarian

Budget: ₹100-200 approx

Chana Ghugni

Chana Ghugni shows how people in Gaya make all kinds of delicious foods. It's one of their special treats. People in Gaya, Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, Assam, Bengal, and Bihar love it! They eat it as a snack or with rice or flatbread. This dish has chickpeas, fresh cilantro, onions, coconut, and spices. All these ingredients make many yummy flavours. When you take a bite, it makes your mouth very happy!

Image credit: Freepik

Restaurant recommendation: Chat ka Thaat Hotel, Purani Godown, Gaya

Type: Vegetarian

Budget: ₹100-200 approx

Also read: Bihari Bites: 7 Hearty And Homely Dishes from Bihar

Pedakiya

Pedakiya is a sweet dish that people of Gaya and Bihar love to eat. It is also called chandrakala, but most Indians may also think of it as being similar to gujiya. Pedakiya is a lot like gujiya, which is a fried dumpling filled with sweet stuff. Inside pedakiya you find khoya, cardamom, coconut and dry fruits. The coconut and dry fruits add crunch and sweetness. Pedakiya is a special dessert that makes any meal end on a high note, and is also offered to the gods during festivals like Holi and Diwali.